Now THAT'S Amore – Frank Lamphere’s new vocal album
February 18, 2024 – Retro jazz crooner & occasional songwriter Frank Lamphere has released his fourth studio album “Now, THAT'S Amore!” Not a vocal copycat, each of the fourteen tracks exude with Lamphere's own personality, state music critics. Four of the tunes are originals. Of these, Do You Like What You See? has a lively bluesy-pop sound ala 1967, as does I’d Like to Come Back to You, a song that takes listeners back to the Vietnam war era. Both songs feature a jazz organ, adding to their authentic-to-the-period sound. Think Happy, inspired by national talk show radio host Dennis Prager, is a "small group big band" swinger whose message speaks of thinking positively. Frank does another take on his baseball song, now with a new home team, The Braves Go All the Way. Of the remaining covers, That’s Amore, originally from the 1953 Martin and Lewis movie “The Caddy” received a makeover and was made into a jazz waltz, but still with plenty of Italian flavorings. Frank's unique rendition of Speak Softly, Love (The Godfather Theme) now a full-bodied swinger, should turn some heads. Two Henry Mancini tunes: the very up-tempo Charade and the Latin flavored, vibe-tinged Slow Hot Wind found a place on the album. Another patriotic American song, found it's way onto a Lamphere album God Bless America, now a swinger. Surprise! Bacharach’s 1967 Look of Love, a huge Buddy Greco nod in Around the World and the 1934 ballad For All We Know round out the album. This album was recorded over two sessions in March 2020 and February 2021.
Frank Lamphere has been honing his swinging style during his 25+ year singing career in the specialized genre nowadays referred to as traditional pop and jazz. A style that he learned or more likely "absorbed" from the titans of American pop music (post World War II - 1970): Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jack Jones, Buddy Greco, Tony Bennett and others.
Frank's musical journey began at a young age, singing along to the records he played, on his "record player". He always had an ear for music recorded "before his time" a trait inherited from his dad. While in his late-teens and early 20s opportunities to sit-in with local bar bands and mini sets with a wedding band were a great introduction to performing in front of a live audience. Later, jazz took on a profound role in his musical direction when he "found" pianist Billy Pierce and also began frequenting several jazz jam sessions. In 1998 good fortune fell upon Lamphere as he was offered steady club work with the popular Johnny Gabor Trio. Shortly after, he began taking on his own gigs, not only in the Chicago area, but all over the country. In addition to fronting the jazz quartet at Chicago's Peninsula Hotel, Frank's was the house band at Jilly's in Naperville in 2007. Despite this busy music career, Lamphere has retained a day-job as a backyard deck contractor. His company A-Affordable Decks, attained 31 years in business, in Autumn 2023.
Among Lamphere's career highlights are singing memorably on radio and television commercials, steadies at top jazz clubs in Chicago and Milwaukee, headlining numerous Rat Pack themed shows and Italian fests across the Midwest, private & high-profile corporate gigs from Las Vegas to New York, and performing in Milan, Italy. He sang Look Out For Love featured in the opening credits of the 2007 film Osso Bucco. His song I Never Forgot from his CD "Frank Swings" was featured prominently in the award-winning independent film Theresa Is a Mother.
Frank continues to be hired across the U.S. to perform his specialty "Rat Pack Jazz" when “The music needs to be right”. His bands are comprised of mostly the creme-of-the-crop musicians in the world of jazz. Frank has been very active in the studio and has recorded two albums full of Frank Sinatra songs and a thirteen song tribute to Dean Martin, for near future release. Lamphere is married and has two children.
