Robert Davi is an acting legend, He has worked on so many iconic and cool movies and directed a wonderful comedy called The Dukes which he has starred in. He is also quite a fantastic singer and has put out a wonderful album called On the Road to Romance which is a collection of jazz songs that the late great Frank Sinatra sung and is a wonderful tribute to the man, who he has also worked with on a movie. Since Robert is coming to the Melbourne Jazz Festival I thought I would ask him a few questions about the album and coming to Aussie. The album is to be released by ABC Music on the 25/04/2014 https://shop.abc.net.au/products/davi-sings-sinatra-cd.
http://www.davisingssinatra.com/
1. How did you get involved with performing at the Melbourne Jazz Festival?
My manager Joe Lamont is from Australia and he is familiar with the market here . We made a record deal with ABC MUSIC to release my album and of course the best place to help get the word out is by performing in world class venues . He had told me about the Melbourne Festival and that of the one in Adelaide, Adelaide Cabaret Festival , These are both GREAT Venues so I of course accepted. I have been asked to other Jazz festival but my film schedule hadn’t permitted me to do so.
2. What will Melbourne audiences expect from your show?
That I will give my all and I do hope to leave a piece of my heart for all. Gustav Mahler once said that “music is the closest to the absolute”. I believe we all connect through music. The Great American Songbook is the Shakespeare of America and no one in my humble opinion sang them better than SINATRA. For anyone who has ever seen Sinatra or wished they could have seen him ,,, I hope they are thrilled ,,, there is no one quite like me . Sinatra had edge ,poetry and was a GREAT actor ,, also if he said ” I’m gonna break your legs you believed him” . I can say , I think I may be the only singer today that has that pedigree 🙂 LOL.Also , I have quite an extensive film career and have worked with some of the most impressive legends of our day so my show has a lot of anecdotal stories, some quite funny and some quite moving . the following quote by the legendary Quincy Jones sums it up “as FS would say, ‘Koo, Koo.’ Wow! I have never heard anyone come this close to Sinatra’s sound ” and still be himself. Many try, but Robert Davi has the voice, tone, the flavor and the swagger. What a surprise.
He absolutely touched me down to my soul and brought back the essence and soul of ‘Ol Blue Eyes himself.
” Quincy Jones
3. Are you happy with how the album has been received?
We have gone to number 6 in America on Billboard Jazz charts for more than several weeks . For a debut album this is pretty good when Tony Bennett and Michael Buble are charting alongside you its a darn good feeling .Also, the response from public and critics alike has been very encouraging .
4. How did you select the songs you wanted to sing?
I chose songs that were pivotal in Sinatra’s career — and also have a personal significance to me.
5. What was it like working with the late great Phil Ramone and what do you think be brought to the album?
Phil, was one of the most endearing people I ‘ve worked with. He had a wonderfully gentle way of letting the artist be himself and guide almost imperceptibly but profoundly.He brought his amazing sense of what makes a Great record and sound . They say one of the most important attributes of a producer is his EARS !!!! and there were none better than Phil’s.
6. Will be there be another album on the cards?
Yes ,I am happy to say — and we have 7 tracks already completed . Sadly ,they are the last seven Phil worked on with me.
7. Are you happy with the response to your film The Dukes?
Yes I am
8. Will we see you direct another film in the future?
I do hope so ,, perhaps sooner than later.
9. What are you looking forward to do in Australia when your not performing?
Well ,unfortunately , I do not think I will have a lot of time but I do hope to take in some of the lovely sites — I want to hold a Koala Bear — I did that 25 years ago when I came Australia for Bond.
10. Is there anything you have done yet you would most like to do as an actor and a singer?
There are so many things I have NOT done it would take too long to list ..
11. What inspires you now as an actor?
as always a GREAT SCRIPT —
I invite you all to come see me and also getting my album -so Looking forward to meeting you !!!
The album is to be released by ABC Music on the 25/04/2014 https://shop.abc.net.au/products/davi-sings-sinatra-cd.
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