Labeled "the voice that wishes you love" by Walter Winchell.
After hearing John sing "The Next Best Thing To Love" at Carnegie Hall, a quote was told to a friend. "Edward Kleban is smiling from heaven. John sang the lyrics exactly how Ed wanted them sung." — Marvin Hamlisch
A lead singer for the Follies Bergere in Paris for many years, De Marco returned to the states to work in Vegas, NYC and Miami. After a 20-year hiatus, De Marco is back on the scene to rave reviews!
Praise for Pure and Simple
I listened to your CD twice. I think it's fantastic, like listening to some famous, classic singer but it's in your own style. I think the production is wonderful, the arrangements and Barry's piano playing are fantastic, and in many ways it reminds me of the quality of production and performance that Nancy LaMott had. It's really a classic CD. You should be very proud and should definitely make more. No wonder it won the MAC.
— David Friedman, Award-winning composer for films, Broadway and recordings
2007 MAC Award winner (Male Jazz Singer) John DeMarco has a debut CD out and in his liner notes, he states that after a show he did at the late lamented Judy's Cabaret, he overheard a patron say, "His voice is pure and simple." Taking this line as the title for the CD is perhaps misleading. Pure, yes. Not only the voice but everything about the CD has an admirable purity. But simple? Well, everything about it is seemingly un-complicated and easily accessible, but it couldn't have been that simple to put together this exceptional piece of work. There are fifteen superior songs brilliantly arranged, played and conducted by the much admired pianist Barry Levitt, with thirteen fine musicians.
The whole is sung by a man whose approach to the music and lyrics speaks of his maturity and experience and sensitivity and taste, while his voice sounds like that of a much younger man blessed with a gorgeous set of pipes. If his sound and style could be said to be reminiscent of any other singer, who comes to mind is Mel Torme. Not a bad artist to be compared to performing the "up" tunes like "Born to Be Blue," which Torme wrote with Robert Wells, and "Under a Blanket of Blue" (Symes/Nelber). Red Evans and Dave Mann's "No Moon at All" is as tasty a take as I've heard on this classic, with an extended tag cleverly ringing in quotes of "Moondance," "What A Little Moonlight Can Do," "Moon River" and "Fly Me to the Moon." Fun! DeMarco's strongest gift comes through with the ballad, the rueful "I Could Have Told You" by Carl Sigman with Jimmy Van Heusen, and another Van Heusen perennial favorite, "Only the Lonely," written with Sammy Cahn. I'm so glad John recorded the Harburg/Arlen "Last Night When We Were Young," and my very favorite, the heartbreaking "It Takes Too Long to Learn to Live Alone" by Allen Car. That one lovely, rarely heard song is surely worth more than the cost of the CD, which I urge you to buy right now. If you don't find it in your record store, crank up your computer and go to www.johndemarcoentertainment.com. There are several other top notch songs beautifully sung on this CD. If you enjoy well produced good music, this one's for you.
— Jan Wallman, Cabaret Exchange
A wonderful musical experience. Lush, simply beautiful and exquisite
— Carol Woods
O's Notes: John has a gentle fireside voice. He is singing in front of a large ensemble with strings conducted by pianist and producer Barry Levitt. They play all together and in smaller subsets to match the mood. There are fifteen well-picked classic tunes making this a formula for a pleasant evening of listening. De Marco and company swing on "Born To Be Blue" with a confidence that makes everything relaxed. We also enjoyed their arrangement of "Green Dolphin Street," the Brazilian beats of "The Gift" and "No Moon At All" in a very good program. Pure and Simple is just that!
— D. Oscar Groomes, O's Place Jazz Newsletter
I have been spending the past several days listening to CDs on my little iPod Shuffle — especially holiday CDs, in order to get me into the spirit (there is a full list with cover photos of a few dozen holiday CDs on the CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE website, including "where to buy" information). But I did get two special CDs this week that I really enjoyed, in spite of the fact that they were quite different in style and content.
