RAUL MALO
''AROUND THE WORLD''
FEBRUARY 14 2012
61:51
1/Indian Love Call
Rudolf Friml / Otto Harbach / Oscar Hammerstein II/4:39
2/L' Appuntamento
Fabrizio Tarducci / Francesco Tarducci/4:10
3/Every Little Thing About You
Jaime Hanna / Raul Malo / Alan Miller/4:06
4/Lucky One
Raul Malo / Alan Miller/5:22
5/Let It Be Me
Gilbert Bécaud / Mann Curtis / Pierre Delanoë/3:13
6/Make the World Go Away
Hank Cochran/2:46
7/La Vie en Rose
Édith Giovanna Gassion / Louis Guglielmi/3:23
8/I Said I Love You
Jaime Hanna / Raul Malo / Alan Miller/3:29
9/Bésame Mucho
Consuelo Velázquez/4:34
10/A Man Without Love
Roberto Livraghi / John Barry Mason / Daniele Pace / Mario Panzeri/4:28
11/Moonlight Kiss
Raul Malo / Alan Miller/7:00
12/Dance the Night Away
Raul Malo/6:38
13/Guantanamera
José Fernández Diaz/4:04
14/Around the World
Harold Adamson / Victor Young/3:59
Ian Bone /Violin
Iona Brown /Violin
Ed Cervenka /Percussion
Jenny Chang /Violin
James Craig /Cello
Jay Craig /Saxophone
Marion Craig /Trumpet
Bradley Creswick /Violin
Malcolm Critten /Viola
Peter Francomb /Horn
Simon Fryer /Cello
Kullen Fuchs /Keyboards, Vocals
Mike Gerrard /Viola
Elio Giordano /Bass, Vocals
Stuart Gray /Trombone
Christopher Griffiths /Horn
Michael Guerra /Accordion, Vocals
Tristan Gurney /Violin
Tom Hankey /Violin
Don Hart /Arranger
Sian Hicks /Double Bass
Ilid Jones /Oboe
Tegwen Jones /Viola
Vera Jovanovic /Double Bass
Grahame King /Timpani
Rosamund Kitchen /Violin
Kate Lindon /Violin
Raul Malo /Guitar, Vocals
Richard Martin /Trumpet
John McTigue /Drums, Percussion
Jane Nossek /Violin
Alexandra Reikhlina /Violin
Sarah Roberts /Violin
Clare Robson /Flute
Rob Saslow /A&R
Danny Scott /Trombone
James Slater /Viola
Sylvia Sutton /Violin
Louisa Tuck /Cello
Dewi Tudor-Jones /Violin
Gabriel Waite /Cello
Ian Watson /Violin
REVIEW
by Steve Leggett
Although he broke into the public eye as the lead singer for pop-country outfit the Mavericks, Raul Malo is hardly a country singer (although he can sing a country song as well as anybody on the planet). He's explored just about every strand of popular New World music, from Mexican border fare to salsa, calypso, carnival, rock, and jazz, and of course country, and he's done all of it with an amazing voice that soars with sincerity and emotional depth. His latest album, recorded live in July of 2011 with his core backup band, the orchestra Northern Sinfonia (conducted by Paul Gambill), and a horn section, finds him tackling classic love songs from a variety of genres, giving each song an orchestrated big-band lounge feel. But this isn't Malo going Vegas here, although he's certainly capable of being that kind of populist entertainer. This is Malo bringing a lot of strains together, from Latin rhythms to uptown swing, and fashioning his own brand of universal pop. It certainly isn't country. Highlights include the haunted resignation of "Make the World Go Away," the intense and longing "Every Little Thing About You," a rocking "Dance the Night Away," which finds Malo and his amassed orchestra sounding like a more rootsy version of ELO, and an absolutely beautiful version of "Around the World." This is a live recording, but the engineering and sound are top-notch, and the emotional interplay between Malo and his audience lends a sort of spark to everything. It seems this man can sing anything, and in any style.
BIOGRAPHY
By Eleanor Ditzel
Originally making his mark in the country music world and then slipping into the Latin and jazz arenas via rock & roll, Raul Malo has proven to be an ever-expanding musical talent. Malo, born in Miami of Cuban parents, started playing bass guitar in high school and soon found his way into several small bands. In 1987, he made his first recording with the Basics, and one song, "Paperheart," appeared on the promotional album Unsigned. While the album wasn't a success, the experience whet Malo's appetite for more. Later in the '80s, Malo and a high-school friend, Robert Reynolds (bass), joined together to form their own country band, based on their mutual love for Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Patsy Cline. Paul Deakin, with experience in several progressive rock bands, became the drummer, and the group chose the name the Mavericks. This band went on to become one of the outstanding country bands of the '90s.
