Meet Jim Altamore; singing in the Sinatra style

November 10, 9:28 AMSwing and Big Band ExaminerRick Busciglio

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JIM ALTAMORE LICENSE TO SWING ALBUM

Meet Jim Altamore...  a versatile jazz singer of popular standards from what is known today as the Great American Songbook. He is a singer in the Sinatra style. Note that Jim is not an impersonator. He clearly has the ability to capture the essence of Sinatra in sound and style. " A gifted singer who will satisfy your inner passions each time you hear his magic." This is how Jim Altamore has been described.

 “License to Swing” is the name of Jim’s debut CD. A collection of American standards set to a swing tempo made famous by the likes of  Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Bobby Darin. "He stays true to their fashion and keeps the finger snapping, swing feel in songs like “Learnin’ The Blues”, “Route 66” and “Beyond The Sea”. Accompanied by some the best musicians around," – DJ Jim Stone, Host of the radio show…BIG BAND SWING

 “License to Swing” was produced by Grammy Award winning producer Jack Kreisberg. DJ Chris Neilsen NPR radio says, “Can't tell you how much I enjoyed this CD. Great Voice, great arrangements, great backing musicians, and Jim has a great voice. Only listen to "Learnin' The Blues" to be wrapped up in his sound. Great!!! (The word fits it all)” Currently, Jim’s version of “Fly Me To The Moon” is being featured in Chazz Palminteri’s Broadway play A Bronx Tale.

A graduate of Adelphi University, Jim grew up during a time of transition......the music world was changing with the arrival of the Beatles. However, Jim’s family always appreciated the true American music of jazz and swing. At a young age Jim’s dad kept him in touch with the great singers of his era like Sinatra, Ella and Bennett. Jim’s indoctrination in the world of music started on the right path….and it never changed!

Q: When and how did your interest in the music of the Great American Songbook start?

A. As I child I remember listening to WNEW in the car. I was about 5 years old but I remember hearing “Witchcraft.” Dad always listened to WNEW. This was the late 50’s. Dad used to ask me to tell him who the singer was on the radio and if I missed he would tell me. My ear became attuned to many a singer’s voice. Popular music was always played in the house.

When I was 10 years old my father introduced me to the music of Count Basie through the album “Basie plays Hefti”. I knew that I was hearing something special. To this day, I am a huge Basie fan.

Q: Why the Sinatra focus?

A: Sinatra always resonated with me. I think it was his conversational approach to singing and the way that he made it sound so easy that appealed to me. What he was doing always sounded “right“, to me. I love singing Sinatra’s songs. My range is the same but more importantly, I get where he is coming from. And he covered a great portion of GAS.

Q: When did you start singing?

A. I didn’t get around to singing until my 30’s when I discovered that I had a better than average voice. Singing GAS was natural for me. Overcoming stage fright put me on my way to pursuing my passion.

Q: Where have you been singing?

A: I  sing with big bands as well as jazz trios etc. A few weeks ago I made my first trip to Europe to sing with a big band in France at a jazz festival. They had heard about me and asked me to join them. It was a great experience. They wanted me to sing all Sinatra tunes. I was well received by the audiences.

Q: How difficult has it been to launch your debut CD ? How has it been received?

A: My debut CD is entitled “License to Swing”. It’s a collection of standards. The musicians on it are among the best jazz players in NYC. It was all brought together by Grammy winning jazz producer Jack Kreisberg. We purposely stayed away from Sinatra on this project in order for me carve out my own niche. Naturally, Sinatra seeps in here and there, but essentially it’s me. It’s been received well by radio in New York. WHLI has put it into rotation and veteran DJ Jack Ellsworth has interviewed me on his program as well as did Joey Reynolds of WOR. But without major promotional backing, it’s tough to get the word out to the mass audience. The labels put a ton of money behind singers like Buble and Krall to promote their CD’s.

Q: How did  your "Fly Me To The Moon" recording make it to Broadway?

A:  Actor Chazz Palminteri heard me sing and asked if he could use my recording of Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” in his one man play “A Bronx Tale”. So during a scene change, when you hear Sinatra singing, it’s not Frank…it’s me. It was quite a thrill for me to be heard on Broadway and later when Chazz performed around the country.

Q: Besides Frank Sinatra, what singers have influenced you the most?

A: My influences after Sinatra are, Basie, Bennett, Morgana King, Mathis, Johnny Hartman, Joe Williams, and Bobby Darin.

Q: What are your favorite songs to sing?

A: Some of my favorites are 'Come Fly With Me," "Witchcraft," "Change Partners," "The Girl from Ipanema," and "I Only Have Eyes For You."  Naturally, good arrangements are key to a song’s appeal also, notwithstanding the words and the melody.

Q: What's next?

A: My next mission is to get more gigs at jazz clubs in NYC and around the country and abroad. My dream is to sing with the Basie band.

 Here are the tracks from Jim's CD;

1. All of You
2. Learnin' the Blues
3. Just One of Those Things
4. New York State of Mind
5. Nice N' Easy
6. Route 66
7. I'm Beginning to See the Light 3:41
8. All Right Okay You Win
9. Beyond the Sea
10. Call Me Irresponsible
11. The More I See You
12. You Stepped Out of a Dream

Sample Jim's CD ; http://www.jimaltamore.com/cd.html

  Also read our FRANK SINATRA EXAMINER