2007 MAC Male Jazz Vocalist Award winner John De Marco sent me three copies of his CD "Pure and Simple" — one for my own use and two to give away as premiums. I have already decided to give one away to the 430th member to join CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE for the 2007-2008 membership year. Maybe the second will go to the 450th — we shall see. The nice thing about this CD is not just the fact that it brings you John's amazing vocals (John is not a youngster, but his vocals are those of a 25 year old), but it also is one of the most relaxing and romantic CDs I've listened to since the heyday of Charles Cermele! The disc simply overflows with romance and soothing song. Many years ago — and I am talking many years here — when I first moved into Manhattan, I had a few records (yes, Virginia, there was a time before CDs) that were in this style, and when I had company for the evening (or hopefully longer) I had a stack of these vinyl discs on the player that would last several hours. John's CD has been out for a while (someone loaned me their copy when it first came out and I loved it), and you can find out more and where to buy it at www.johndemarcoentertainment.com.
— Stu Hamstra, Cabaret Hotline Online
It's not relevant where John has been but rather where he's bound to go with this wonderful new 15 song biscuit of his. The album title best explains his demeanour and his glorious voice. He sounds like no one else I've heard before, except slightly at times like Chet Baker. But once you hear him you will never forget him. His gentle easygoing sound speaks volumes. There's a pair of lovely Van Heusen melodies that Sinatra formerly visited: "I Could Have Told You" (Sigman) is crooned ever so lightly but most refreshingly. "Only The Lonely" (Cahn) begins with a very difficult acapella vocal that actually makes me forget the formerly essential Nelson Riddle arrangement. It's sung with a great deal of emotion reaching me from the start. Fellow singer Mel Torme penned the song "Born To Be Blue" (Wells) and it's brisk reqorking here sends shivers up and down my spine. John lightly kicks it up a notch or two. And then there's the evergreen "Under A Blanket Of Blue" (Symes/Nelber). He tees off and finishes it with a unique fitting whistle and then, right in the middle, there's a power-packed precious swift violin solo by Andy Stein. I can't wait for John De Marco's next CD!
— Dan Singer, In Tune Magazine, London England
The last few decades have not been good ones for the giants of American song. Incomparable giants like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams and Mel Tome are gone. Well almost.
In his long awaited debut CD, "Pure and Simple," velvety baritone John De Marco weaves a magical, easy listening spell that recalls crooners of yesteryear in what may be one of the best albums to emerge from cabaret over the last decade. In fact, listening to this classy album is like a sentimental journey back to a time when people dressed for dinner and candlelight suppers were the norm; a time when songs on the airwaves had meaningful words that made sense. It's a moody mix of romance and yearning that has the word classic all over it from the first note to the last chord.
Right at the start, the opening song, "Next Best Thing to Love," a bright love song from the Broadway musical, A Class Act by Edward Kleban, the melancholic mood is set with this contemporary gem that should be a modern day treasure. Through De Marco's intelligent, understated and warm phrasing, the song recalls evergreens from the past like "I Wish You Love" (Trenet-Beach) made famous by Gloria Lynn and the Cy Coleman dreamy ditty, "It Amazes Me," a favorite of the likes of Shirley Horn and Tony Bennett. It's that good. Other highlights include a flawlessly fresh take on the Yip Harburg-Harold Arlen classic "Last Night When We Were Young."
On this, the musical rapport between the singer and the song reveal a depth of artistic communication that is rare in any area of music. It doesn't matter that the interpretations are largely void of melodrama and vulnerability. What does matter is the depth of understanding De Marco brings to his smooth vocals sprinkled with a lot of heart. Too, a wistful "Not Exactly Paris," by Russell George and Michael Leonard, exude a lover reflecting on a distant affair. On this cut, he sets a pace that slows it down as the song evolves while he ruminates on these trenchant lyrics and draws out crucial words that linger. The effect is intoxicating on this story song of yearning. A restrained swing illuminates a noir-like "I'll String Along With You" (Warren-Dubin) with a haunting tenor sax and piano accompaniment underpinning the mood.
