Gina Sicilia just released her third CD Can’t Control Myself, and, if anything else, she shows that she can control herself musically. Sicilia happens to have a lot of control over dynamics, colors, tones, tempos and a lot more. Only 25, this singer-songwriter proves she can write them and belt them. Many of these songs are arranged to incorporate genres and tones associated with earlier times in American music. Be hind Sicilia here is acoustic guitar, accordion, and Wurlitzer creating a sense of what music was like in the earlier days of radio.Sicilia makes Willie Dixon’s “Crazy ’Bout You, Baby” all her own with a svelte vocal performance. She’s confident and in charge. Her backing band, once again, is the icing on the cake while her sense of dynamics, sustain, and emotion force the song forward. Listeners will definitely dig the way she belts this one out and they’re sure to get a charge out of the big, swirling sound behind her. Sicilia doesn’t actually have a full band behind her. Producer Dave Gross plays guitars, basses, drums, piano, organ, percussion, accordion and he sings backing vocals.
Larry Addison’s contemplative ballad “Members Only” is well served by a lacing of tasty organ work. Yet, Producer Dave Gross, who does wonders here, brings Sicilia’s voice to the forefront in style. Her polished rasp finesses the words, making them stand out in this moody, fuzz guitar-driven piece. Adeptly balancing her candy tinged voice with the harsher meaning of the song, Sicilia creates a strong tension with the contrast that is just irresistible.
The hit single from this CD “Before The Night Is Through” has been burning up on YouTube. In the video, Sicilia sings in black and white sepia toned footage that looks like something out of the past. The song itself has a touch of 1940s Havana flavoring. Whatever association you have, whichever label you wish to place on it, it is simply a great song, destined for further exposure. Written by Sicilia herself, her voice has a lush tone amidst a mid-tempo dance beat. The singer caresses her lyrics with a voice that wraps itself those words like a long silk glove. Saxophonist Matt Cowan gives it all an extra dimension with his swanky horn line.
Sicilia wrote her title track “Can’t Control Myself” and she gives it an extra dose of oomph. This slow song is another that makes you picture the singer in a silk dress and long silf gloves at an upscale 1940s nightclub. She is all class here. The one irony is that this singer can, in fact, control a lot of the song with her rangy grasp of melody and groove.
Sicilia sings a moving, emotive torch number “As Long As You’re Here” with gravitas and charisma. You can hear a lot of emotion in each note. There is an old soul inside of the 25 year old woman. She reaches the emotional core of a song like a seasoned veteran and the truth of her experiences ring out in every verse. Sill young enough to move onto to the big time, Sicilia, and Gross, have come up with an impressive calling card.
“Wish The Clock Would Stop” features trumpeter Jon-Erik Kellso creating a sweet, fulsome melody that carries this song. Sicilia conjures more of that earlier time in a large city nightclub. Her voice has the clarity of a clarinet and meets every note with a purity and honesty that suggests much experience. “Gimme A Simple Song” gives Sicilia more of an R&B spotlight. She slides a greasy voice around a groove like nobody’s business. The chanteuse closes out her CD with “Once In While,” another torch song. This one happens to have a vintage country after taste, due to the sweet crackle from Sean Daly’s shiny lap steel picking.
Sicilia has stretched out quite far from her original blues roots. She has delved into old time Americana to expand the colors and tones of her original songs. Can’t Control Myself is simply a great album. Sicilia should soon be seeing larger crowds and much more media attention.