To a Concert Celebrating the Release of
Donna Sammarco’s Second CD –

“Here I Am, Lord”!

Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009
Place: First United Methodist Church of Houma
6109 Hwy. 311
Houma, LA 70360
Tel: (985) 868-7787
Time: 6:00 PM

This will be a solo piano concert of inspirational music. Both contemporary Christian songs and standard hymns will be presented, featuring beautiful arrangements by some of the best Christian arrangers in the US.

There will be a reception with food and beverages following the concert. Come, relax, listen, and enjoy! See you there!

Click the titles below to play sample tracks of “Here I Am, Lord”

Press Release
November 21, 2009

Donna Sammarco Releases her Second CD –

“Here I Am, Lord”!!

P&J Records (LLC) proudly announces the release of Donna Sammarco’s second CD – “Here I Am, Lord” on December 5, 2009. There will be a Concert to celebrate this event at the First United Methodist Church of Houma that evening at 6:00 PM, featuring the beautiful music of this new production. The CD represents five years of planning and the victory of numerous challenges along the way.

There has been a clamor for Donna to release another CD after the success of her first one, “On Eagles Wings” in 2004. That CD slowly received recognition in the US, then Canada, then Australia, and then in other countries in Europe and Asia. Its popularity grew steadily, and the CD, particularly its title track, has been become popular in at least 9 countries and continues to be so to date. The pressure to release a second CD has been strong and steady from that time – from both local folks and throughout the world.

Plans were made for a second CD, but one obstacle after another stood in the way. Donna developed some physical problems that made it difficult for her to play, particularly in the fashion demanded for a recording. The planning continued, but the problems did not recede. After many prayers, treatments, surgery, and a slow recuperation, however, the Lord finally agreed that it was time to get to work on this project. Thus, this year represents a victory and a triumph in its own right.

With respect to the development of Donna’s career, she began studying piano at the age of eight. Within a few years, she recognized that this was her passion and would end up being her career. By the time she reached her teens, she was performing solo. She started giving formal recitals and accompanying theater productions. She earned a Bachelor of Music from Nicholls State University, Louisiana, and a Master of Music from University of New Orleans. She is now a faculty member within the Department of Music, Nicholls State University, where she has been teaching and accompanying for a number of years. She also has a private studio where she teaches. She is the pianist/organist for the First United Methodist Church of Houma, Louisiana as well. Her God-given gifts and talents are clearly evident in those settings and also on this new CD.

“Here I Am, Lord” combines the old and the new, the bright and the introspective, quiet prayers and shouts of praise. These pieces are offered to the listener as prayers from Donna’s hands. They are meditative. They will draw you in and not let you go. They will inspire. At times, they may draw tears. These effects are born from that delicate balance between simple melodic statement, its embellishment with swirls of color from the arranger, and the gentle lifting of that multi-colored canvas to your ears by the performer in a sensitive and delicate manner. This is what Donna does best. It is the juxtaposition of simplicity and complexity in her music that makes it especially mesmerizing.

There is a broad spectrum of music presented on the CD. For example, Donna presents Bill Wolaver’s arrangement of Bill Millard’s “I Can Only Imagine” in a powerful and heart-warming manner, weaving in and out of musical statements of the anticipation of meeting Jesus. She also provides a memorable and touching delivery of the title song – “Here I Am, Lord” by Dan Schutte – a Christian favorite, framed in a beautiful arrangement by Mark Hayes, who breathes his own life into the song. There are also new interpretations of standard hymns, such as “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”, “It is Well with My Soul”, “Fairest Lord Jesus, “Blessed Assurance”, and “I Surrender All”. Some of these tunes have been arranged Carol Tornquist and Susan Naylor Callaway – two additional wonderfully talented arrangers.

There is one tune that merits special mention; it is “A Prayer of Need”, by Penny Rodriguez. This song is contemporary but was inspired by a poem written by Thomas a’ Kempisin during the early 1400s. The poem and its message live on, even into this millenium. Have you ever heard an instrumental song that relayed a message, despite the fact that there were no words? This tune accomplishes that; you will feel the meaning of the words despite their absence.

