Movie Magic: Great Songs From the Movies

Description

Well-known LA jazz singer, Jack Wood, teams up with the premier jazz singer in Australia, Nichaud Fitzgibbon, to offer new views on some of the great standards from the movies. Favorites include Moon River, Skylark, It Had to Be You, Make Someone Happy, That Old Feeling, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, When I Look in Your Eyes, The Shadow of Your Smile, With a Song in My Heart, and more…

Review from Jack Widran “The JW Vibe”

JACK WOOD & NICHAUD FITZGIBBON, Movie Magic: Great Songs from the Movies
A veteran Southern California singer long known for his passion for vintage swing and timeless balladry, Jack Wood cleverly titled his recent album
The Gal That Got Away
as a way to introduce American audiences to his friend Nichaud Fitzgibbon, Australia’s premier jazz stylist.

While she appeared as a guest on two tracks on that project, the two are equal partners on the magnificent, stylish and nostalgia-tinged Movie Magic: Great Songs from the Movies. The title says it all about the dynamically and exquisitely arranged 16 tracks, most of which are well known (“I Only Have Eyes for You,” “Moon River,” “Skylark”), while others are delightfully obscure (“The Shining Sea,” “Close Your Eyes”).

While each of the five solo songs they sing are catered to their individual vocal strengths (Wood’s elegant, soulful croon, Fitzgibbon’s sensual tenderness, playful swing and flair for the dramatic), the best tracks are the six featuring their sparkling rapport and otherworldly harmonizing.

While these two great vocalists could make their magic work in a much simpler setting, Movie Magic is an epic production featuring more than 30 guest musicians and arranger, including The Salt Lake Jazz Orchestra and jazz notables Rob Mullins (who arranged and performs a dazzling piano solo on “I Only Have Eyes For You”) and Doug MacDonald, who contributes a soulful, sensitive guitar solo to the breezy, string caressed “The Shining Sea.” Hopefully, this will only the beginning of some delightful dual recordings by these two charming vocalists!

January issue of Jersey Jazz. by Joe Lang

Vocalists Los Angeles-based JACK WOOD and Australian jazz singer NICHAUD FITZGIBBON are well paired for Movie Magic: Great Songs from the Movies (Jazz Hang Records – 915JW). The songs are standards that were not necessarily written for specific films but have been featured in at least one movie. They are backed by a variety of musicians for “Make Someone Happy,” “When I Look in Your Eyes,” “Speaking of Happiness,” “Quando, Quando, Quando,” “The Shadow of Your Smile,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “That Old Feeling,” “I Only Have Eyes for You,” “With a Song in My Heart,” “Moon River,” “How Insensitive,” “I Will Wait for You,” “Skylark,” “The Shining Sea,” “Close Your Eyes” and “It Had to Be You.” Both singers have voices and styles well-suited to the material. They each have five solo tracks and perform six as a vocal duo. No matter the backing, they fit the setting. Wood has been active on the Los Angeles scene for many decades and has released several albums. Fitzgibbon while a familiar figure in her native Melbourne, is being introduced to American audiences on this album and is a welcome addition to our shores. If you dig solid straight-ahead singing with support from many outstanding jazz players, Movie Magic will lie easily on your ears. (www.jazzhangrercords.com)

Review from D. Oscar Groomes
O’s Place Jazz Magazine

Jack Wood – Movie Magic 82
O’s Notes: Crooner Jack Wood teams up with Australian vocalist Nichaud Fitzgibbon on Movie Magic: Great Songs From The Movies. The supporting cast is almost endless with numerous guest musicians and The Salt Lake Jazz Orchestra. They start with “Make Someone Happy” and continue bringing joy over sixteen classics. There are five solo efforts by each of the headliners, satisfying their individual fan bases. But we enjoyed the true magic in the six duets. We don’t typically go to the movies for the music but if the billing included Jack and Nichaud, perhaps we would!