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Jerry Costanzo

“Bringing The Great American Song Book into the 21st century”.

"Dedicated to the preservation of one of Americas true art forms."

In another time and place, Jerry Costanzo wouldn’t be interpreting the Great American Songbook. It’s likely he’d be conceiving it. Midwest Record deemed the luminous vocalist and bandleader “A cat that knows how to swing it and grab the Vegas vibe that most of us never were old enough to experience,” while Jazz.com raved, “As all great singers do, he tells a story.” Raised in a musical family, Costanzo’s musical stencil was etched with the likes of Sinatra, Sammy, Dino, Perry Como, Count Basie, Mel Torme, Jerry Vale and Nat King Cole. He was playing saxophone by third grade, and developed chops as a performer studying acting at New York’s Herbert Berghof Studio. A stint as personal aid and chauffeur for Al Pacino further apprised Costanzo to the arts, before he joined his father Joseph’s big band, The Memories Of Swing, first on sax and then as the outfit’s lead vocalist. While well into his 30s before the New Yorker recognized his calling card ��"bringing his musical idols back to life��"Costanzo is making up for lost time. Today, the man behind the mic is a full-time troubadour and bandleader, surrounded by a Who’s Who of the jazz world. In 2008, his debut full-length album “Destination Moon,” produced by Andy Farber and accompanied by Farber & his Swing Mavens octet, served up a dozen swigin` classics, “Moon” earned Costanzo a dedicated live following, with gigs including the Annual Sinatra Birthday Bash at The Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, N.J., Lincoln Centers Mid Summer Night Swing, New York’s Metropolitan Room, Feinstein’s at The Loews Regency and Waldorf Astoria, the Long Island, N.Y., Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, Hofstra University’s Artie Shaw Centennial Concert and dozens of concert series, festivals and private posh gigs up and down the East Coast. Costanzo’s follow-up disc, “Can’t We Be Friends”��"released on Daywood Drive Records and executive/co-produced by Costanzo with acclaimed vocalist and composer Kevin Fitzgerald Burke��" raises the torch to fever pitch, featuring a five-piece rhythm section, that again pays homage to musical heroes who painted the original brush strokes on American standards, with a vibe he describes as “George Shearing meets The Nat King Cole Trio meets Milt Jackson.” In an interview with All About Jazz, Costanzo was asked to conjure his dream band. He joked, “They’re all dead. I wish I’d have been in my prime in the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s.”No doubt, those who have influenced the music of Jerry Costanzo would offer a collective thumbs up for skillfully preserving their legacy. He is indeed breathing new life into a venerable chapter of America’s songbook.

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Take Five With...

Take Five With Jerry Costanzo

Read "Take Five With Jerry Costanzo" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Jerry Costanzo: Born into a musical family, Jerry started listening to jazz at an early age. His father, Joseph Costanzo, began his music education early and taught him to play saxophone when he was in the third grade. Jerry's parents played the radio every morning and weekend he and the family would all try out their crooning abilities to the songs of Frank Sinatra, Jerry Vale, Perry Como, Nat Cole and others. Jerry learned all the classic standards through ...

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Album Review

Jerry Costanzo: Destination Moon

Read "Destination Moon" reviewed by Woodrow Wilkins


Many jazz listeners get anxious when a vocalist releases a new album of old songs. The songs are old, therefore they've been covered numerous times in numerous ways. The challenge, then, isn't just to make it good. A recording artist must also make it distinctive--something that catches the attention of those who have already heard Michael Buble, John Pizzarelli, and numerous others tap these resources. Vocalist and bandleader Jerry Costanzo attempts to do this with Destination Moon, a hit-'em-quick collection ...

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Recording

Vocalist Jerry Costanzo Releases New Single “can I Steal A Little Love”

Vocalist Jerry Costanzo Releases New Single “can I Steal A Little Love”

Source: Jerry Costanzo

Announcing a hot, new swinging single, “Can I Steal A Little Love”, produced and recorded by Jazz Vocalist and popular song stylist Jerry Costanzo. Mr. Costanzo, well known for his smooth song stylings, updates the song “Can I Steal A Little Love” with a new arrangement by Andy Farber and backed by a 16-piece Big Band, adding a fresh vocal interpretation to Phil Tumienello’s lyrics. Although Jerry has the support of a full big band, through the wonder of multi-track ...

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Performance / Tour

Jerry Costanso, Jazz Vocalist/Recording Artist, Live At Lincoln Center’s "Miid Summer Night Swing" Series

Jerry Costanso, Jazz Vocalist/Recording Artist, Live At Lincoln Center’s "Miid Summer Night Swing" Series

Source: Carol Green, Redwood Entertainment

New York, NY—In support of his new CD release from Daywood Drive Records, Can't We Be Friend's?, Jerry Costanzo will be returning to Lincoln Center's 'Mid Summer Night Swing' series in Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center on Wednesday, June 29, 2011, from 7:30 to 9:30 PM. Once again Jerry Costanzo will be returning to Lincoln Center for the ever popular 'Mid Summer Night Swing' series as a featured vocalist with the Swingtime Big Band, directed by Steve Shaiman. This 20-piece ...