Once again, Donna Sammarco’s “Concert of Celebration” will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Houma, LA, December 5, 2009 at 6:00 PM, and the public is invited. There will be a reception afterwards with refreshments, and Donna will be available to sign CDs. Welcome.

Please click the image below to view the full-size poster:

]]> http://www.pandjrecords.com/2009/11/21/donna-sammarcos-new-cd-here-i-am-lord/feed/ 0 http://www.pandjrecords.com/2009/08/01/donna-sammarcos-second-cd/ http://www.pandjrecords.com/2009/08/01/donna-sammarcos-second-cd/#comments Sun, 02 Aug 2009 04:04:40 +0000 admin http://www.pandjrecords.com/?p=27 Update on Preparation for her Second Release

We are now well along the way to preparing Donna Sammarco’s second CD. The release is planned for November 2009. This second album of solo inspirational piano music will be truly wonderful. It will feature numerous well known songs with beautiful arrangements. Once again, the tunes will be a mixture of traditional and contemporary songs, each in a fresh, new setting. The CD will be entitled “Here I Am, Lord”.  In addition to the title track, it will include “I Can Only Imagine”, “A Prayer of Need”, “Breathe/Fill Me Now”, “Blessed Assurance”, “I Surrender All”, “Jesus Paid it All”, “As the Deer/Fairest Lord Jesus”, and a number of others.  Once again, her mastery of the piano and presentation of these pieces will tug at your heartstrings just as with “On Eagles Wings”.

All tracks are recorded and mixed. We are moving forward into the next stages of production and will keep you posted as things develop.

Thank you so much for your support.

P&J

Distribution of CDs is becoming less prevalent in these times of increasing digital distribution.  Please note that, if you prefer, hard copies of all of our CDs, complete with all graphics, lyrics, and other information, are available through this website.  We ship direct to you.  Simply click on the link that says “Purchase“.

Big Fun on the Bayou correspondent Michael F. Vinning recently sat down with the members of Paul and Friends to discuss what draws these local musicians together.

Vinning: Describe what is inspiring about Paul.

Lindsay Ogle: I’m always amazed at how Paul juggles so many things in his life. He is a marine biologist by day and also a composer/arranger/choir singer/YMCA board member/husband/step-dad/grandfather/lecturer … the list goes on and on. And the truly amazing part is that he is “excellent” at every single thing. Sometimes we’ll get sheet music for a new tune, and he will have composed 12 different vocal parts. And in that time of writing out these parts, he will have also prepared a lecture on coral reefs that he will give at a global symposium in Indonesia. He is so passionate about bringing local musicians together and his vision for his music is so precise and well-thought out. He’s a great step-dad too.

Vinning: So what do you other guys do musically when not recording or practicing for or with Paul and Friends?

Ogle: Living in New York City, auditioning for Broadway shows, doing studio recording here and there, traveling to South Africa and working with children teaching them music and dance.

Jerome Theriot: I play sax, piano and flute. I am a music teacher here in Houma.

Sandra Benyon: Sit around at home and play Burt Bacharach, Elvis Presley, Bee Gees, Carole King, James Taylor on my grand piano in the dining room. No matter how lousy you are feeling, if you can pick up your instrument — or in my case just sit in front of it — you soon find yourself putting your heart and soul into those tunes and get those great endorphins — or is it serotonin? — flowing. Music is an amazing balm for the soul.

Kai Underwood: Playing in two bands, one a staff rock band at the high school where I teach, the other a electrified string band who wanted a beat. A lot of old timie music there. Summer finds a group of us setting up camp at a number of festivals in the Northeast and playing bluegrass, zydeco, Cajun, rock on into the night.

Donna Sammarco: I play piano for music department recitals at Nicholls State University, and I also play piano/organ at First United Methodist Church in Houma.

Vinning: What kind of music do each of you play when performing solo or with another band?

Theriot: I’ve played many types of music: rock, R&B, jazz, gospel and big band.

Benyon: Mainly jazz standards, big band tunes, MOR – anything really! I love all musical styles and this year I plan to branch out into the music which I grew up with in my home as a child: country. I just love Charley Pride.

Donna: As a soloist I play Christian music in church and as an accompanist I play classical music at the university.

