Joe Mancuso may be St. Louis' best kept secret. Although, arguably, that secret won't be kept for long.
Mancuso, who grew up on The Hill, is an in-demand jazz singer. Two weeks ago, he played six gigs in three days (accompanied by Dave Black on guitar). He describes his sound as different from traditional jazz because of his rock 'n' roll roots.
His 2014 debut album, Cut to the Chase, features 13 classic jazz standards—all brought alive by his trademark electric energy.
You can hear him live Wednesday, June 17, at the Missouri Botanical Garden for the Whitaker Music Festival, where he'll play a set, accompanied by saxophone, piano, guitar, bass, and drums, from 7:30 - 9:45 p.m.
Although he studied music at Webster University, he says he's only been on the music scene for about four years. But he's been able to accomplish so much (including a handful of top music awards from the Riverfront Times) because of hard work and a true passion for music.
I spoke with Mancuso over the phone. He talked about his excitement for the upcoming gig, his love for St. Louis, and why he has no regrets following his dreams later in life.
So you grew up in St. Louis, moved to Portland much later, then came back. What makes you love your hometown so much?
I have a big family—Italian on both sides. My mom's family and my dad's family came to America from Sicily. They settled in St. Louis and started working at Soulard Market. Both sides of my family have operated stands on Soulard Market. That's where they met... We have a lot of love for this city because it's just been part of our family since they emigrated.
How would you describe your jazz sound to someone who has never heard it before?
My sound is probably different from a lot of traditional jazz vocalists because I came from a rock 'n' roll background. However, two of my biggest vocal influencers were Frank Sinatra and Billy Joel... I learned a lot of phrasing from (Sinatra) — how he breaks up the lyrics and swings it. And then Billy Joel's singing was just so intense, even if he was singing a ballad like "Honesty." It's a soft, sweet song but he sings it with so much intensity. That's what I was drawn to vocally... Whenever I perform, I perform like it's the last time I'm going to sing again. A lot of people say they really feel the energy and the intensity.
What can people expect from your set at the Whitaker Music Festival?
We're going to definitely play a lot of what's on my record. Plus, we're also going to play a couple of tunes that maybe not a lot of people have heard... Because we have those rock 'n' roll roots, we're going to play some new stuff... Since I've been working with Dave Black in a duo setting, we've been including a lot of pop covers, blues and even R&B... We've rhythmically reinvented them and added a new life and energy to them. The group that I play with, they all have such unique and energetic personalities. It's really exciting to play off what those people bring to the table.
So it seems like sometimes you’re accompanied by a full jazz band, but other times just a guitar. How does that change your sound?
You're not as exposed when you've got other sound. When you're just in a duo, I think it's a little more challenging because it's just you and one other instrument, so you really have to be able to convey that energy and emotion... I don't know that I sing different, but I love both. I love the freedom of doing duo and trio work because I'm more exposed, and I can sometimes experiment. But with a full band, it's nice to have that backing because they really make it easy for you... You can take a break and allow someone to do a solo.
What was it like producing your debut album, Cut to the Chase?
It was a lot of fun, and it was very quick. We did it on a shoestring budget. The unique thing about that record, what I'm really proud of, is that it's actually what I would call a digital time capsule of what my group was doing at the time. We played at the Chase Park Plaza every Thursday night for about six months... When the gig dried up in 2013, I said, "We have to go into the studio and capture what we've been doing here." So we went to the studio and recorded a few numbers we had been performing at the Chase—that's why it's called Cut to the Chase. It was a blast making it.
Are you working on a new album?
Yes, I'm actually getting ready to record with Dave Black... We've developed some interesting arrangements of jazz standards and pop tunes, even some R&B and old rock tunes. We're going into the studio in the next couple of weeks to make a record of just voice and guitar.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians in St. Louis?
Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Really be yourself and do what you love. There's a lot of pressure on musicians to play certain styles and certain music that could really cramp musical creativity, or really shut down what you have to offer that would be unique.
For years, I put my musical career on the shelf. It wasn't until later in life, after some tragic events, that really made me realize that life is short and you really should spend time chasing your dreams and working to fulfill those dreams—especially if it's something you love. If you work hard at something you love, it's really not work. The rewards will follow. I have no regrets about waiting so long to pursue this dream. I got to spend time with my kids.
