Captured Alive by Patrick Arena

Justin Hopper-Pittsburgh City Paper

"Captured Alive gives you Arena at his peak, first as a showman (that he feels energized by his contact with the audience is delightfully apparent from the uplifting

opener 'We Open Doors' the the 'leave 'em-wanting-more' finale, a rendition of "Orange Colored Sky") and also as a superb lyric interpreter and creative writer. He wrote or

co-wrote nine of the songs in this warm,jazzy collection, two of which appear as bonus tracks."

...Doug Shanaberger / Oberserver -Reporter

"Patrick Arena's singing style has taken a journey from cabaret to jazz, and it's worth the trip. His new album, "Captured Alive," finds him at the height of his craft. He wisely relies mostly on his orignal songs, but they feel right at home along side the few jazz

standards present"......JD Doyle Audiofile

"Captured Alive is marvelous: a beautiful voice that really did touch me. The opening is fantastic... and the band is terrific. The music is great, a perfect combination of blues/ballades/beat/jazz"........Frank Van Engelen-- Bluesiana Radio , Purmernd, The Netherlands

"Patrick has a good sense of swing and sounds like he's enjoying himself immensely on the CD. His enunciation is clear, his lyrics are very hip and he's gathered a group of fine musicians in Skip Peck and his two sons, Nathan and Alex. And saxophonist Eric DeFade is as great as always."...... Bob Studebaker WDUQ-FM

PRESS RELEASE

With his new CD release CAPTURED ALIVE, Patrick Arena reveals his unique songwriting ability and takes his distintive jazz voice out for a strut on the high wire of a 'live' performance recording. The musical talent assembled is an all-star package. Patrick frolics with the ever playful Eric DeFade on soprano and tenor saxes. Skip Peck lays tasty chords on the keys with his son Nathan walking the bass down, while son Alex drives the rhythm section. Singer Amy Crunick dishes out the harmonic spices. The music is swingin' jazz with just a dash of blues tossed into the palette. CAPTURED ALIVE is Patrick Arena at his most dynamic.

"If my songs recall the artists that inspire me, it is a tribute to them. When I wrote 'How Generally Rotten I Feel," along with collaborator lyricist Michael Sandwick, I envisioned Mose Allison at his most sardonic. "Angel Wants Out of Heaven" is really Cab Calloway channeling through me. And "Drifting" is my dreamlike yearning for my own slow motion Michel LeGrand movie theme. But, I hope you hear my own writers voice coming through the songs too. I think any artist owes a great debt to those who came before."

Patrick has included some classic standards in this energetic mix. The old Louis Armstrong chestnut 'Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?' gets a new coat of paint. He reinvents the quirky Jon Hendricks lyric to the Horace Silver tune 'Doodlin' with substantial backup help from vocalist Amy Crunick. It's an all-out 'goin' to Boston' jazz jam with great solos by all the musicians. The rockin' finale of the concert is the audience favorite "Orange Colored Sky.'made immortal by Nat King Cole.

The opening cut on CAPTURED ALIVE is a special tradition. Patrick has been opening his performances with this accapella anthem 'We Open Doors' since he wrote it a few years ago. " People ask me how I can possibly be calm enough to open a program with something accapella? Really, the reason I do it is because it settles my nerves down to just use my voice. I dont have to worry about interacting with any of the musicians. I can establish my voice for me. It grounds me onstage."

CAPTURED ALIVE is Patricks' second release on his label Arenamusic. His first was the award winning CD NIGHTCAP. CAPTURED ALIVE was recorded onstage in performance on March 26, 2004 at the beautiful Uptown Theatre in Washington, Pa.

CAPTURED ALIVE

SONG BY SONG

WE OPEN DOORS

This song is always sung acapella. It is my statement and my wish for the way the world could be. We could all open doors for each other: No reason not to. Walk through the

door into a new world , a new knowledge, a new way to be...and walk safely. Walk with the love and good wishes of everyone.

HOW GENERALLY ROTTEN I FEEL

I think this song was the result of a fierce hangover back in my drinking daze. As I recall, my collaborator at the time, Mr. Michael Sandwick and I had tied a good one on the night before. I remember croaking out the title as a painful exclamation. The bell rang...aha! we have a great title. Michael finished the lyric in about 2 hours and I wrote the music the next day. It's based on the blues and always makes me feel better. Cures a hangover too!

HOT DOG

This one is from way back when I first started writing. I think a lot of songwriters write a tune about their dog. I wanted to try to goof on that idea and make it about the adolescent randyiness that a guy goes through.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO MISS NEW ORLEANS

I first heard this song as a child when I would search through my fathers old 78 collection for records that I liked. I wore out the old Louis Armstrong version. Many years later I saw it performed in a clip from the original 1940's film with Satchmo and Billy Holiday. What a team they were. I carry this song in my heart with fond memories.

DOODLIN'

When I lived in NYC I had a great singing partner in Rosemary Loar. We would seek out old Jon Hendricks songs and try to do them up as if we were Manhatten Transfer. What a ball we had Doodlin' away. I wanted fun songs for this collection so I dug out this old tune and taught it to Amy Crunick.We didn't even have any music for it. Here it is in all it's quirkiness.

NEVER CRY AGAIN

I have had a tug of war with this song ever since I wrote it. It came out of a need to heal from a bad relationship. I forget which one now, but I still have the song. Im not sure I agree with the idea of never crying again. Im just not sure thats the right way to go: Shut down in order to not hurt? Never crying again would mean that you were suppressing the emotions. Can that be good? Can that be real healing? Maybe I have just been in therapy

for too long. You listen and decide...LOL.

ANGEL WANTS OUT OF HEAVEN

The idea for this song came from a dream. I saw it as an animated film. The little angel would be a cross between Jessica Rabbit, Betty Boop and Kim Basinger. I kept thinking

what a juicy idea to have a pouty little angel that wants out of heaven. Over time this song has evolved into a mad swirl of Cab Calloway mixed with doo wop honky tonk and

reincarnation. It was on my album NIGHT CAP too but I recorded it again because wanted to hear the band and especially the sax solo.

WHO KNOWS WHAT LOVE WILL DO

I think that we are powerless over the who, how and where of the great loves of our lives. I wanted to write a message about how love can do and be many things to us if we can hold it lightly and give up our control.

BAREFOOT BOY

This has to be my theme song. It always takes me back to when I was a kid running around barefoot. That was my favorite time. Barefoot in the grass...in the sun or the

shade. It reminds me to take that child with me always. That little boy is the best part of me. He is my joy. My wonder.

ORANGE COLORED SKY

This is another one from the old 78 record pile. Man, I sure loved that ole Nat King Cole Trio. This is the most fun to sing and swing with these musicians. What a perfect fit. I always light up when I see the faces on the audience during this song. It's a real crowd pleaser.

MY LOVE

I have imagined what it would be like to really be on love with someone. I tried to write it in this song. I dont mean the kind of love that gets you so high you cant think clearly, but the kind of love that is about trust and becoming family. I'd sure like to know what that kind of love is. I'd like to be able to look at someone and always feel that I believe in them. And in me.

DRIFTING

Another collaboration with Michael Sandwick. What a wonderful lyric. I always wanted to hear Barbra Streisand sing this. Guess I ought to send it to her.

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