Paraiso 6

Probably one of the most beautiful tunes I've ever heard, with the original version being stunningly performed by Gino Vanelli.  I had actually heard just a piano & vocal version he'd done, and then I heard the studio version and was even more blown away.  But there's more about this song than just this cover version.

In the early 80's after I graduated high school, I began singing in some of the local nightclubs in the area around Oak Lawn in Dallas, and was introduced to a man named Paul Allen.  Paul was an incredibly talented pianist and we hit it off very well.   We performed at a club called "The Blue Mill" for over 2 years on a regular basis and really became close friends.  Life happens, you go in other directions, and it was wonderful to be able to pop in where he was playing pretty much anywhere - and he'd always ask me to come up and sing a few songs.  He could play literally anything and played for many many people over the years.  We still stayed in touch through social media and email, and every once in a while i'd forward a song to him or he'd suggest something to me to learn.  

We both sent this song to each other at different points; he was blown away by the piano only version and I was blown away by Vanelli's voice on both.  We said we'd make it happen one day.

Well, many years passed, and I got contacted to perform at a memorial for another fabulously talented individual who had played for many many people over the years and was a good friend of Paul's, mine, and many others.  Buddy Shanahan.  I immediately knew that Paul would be playing and we both knew it was time to work this one up.  But we had very little time, no sheet music arrangement, and Paul said he'd just transcribe it out when I got there to rehearse.  We had one rehearsal the day before the memorial and there we were, over 30 years from those first days of playing together, to performing a song that we had both been wanting to do for years and years.  

It was the last time that Paul and I would see each other or perform together again, as he was tragically taken away from us all in a senseless crime the next year.   I still have a hard time watching the video of our performance, knowing he is not here anymore, and the wonderful love of music he shared with anyone he ran into in his life.  I hope he rests in peace, and I had promised him at one point I was going to do this in the studio.

I hope his angel gets to hear it because I love how this turned out.  

It also marks the first recording I've ever gotten to do in which I was able to get a successful vocoder recording in an arrangement.   It's in the 2nd verse, and brings a dreamlike quality to the words, in my opinion.  

It's beautiful slow jazz; a song like this comes along once in a lifetime to get to spend time working on and recording. If you like this you should really check out both versions that Gino Vannelli has done - they're both on Youtube.

Gypsy Days 2023 (Gino Vannelli cover) - dedicated to Paul Allen

Artist: Gino Vanelli
Album: "Big Dreamers Never Sleep"
Original Release Date: 1987

I do NOT own the rights to this material, nor do I claim to do so. Copyrights belong to their owners. We only spread their work, without any commercial spirit.
Thanks and enjoy!!!!

GINO VANELLI - WILD HORSES (ZERO2TEN EXTENDED MIX)

Club Ginooo • The Pad Bank

JazzJizz 133 with Strings

JazzJizz 134 Soundtrack

Prysm 193.2

"𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔" 🎶


🎼 ENGLISH : In this site, you'll find new remixes and reworks of 70's, 80's and 90's classics. And some  surprises about new music! 🎵
The idea is to show the work of talented DJ's and independent producers of all over the world 🌎
We upload content weekly, hope you enjoy it! 🎧

♬ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ♬

"𝑳𝒂 𝒎𝒖́𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂 𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒂́𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒔" 🎶

🎼 ESPAÑOL : En este sitio encontrarás nuevos remixes y reelaboraciones de clásicos de los 70, 80 y 90. ¡Y algunas sorpresas sobre nueva música! 🎵
La idea es mostrar el trabajo de talentosos DJ's y productores independientes de todo el mundo 🌎
Subimos contenido semanalmente, ¡esperamos que lo disfrutes! 🎧

Music has always been at the very core of 'who' I am....and I like that in the fact that it's always changing.  I'm still working on "Worth The Wait", and it WILL be out this year come hell or high water.  You can actually catch an updated version of the instrumental tracks for both 'Nightwind' and "The Color of Light" as recent uploads here.  

Because work has been so very sparse and sporadic for the last year, I've definitely taken SoundCloud up on the "Artist Support" button.  If you have enjoyed my songs, both original and cover music, and are so inclined I'd be honored and humbled and very appreciative.  

The album itself has a playlist here of the mostly-most current versions of the tunes, with a few taken down for a variety of personal reasons.  But it is coming along nicely, with some songs finally being able to BE finished... they still had some growing, and I'm not ashamed of that.  And, as I'm doing all the recording, writing, arranging, and re-writing myself with no input or assistance, this is a painstakingly long process for 13 songs, and trying to keep life in order at the same time.  I thank you all for those who have had and expressed patience at the final project - I really think you're going to like it.  It is as unique and personal as I myself am, and I'm sure you are too.  I have not really heard anything like it out there and I am super happy about that - as well as the fact that with each song that I've played for friends/family/school friends, the one thing that is most often said is that they found themselves humming the tune sometimes even days later, and then realizing it was my song.  If that's not the sign of a good hook, I don't know what is.

I get asked / chided about the bulk of cover material that is here and on my YouTube channel.  It is just as a matter of rehearsing and keeping my voice in some kind of shape.  I post the items here for no other reason than to share the power of music.  These songs have all touched me in some way, and I hope you enjoy them too.

As always, thanks for the notes of encouragement, understanding where a song is coming from, and the wonderful support,  Never give up on a dream.
Kenny

New tracks tagged #gino vanelli