Vinning: OK ‘Friends’, with whom and where do you guys perform when not in the studio with Paul? What are some of your favorite venues?

Theriot: I’ve played with the U.S. Navy band, Carnival Cruise lines, shows at the Biloxi Grand, numerous local bands in Houma, Thibodaux and New Orleans.

Benyon: My lounge room, funerals, weddings, playing Christmas carols for my friends on Christmas Eve after a few cocktails. I can play a fairly mean “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Only trouble is everyone else is having all the fun dancing around while I’m frowning and trying to read the music in the dim light of the Christmas tree. It’s traditional for me to do carols each year and, when everyone has had a few drinks, they don’t notice all my wrong notes.

Ben Melancon: I mostly perform locally now that I am married and working, and not nearly as much as I would like of course. But I’m OK with that because now it’s like when I do get to perform, whether in church or elsewhere. It’s like a release – a break from everyday. My absolute favorite place to perform has always been First United Methodist Church in Houma. It’s huge and cavernous, vocals sound great in there.

My most recent gig was on the good ship “Queen Victoria” in August. I got to sing with the wonderful English piano player in the Commodore Club. We did a one hour set of jazz standards, and I also rewrote the words to “My Way” to reflect what my tour group of 94 people got up to on our two weeks in the Mediterranean. It was a blast. That’s what’s always uppermost in my mind when I perform. It’s got to be fun or I’m outta there.

Donna: My favorite place to play is in church.

Vinning: How did each of you get your start in the music business?

Ogle: I got my start singing a solo at Rouses Supermarket, and the rest is history. My dad was a singer in a local Thibodaux band and my mom taught piano at Nicholls. It was all around me

Benyon: At age 15 while still at school, I answered an ad in the paper for a female singer to join a seven-piece band. I sang “Blue Bayou” at the audition and they were sufficiently impressed to hire me. I spent a few years hanging out in that club every Friday and Sunday, not even old enough to have a drink. It was a great age when young singers got to “earn their stripes” with a great line-up of musicians behind them. Playing in front of a six-piece band is not something that young kids get to do anymore these days, and get paid. I consider myself very lucky that I had that chance before everything became “electronicised” thanks to the good ole drum machine. I spent nearly 20 years gigging with all sorts of bands; lived in Amsterdam in my home country of the Netherlands for a year in the early ‘90s and performed with a band traveling all over the place.

My worst memory: hooking up with a very ordinary Filipino band and doing the gig from a pick-up joint in Frankfurt, Germany. The drummer played with his eyes shut and the bass player was so bad I nearly throttled him on stage in sheer frustration. We got sacked after one night, and I high-tailed it back to my little flat in Amsterdam.

Underwood: Grade school and church, but the shift to combos was a Dixieland band in middle school. I moved on to rock, blues and soul in a high-school combo. With Paul at Syracuse came a strong focus on soft rock and originals, not to mention an intense commitment to rehearsing for live audiences and studio work.

Melancon: I started out in the church, my Dad bought me an old set of drums one day when I was 13, totally out of the blue and I just started playing and haven’t stopped since. Along the way I have been fortunate enough to play in a few bands, as well as record with Paul and all of the friends, so it’s been cool.

Donna: I really don’t consider myself in the “biz.” I just happen to be able to make a living doing what I love to do.

Vinning: Where did each of you grow up and how did that affect your decision to become musicians?

Ogle: I grew up in Thibodaux and remember being surrounded by music always. It’s a part of the culture in southern Louisiana. I don’t think I really had a choice. It was just always there and could always make me feel great.

Benyon: I grew up in a fairly ordinary working-class suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. My dad was a motor mechanic and my mum pretty much stayed at home. I went to a Catholic girls’ school and was lucky enough to have piano lessons from age 8. The nuns soon put me to good use singing at every possible Mass or church service. I even had to sing the 10 Commandments through the PA system every Monday morning, with a record playing the accompaniment. The head nun used to stand behind me and shove my face into the microphone. But, I think I loved it even then. I was never shy about singing. At a school reunion 20 years later, I was told that I would tell everybody that I wanted to be an “entertainer.” I seem to recall that I thought I’d be a concert pianist but because the word “conservatorium” made me think of some dark and boring place, I never felt the desire to go there, despite the fact that I aced all my music exams. A real pity – it’s something I wish I’d done – although I don’t blame my parents. They just were the type to push me into anything other than getting a job and getting married.