Under Malo's leadership, the Mavericks released their debut self-titled album in the fall of 1990. The album managed to grab the attention of many big labels, and MCA Records signed the Mavericks in May 1991, when they played their first gig in Nashville. David Lee Holt, who previously played with Carlene Carter, Joe Ely, and Rosie Flores, became the lead guitarist for the band, with Malo concentrating on the songwriting and vocals. MCA released From Hell to Paradise in 1992 and issued five more albums for the band during the '90s. From Hell to Paradise was critically acclaimed, but not a success financially. However, What a Crying Shame brought forth financial fortunes when it was released in 1994, with its title track reaching the Top 40; the album went platinum by spring 1995. Holt was replaced with Nick Kane as lead guitarist for the next releases. Many of the band's singles reached the Top 40, with "O What a Thrill" making number 18 in the summer of 1994 and "There Goes My Heart" reaching number 20. Music for All Occasions, released in 1995, went gold. the Mavericks eventually won a Grammy and the Country Music Association twice bestowed them with Top Vocal Group honors. One of the highlights of the band's career was playing at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
As Malo began to integrate Latin rhythms into his songwriting during the latter part of the '90s, the albums picked up a stronger Havana influence, leaving the country rhythms in the shadows. The band became an eclectic mix of rockabilly, honky tonk, Tejano, native Cuban, and country. The MCA label continued to release the Mavericks' albums and singles throughout the '90s, with the final compilation being 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Mavericks in 2001. Malo then switched to the Universal label for the band's release of O What a Thrill: An Introduction to the Mavericks. Although the Mavericks quit playing gigs together in early 2001, they didn't really break up as a band and Malo still has tight connections with the members.
During the latter years of the '90s, Malo began doing parallel solo work, sometimes accompanied by the Dennis Burnside Orchestra. In October 1999 he completed his first solo tour in the U.K., performing many of his new songs. By 2000 he had become a producer with Ethan Allen and K.T. Oslin, and joined Los Super Seven as a lead vocalist and songwriter, in addition to working with Latin singer Rick Trevino in his studios. Malo's first solo recording, "Bailare (El Merecumbe)," was self-penned in Spanish, and he also did a solo recording of "Downbound Train" by Bruce Springsteen. When the Country Music Association needed a voice that could handle singing all the different hits of those being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001, they called on Malo because of his ability to handle diverse rhythms.
Malo's first album as a solo artist, Today, reflected his Cuban background, but didn't entirely leave out the deep-twang guitar of country music. His exuberance flowed on the album as he mingled the pop sounds of the '60s with salsa and country. Released by OmTown/Higher Octave Music in October 2001, the album also included Shelby Lynne on vocals and a backup band of 11 that produced the big-band sounds of which Malo had become fond. The album featured Malo singing in both Spanish and English, reflecting calypso, carnival, jazz, salsa, and country influences playing out the theme of universal love. Malo also covered "Black Is Black," a Latin rock hit, on Los Straitjackets' 2001 album, and sang on Raffi's compilation of country songs for children. The Nashville Acoustic Sessions, a pared-down collaboration with Nashville session staples Pat Flynn, Rob Ickes, and Dave Pomeroy, was released in 2004. Malo returned to the studio for You're Only Lonely and After Hours in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Lucky One followed in 2009.
In late 2009, Malo signed to Concord's Fantasy imprint and began recording a slew of new tracks at his home studio in Nashville. He took them to Sam "Lightning" Seifert at Bismeaux Studio in Austin and enlisted the help of the legendary Vox Continental organist Augie Meyers; guitarist Shawn Sahm (son of the late Doug Sahm of the Sir Douglas Quintet); accordionist Michael Guerra (known for his work with the Tex Mex Experience); and Austin's lauded vocal group the Trishas (Savannah Welch, Kelley Mickwee, Liz Foster, and Jamie Wilson), who provided background vocals. The end result was Malo's debut for the label, Sinners & Saints, released in October of 2010. In 2012, he delivered Around the World, a set of classic love songs backed by Britain's 30-piece Northern Sinfonia orchestra, including versions of "Let It Be Me," "Make the World Go Away," "Dance the Night Away," and "Around the World."