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Event

Jazz Vocalist/Recording Artist Jerry Costanzo Live At The Garage Restaurant & Cafe

Jazz Vocalist/Recording Artist Jerry Costanzo Live At The Garage Restaurant & Cafe

Source: Carol Green, Redwood Entertainment

New York, NY,—In support of his new CD release from Daywood Drive Records, Can't We Be Friend's?, Jerry Costanzo will be performing live at the renowned Jazz venue Garage Restaurant & Café in the heart of Greenwich Village on Wednesday, June 29, 2011, from 10:30 PM to 2:30 AM. As a follow-up to his previous successful CD, Destination Moon, Jerry Costanzo who has coined the phrase “Bringing the American Songbook into the 21st Century," has released his newest CD, Can't ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz Vocalist/Recording Artist Jerry Costanzo Live At Feinstein's At The Regency

Jazz Vocalist/Recording Artist Jerry Costanzo Live At Feinstein's At The Regency

Source: Carol Green, Redwood Entertainment

New York, NY,—In celebration of his new CD, Can't We Be Friend's? released on Daywood Drive Records, Jerry Costanzo will be performing live at Feinstein's at Loew's Regency on Park Avenue in Manhattan on Monday, May 9, 2011, at 8:30 PM. As a follow-up to his most recent successful CD, Destination Moon, Jerry Costanzo who has coined the phrase “Bringing the American Songbook into the 21st Century," is releasing his newest CD, Can't We Be Friends? In his performance at ...

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Performance / Tour

Jerry Costanzo Live at Sip City in Great Neck on April 13th

Jerry Costanzo Live at Sip City in Great Neck on April 13th

Source: Carol Green, Redwood Entertainment

New York, NY—Jerry Costanzo will perform live at Sip City in Great Neck, New York, from 8:30 to 11:30 PM on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. Sip City 16 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, New York 11021, 516-482-1500 Wednesday, April 13, 2011 from 8:30 to 11:30 PM Admission: No cover/no minimum As a follow-up to his most recent successful CD, Destination Moon, Jerry Costanzo has put the finishing touches on his upcoming CD Can't We ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz Vocalist And Recording Artist Jerry Costanzo Live at the Metropolitan Room on March 11

Jazz Vocalist And Recording Artist Jerry Costanzo Live at the Metropolitan Room on March 11

Source: Carol Green, Redwood Entertainment

New York, NY—Jerry Costanzo will be performing live at the Metropolitan Room in Manhattan on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 9:30 PM. As a follow-up to his most recent successful CD, Destination Moon, Jerry Costanzo has put the finishing touches on his upcoming CD Can't We Be Friends, scheduled for release on May 9th, 2011. In his performance at the Metropolitan Room, Jerry will be performing songs from Can't We Be Friends, along with Jazz veterans Andy Farber, Sax & ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz Vocalist And Recording Artist Jerry Costanzo Live at the Metropolitan Room on March 11

Jazz Vocalist And Recording Artist Jerry Costanzo Live at the Metropolitan Room on March 11

Source: Carol Green, Redwood Entertainment

Jerry Costanzo will be performing live at the Metropolitan Room in Manhattan on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 9:30 PM. As a follow-up to his most recent successful CD, Destination Moon, Jerry Costanzo has put the finishing touches on his upcoming CD Can't We Be Friends, scheduled for release on May 9th, 2011. In his performance at the Metropolitan Room, Jerry will be performing songs from Can't We Be Friends, along with Jazz veterans Andy Farber, Sax & flute; Mike ...

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Event

Jazz Vocalist Jerry Costanzo Live At The Count Basie Theatre

Jazz Vocalist Jerry Costanzo Live At The Count Basie Theatre

Source: Carol Green, Redwood Entertainment

New York, NY—Jerry Costanzo will be performing live at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey for the Fourth Annual Sinatra Birthday Bash on Friday, December 10th at 8:00PM. Jerry continues to delight audiences with his spirited singing and effervescent personality every time he takes up a microphone. “Costanzo and his swinging pals know how to grab the Vegas vibe that most of us have heard about but never were old enough to really experience." JAZZ PERSPECTIVES—Tom Hull ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz Vocalist/Bandleader Jerry Costanzo at the 2010 Newburgh Jazz Series on August 5th, 2010

Jazz Vocalist/Bandleader Jerry Costanzo at the 2010 Newburgh Jazz Series on August 5th, 2010

Source: AAJ Staff

New York, NY--Jerry Costanzo will be performing with the Andy Farber Octet live at the Newburgh Jazz Series in Newburgh, New York on Thursday, August 5th at 6:30PM. On the heels of his most recent successful CD release, Destination Moon, Jerry Costanzo is back in the studio putting the finishing touches on his upcoming CD release, to be announced. This performance will feature Jerry singing to a brass, reeds & rhythm ensemble that performs Andy Farber's arrangements as well as ...

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Recording

Jerry Costanzo Upcoming CD Release

Jerry Costanzo Upcoming CD Release

Source: All About Jazz

Jerry Costanzo is Currently working on his next CD, entitled Can't We Be Friends. With a little luck, we should have it out by mid winter. Stay Tuned! Featuring: Ted Firth (piano), Joe Cohn (guitar), Mark Sherman (vibes), Ben Wolfe (bass), Jimmy Madison (drums), Andy Farber (tenor, bari, flute), Mike Carubia (trumpet). About Jerry Costanzo Jerry Costanzo is considered one of the best and busiest singer/bandleaders on the scene today. Jerry has gained popularity among connoisseurs of this great music. ...

Press Quotes “Can’t We Be Friends?” as of April 2011

April 18, 2011 DAYWOOD DRIVE RECORDS JERRY COSTANZO/Can’t We Be Friends?: With a mission to bring the American songbook into the 21st century, Costanzo surrounds himself with some very capable jazzbos and instrumentalists with resumes beyond reproach and casts himself as the saloon singer that makes you want to learn how to work your DVR. With a nice personality and style, he has a feel for swinging the classics just short of infusing them with schtick and keeping their integrity in tact. A really fun romp for vocal fans feeling the male side of the ledger is vastly underserved.

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Invitation

Daywood Drive Records
2013

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Destination Moon

Semi-Quaver Jazz
2008

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