Underwood: Saw my late born uncle play drums in his high school and knew I had to do that. I was already taking piano lessons. I weeded an old man drummer’s yard for a summer, got his drums and set up in my attic.

Melancon: I grew up in Thibodaux and was always around music in some way from very early on. I am lucky to have parents who introduced me to different genres of music from an early age.

Donna: I grew up in Thibodaux and decided in junior high that I would be a musician/music teacher when I grew up.

Vinning: Who were your biggest musical influences early on? What about now?

Ogle: Soul, R&B, blues, Earth, Wind and Fire, Ray Charles, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, India Arie, Jill Scott, Alicia Keys, etc.

Benyon: As I mentioned, I really was raised with a lot of country music being played. Also, in the ‘70s, the radio stations played a huge variety of music, so you got to hear all sorts of things every day. I recall buying Tammy Wynette’s single “D.I.V.O.R.C.E” from the local record shop, sitting down at the typewriter next to the record player and typing out the lyrics. I couldn’t have been more than 10 at the time. How I loved that song. I still love Tammy – I played “Stand By Your Man” as the first song after we were pronounced married. A real laugh for the guests, but secretly, I love that song!

Underwood: Gene Krupa, the Venture’s drummer. At the moment; Levon Helm’s latest CD. I’m also listening to Railroad Earth a great deal. They are fantastic live.

Melancon: Stewart Copeland, drummer of the Police. I’m pretty sure I wanted to be him when I was about 14. I spent hours and hours behind my drums trying to imitate what he would do. I even set my drums up exactly like he used to. Mom was always playing the piano, my sister was singing in school and at church, and I can even remember going with my Dad a few times to watch his band set up before a gig. I just knew I wanted to be part of those things when I was older.

Donna: My piano teacher, Sandra King, was my biggest influence in junior high and high school. Now my inspiration comes from great arrangers of piano music, like Mark Hayes and Carol Tornquist

Vinning: I know you guys have two CDs to your credit already; tell us the story behind them.

Donna: Being a pianist and Paul’s wife, I have the chance to play music on Paul’s CD that I don’t normally play. And I have the opportunity to work in the studio with some really fine musicians.

Vinning: Why the decision to be only a recording band? What factors come into play when making that decision (i.e. family, job, etc.)?

Ogle: Lots of the musicians have families, some were in school, some live away. It was easier for everyone’s schedules to make time for the studio.

Vinning: For those of you who play live as well; what do you get out of a live performance that you can’t get from a studio session and how important is that “something” to you as a musician? (Could you do without it and just be a studio musician)?

Ogle: The energy of the audience is something you can’t get in the studio. Also, you have the option to start over, do it again if something’s not gelling in the studio. Live performances bring musicians together in a more immediate way.

Benyon: Personally, I’m far more comfortable singing live. I find studio work very difficult and as Paul remembers, he had to ply me with alcohol to finally loosen up and even sing on that early recording. I was so young then – I think I am singing so much better now with 20 more years of “life” under my belt.

Underwood: There is nothing like the experience of playing in the midst of a well-balanced live band. One of my fondest memories was the Beatles medley that Paul and our college band put together. Once we got it arranged and tight we could fill nearly a whole set with it in a live gig. We’d save it for those times when requests that we either couldn’t do or didn’t want to start flooding the stage. Once we got that sucker going the flow and feel was out of this world, and requesters gave up. Another one was our long version of “Summertime” or “California Dreamin.” They were masterpieces of arranging, and of course Paul was at the heart of it.

Melancon: Well, playing live you have that raw aspect, you have a certain energy that comes from the people you are playing with, you feed off one another. … Someone might play something that just makes you say “Yeah, man that was it.” That’s live. It’s not as mapped out.

Donna: Actually I prefer to play live because that is all I have known until recording with Paul. The studio experience is fun because it is a change from the norm.

Vinning: What was the very first song you learned how to play or sing on your current instrument?

Benyon: I think it was “Oh Christmas Tree.”