''AROUND THE WORLD''
FEBRUARY 14 2012
61:51
1/Indian Love Call
Rudolf Friml / Otto Harbach / Oscar Hammerstein II/4:39
2/L' Appuntamento
Fabrizio Tarducci / Francesco Tarducci/4:10
3/Every Little Thing About You
Jaime Hanna / Raul Malo / Alan Miller/4:06
4/Lucky One
Raul Malo / Alan Miller/5:22
5/Let It Be Me
Gilbert Bécaud / Mann Curtis / Pierre Delanoë/3:13
6/Make the World Go Away
Hank Cochran/2:46
7/La Vie en Rose
Édith Giovanna Gassion / Louis Guglielmi/3:23
8/I Said I Love You
Jaime Hanna / Raul Malo / Alan Miller/3:29
9/Bésame Mucho
Consuelo Velázquez/4:34
10/A Man Without Love
Roberto Livraghi / John Barry Mason / Daniele Pace / Mario Panzeri/4:28
11/Moonlight Kiss
Raul Malo / Alan Miller/7:00
12/Dance the Night Away
Raul Malo/6:38
13/Guantanamera
José Fernández Diaz/4:04
14/Around the World
Harold Adamson / Victor Young/3:59
Ian Bone /Violin
Iona Brown /Violin
Ed Cervenka /Percussion
Jenny Chang /Violin
James Craig /Cello
Jay Craig /Saxophone
Marion Craig /Trumpet
Bradley Creswick /Violin
Malcolm Critten /Viola
Peter Francomb /Horn
Simon Fryer /Cello
Kullen Fuchs /Keyboards, Vocals
Mike Gerrard /Viola
Elio Giordano /Bass, Vocals
Stuart Gray /Trombone
Christopher Griffiths /Horn
Michael Guerra /Accordion, Vocals
Tristan Gurney /Violin
Tom Hankey /Violin
Don Hart /Arranger
Sian Hicks /Double Bass
Ilid Jones /Oboe
Tegwen Jones /Viola
Vera Jovanovic /Double Bass
Grahame King /Timpani
Rosamund Kitchen /Violin
Kate Lindon /Violin
Raul Malo /Guitar, Vocals
Richard Martin /Trumpet
John McTigue /Drums, Percussion
Jane Nossek /Violin
Alexandra Reikhlina /Violin
Sarah Roberts /Violin
Clare Robson /Flute
Rob Saslow /A&R
Danny Scott /Trombone
James Slater /Viola
Sylvia Sutton /Violin
Louisa Tuck /Cello
Dewi Tudor-Jones /Violin
Gabriel Waite /Cello
Ian Watson /Violin
REVIEW
by Steve Leggett
Although he broke into the public eye as the lead singer for pop-country outfit the Mavericks, Raul Malo is hardly a country singer (although he can sing a country song as well as anybody on the planet). He's explored just about every strand of popular New World music, from Mexican border fare to salsa, calypso, carnival, rock, and jazz, and of course country, and he's done all of it with an amazing voice that soars with sincerity and emotional depth. His latest album, recorded live in July of 2011 with his core backup band, the orchestra Northern Sinfonia (conducted by Paul Gambill), and a horn section, finds him tackling classic love songs from a variety of genres, giving each song an orchestrated big-band lounge feel. But this isn't Malo going Vegas here, although he's certainly capable of being that kind of populist entertainer. This is Malo bringing a lot of strains together, from Latin rhythms to uptown swing, and fashioning his own brand of universal pop. It certainly isn't country. Highlights include the haunted resignation of "Make the World Go Away," the intense and longing "Every Little Thing About You," a rocking "Dance the Night Away," which finds Malo and his amassed orchestra sounding like a more rootsy version of ELO, and an absolutely beautiful version of "Around the World." This is a live recording, but the engineering and sound are top-notch, and the emotional interplay between Malo and his audience lends a sort of spark to everything. It seems this man can sing anything, and in any style.
BIOGRAPHY
By Eleanor Ditzel
Originally making his mark in the country music world and then slipping into the Latin and jazz arenas via rock & roll, Raul Malo has proven to be an ever-expanding musical talent. Malo, born in Miami of Cuban parents, started playing bass guitar in high school and soon found his way into several small bands. In 1987, he made his first recording with the Basics, and one song, "Paperheart," appeared on the promotional album Unsigned. While the album wasn't a success, the experience whet Malo's appetite for more. Later in the '80s, Malo and a high-school friend, Robert Reynolds (bass), joined together to form their own country band, based on their mutual love for Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Patsy Cline. Paul Deakin, with experience in several progressive rock bands, became the drummer, and the group chose the name the Mavericks. This band went on to become one of the outstanding country bands of the '90s.