Unlike too many albums by other cabaret singers, "Pure and Simple" eschews the cutesy or the mundane. Every lyric of every song matters. The album shoots for a level of integrity that is all too rare. De Marco clearly knows who he is and what his strengths are. The stylish album never reaches for something it is not. Hence, the honesty of the title "Pure and Simple." While, at times, there is a sameness to De Marco's plaintive delivery that borders on the lethargic, he repeatedly manages to breathe new life into gems from the past. Never is this more evident than on "Born To Be Blue" by Mel Torme and Robert Wells. On this rarely heard blues-tinged swinger from 1946, which found a life once Nancy Wilson recorded it in 1960, is a song that deserves a re-birth with a fresh voice. John De Marco may be that voice. He has the panache and the savvy to convey the comfortable, laid back heart of a mature crooner from another era with the freshness of a youngster. It is also hard to overlook the obvious influence of Mel Torme had on his musical psyche.
At the helm of this album is brilliant musical director Barry Levitt, one of today's most gifted and prolific musicians. Levitt has the talent to set the perfect pace with the orchestra. His supple arrangements are polished, muted and never get in the way of the singer. De Marco's suave vocals and Levitt's aura of solidity suggest a finesse and musical maneuvering that makes it all sound ridiculously easy. The art of understatement is key to the success of this album. In the right marketing hands, "Pure and Simple" can reach heights lesser cabaret recordings can only wish for.
— John Hoglund, TheaterScenes.net
This is Act Two for John De Marco (Male Jazz Vocalist nominee). After working in the 1960s everywhere from intimate New York nightclubs to the Folies Bergere in Paris, he took a long intermission. His new album shows him to be a very competent singer whose lovely legato vocal tones float gracefully through ballads. But he's not just a guy producing a pretty sound. There is thoughtfulness that comes through in his phrasing and a mature comfort level with emotion that lets him be expressive without sobs and gobs of gushing. He's more about mellow than melodrama, but there is a bittersweet tang rather than aloofness in the sense of restraint. All of this works for him and makes for a good, grown-up, thought-provoking listen.
Barry Levitt, who is MAC-nominated three times (two for Musical Director, one for Jazz Duo/Group), is pianist, arranger, orchestrator and producer. His charts, including strings, are graceful but avoid mushiness, a good match for John's subtle but warm approach. One of the highlights is "Born to be Blue" written by Robert Wells and Mel Torme, a singer whose approach and stylings John very much evokes on wistful romantic numbers and on some livelier tunes among the 15 selections. His flair with jazzy up tunes provides a nice enough change of pace but, at least as evidenced by the few here, isn't as effective as his blissing-out on ballads.
A gratifying choice handled with aplomb is "The Next Best Thing to Love" by Ed Kleban, the eyes-wide-open-but-not-quite-dry-eyed love song heard in A Class Act. And "a class act" describes this CD in a nutshell.
— Rob Lester, Talkin' Broadway
A seasoned veteran brings heart, warm sound to every lyric. Let us hope he stays around.
— John Hoglund, Back Stage
You have heard others, now hear the real thing.
— Peter Haas, Cabaret Scenes Magazine
Perfectly crafted songs delivered with impeccable phrasing and tonal beauty that transcended good singing and produced that rare cabaret thing.
— Sam Oglesby, TheaterScenes.net
John is a traditional kind of romantic singer one doesn't get to hear often anymore. His strong, smooth, polished voice made the entire evening a pleasure.
— Barbara Leavy, Cabaret Scenes Magazine
He morphs into an amorous super hero of song. I found myself falling in love all over again.
— David Kennerly, Gay City News
You will be in love with John De Marco when the show is over.
— Laurie Lawson, Electronic Link
I recommend taking someone you love for a very romantic evening.
— Stu Hamstra, Cabaret Hotline
John sings like a bird!
— Tierney Sutton