MELINDA ROSE & FRENCHY ROMERO, I'm On My Way

Having first bonded at a community jam session in their native Miami that was open to jazz musicians of all ages, vocalist Melinda Rose and pianist Frenchy Romero are an amazing duo bringing wit, charm, sensitivity and improvisational energy to a mix of standards and a few Rose-penned originals on their continuously sparkling debut album I’m On My Way.

Journeying amiably -and with snazzy phrasing and scat to spare – from a charming exploration of Ella Fitzgerald styled whimsy on “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” through the snappy, nostalgic/bittersweet whirlwind “It’s Not You, It’s Me,” the collection artfully serves a traditional jazz community seeking sparks of freshness and uniqueness. But another aspect of Rose and Romero’s story finds them serving their country as well.

In 2022, Rose was invited to audition to be the first vocalist for the U.S. Army big band, called the Army Blues. After winning the position and completing basic training, she told Romero about an audition for pianists in another band on the same base in Washington, DC. After Romero finishes her basic training in the fall of 2024, the two will be stationed together in DC, with the Army’s blessing to perform duet shows in their free time. Those lucky enough to see them live will enjoy some huge treats from a vast and lively repertoire that includes a sultry Spanish language version of Michel Legrand’s “Once Upon a Summertime”; an emotional and passionate spin on Stevie Wonder’s “If It’s Magic”; the sassy, plunger muted trumpet fired original “Don’t Come Back” (one of the tunes featuring their ensemble of bassist Vince Dupont, drummer Matt Wilson and trumpeter Summer Camargo; and a sweetly subtle version of Irving Berlin’s “You Can Have Him.”

Another can’t miss gem is the duo’s triumphant twist on “In My Own Little Corner,” a relative obscurity from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (originally sung way differently by Julie Andrews) featuring a wild solo by Camargo. The title of Rose and Romero’s album is truly a self-fulfilling prophecy – they’re definitely on their way!