Under Malo's leadership, the Mavericks released their debut self-titled album in the fall of 1990. The album managed to grab the attention of many big labels, and MCA Records signed the Mavericks in May 1991, when they played their first gig in Nashville. David Lee Holt, who previously played with Carlene Carter, Joe Ely, and Rosie Flores, became the lead guitarist for the band, with Malo concentrating on the songwriting and vocals. MCA released From Hell to Paradise in 1992 and issued five more albums for the band during the '90s. From Hell to Paradise was critically acclaimed, but not a success financially. However, What a Crying Shame brought forth financial fortunes when it was released in 1994, with its title track reaching the Top 40; the album went platinum by spring 1995. Holt was replaced with Nick Kane as lead guitarist for the next releases. Many of the band's singles reached the Top 40, with "O What a Thrill" making number 18 in the summer of 1994 and "There Goes My Heart" reaching number 20. Music for All Occasions, released in 1995, went gold. the Mavericks eventually won a Grammy and the Country Music Association twice bestowed them with Top Vocal Group honors. One of the highlights of the band's career was playing at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
As Malo began to integrate Latin rhythms into his songwriting during the latter part of the '90s, the albums picked up a stronger Havana influence, leaving the country rhythms in the shadows. The band became an eclectic mix of rockabilly, honky tonk, Tejano, native Cuban, and country. The MCA label continued to release the Mavericks' albums and singles throughout the '90s, with the final compilation being 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Mavericks in 2001. Malo then switched to the Universal label for the band's release of O What a Thrill: An Introduction to the Mavericks. Although the Mavericks quit playing gigs together in early 2001, they didn't really break up as a band and Malo still has tight connections with the members.
During the latter years of the '90s, Malo began doing parallel solo work, sometimes accompanied by the Dennis Burnside Orchestra. In October 1999 he completed his first solo tour in the U.K., performing many of his new songs. By 2000 he had become a producer with Ethan Allen and K.T. Oslin, and joined Los Super Seven as a lead vocalist and songwriter, in addition to working with Latin singer Rick Trevino in his studios. Malo's first solo recording, "Bailare (El Merecumbe)," was self-penned in Spanish, and he also did a solo recording of "Downbound Train" by Bruce Springsteen. When the Country Music Association needed a voice that could handle singing all the different hits of those being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001, they called on Malo because of his ability to handle diverse rhythms.
Malo's first album as a solo artist, Today, reflected his Cuban background, but didn't entirely leave out the deep-twang guitar of country music. His exuberance flowed on the album as he mingled the pop sounds of the '60s with salsa and country. Released by OmTown/Higher Octave Music in October 2001, the album also included Shelby Lynne on vocals and a backup band of 11 that produced the big-band sounds of which Malo had become fond. The album featured Malo singing in both Spanish and English, reflecting calypso, carnival, jazz, salsa, and country influences playing out the theme of universal love. Malo also covered "Black Is Black," a Latin rock hit, on Los Straitjackets' 2001 album, and sang on Raffi's compilation of country songs for children. The Nashville Acoustic Sessions, a pared-down collaboration with Nashville session staples Pat Flynn, Rob Ickes, and Dave Pomeroy, was released in 2004. Malo returned to the studio for You're Only Lonely and After Hours in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Lucky One followed in 2009.
In late 2009, Malo signed to Concord's Fantasy imprint and began recording a slew of new tracks at his home studio in Nashville. He took them to Sam "Lightning" Seifert at Bismeaux Studio in Austin and enlisted the help of the legendary Vox Continental organist Augie Meyers; guitarist Shawn Sahm (son of the late Doug Sahm of the Sir Douglas Quintet); accordionist Michael Guerra (known for his work with the Tex Mex Experience); and Austin's lauded vocal group the Trishas (Savannah Welch, Kelley Mickwee, Liz Foster, and Jamie Wilson), who provided background vocals. The end result was Malo's debut for the label, Sinners & Saints, released in October of 2010. In 2012, he delivered Around the World, a set of classic love songs backed by Britain's 30-piece Northern Sinfonia orchestra, including versions of "Let It Be Me," "Make the World Go Away," "Dance the Night Away," and "Around the World."