Melancon: “Learn to Fly” by the Foo Fighters.

Donna: “Silent Night.”

Vinning: What is the first image that pops into your head when I say the word – “frustration?”

Underwood: Record company personalities who led us on during the late ‘60s. Also, at a seven-night stand at the Clef a Go Go in the combat zone, Boston … having been convinced to leave our equipment overnight, we show up the next day and our bass guitarists new Epiphone is gone. It gets worse: Paul, Dave and I are led to a place where we might borrow a base and are confronted with the very Epiphone “your welcome to buy this one.”

Donna: Having to do too many takes on one piece of music.

Vinning: How can interested fans learn more about Paul and Friends? Are you on the web?

Paul: You can pick up info on Paul and Friends on the Web site of the recording company at www.pandjrecords.com. There also has been a syndicated review of “Smooth Sailing” published on the Web. There also is a video presentation available for viewing at SlideShare.

Big Fun on the Bayou correspondent Michael F. Vinning recently chit-chatted with Paul of Paul and Friends to discuss how the group originated.

Vinning: Hey Paul, how about explaining the concept of the Paul and Friends band.

Paul: Paul and Friends was something I actually conceived years ago when I was living in Jamaica, Wis., and was isolated from my music in the U.S. I thought about all of the fantastic musicians I had played with over the years prior to that time and began fantasizing about a band made up of the best musicians I’d ever had the good fortune to play with. After that, however, I gave up performing for quite some time while I chased a higher degree; so that dream went to sleep for many years. It resurfaced during the latter years of my stay in Australia.

The concept is not new. The model comes from Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, who followed it for years. These guys basically stayed at home, composed and wrote the arrangements for the tunes. During that time, in the case of Steely Dan, the individual band members played and toured either solo or in other well-known groups. When it was time to record, they’d find their way home, rehearse, record and off they’d go again. In the case of Brian Wilson, Brian would compose and arrange for, say, six months, laying down the templates for the vocal tracks while the rest of the guys were touring. They’d then come back and record over the remaining six months.

Basically, I try to put the tunes together and then match the musicians to the tunes that suit them best. This can be quite a challenge, since more often than not, many of the musos (an Australian term) are tied up doing other gigs, or touring, or have simply disappeared into the mist without leaving their calling card. When I do find them, I write up the charts for them, record demos and distribute them. Then we rehearse and head into the studio. The instrumentals generally go fairly quickly. The vocals are very demanding and usually take quite a while.

This is my passion.

Vinning: Who makes up the Paul and Friends band and what are their roles?

Paul: The answer to that question is bigger than you might think. Because of the nature of the band, there are many members – many. And each of them possesses great talent in one or more areas. I will start with the players on our last CD, “Smooth Sailing.”

The musicians (in alphabetical order):

To her family, friends, and fans – many thanks for your patience and your prayers.

Donna Sammarco goes solo with her piano covering timeless spirituals flying on the wings of time and space (and eagles) through the ivory keys.

This was a nice experience for me. Music such as this engages you and allows a meditative state to take hold. This is not a normal state of mind for any sentient being, particular in this world we live in now, with all the constant activity around us. It takes something powerful and aurally seductive to make us stop and listen so we turn inward and recharge our link to a higher power. I should do this on a daily basis but I do not, music like this reminds me what a strong connection I have to the spiritual world and how easy it is to tap into that source if I choose. Quite simply that is it in a nutshell; it is all about making the right choices on daily basis.

Every track is crystal clear with its message and certainly because of its foundation within each composition, words are not needed. As I said, this is not something I put on the stereo every day but I am comforted to know there is something I can reach for when I want to center my energy and feel good about being alive.

© MuzikReviews.com
April 1, 2007 – Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

Well for starters, they really hit the proverbial nail on the head for the title. This CD is without a doubt Smooth Sailing all the way through. I have to emphasize the word smooth, as in smooth jazz and rock. Paul & Friends is Paul W. Sammarco (alias Paul Summers, his stage name in Australia). He is the leader of the pack, and I do not refer to pack lightly (see credits). One of the more difficult things to do is to put together an album with so many people involved. Consequently, it comes as no surprise it took over four years to complete this ambitious and eclectic project.

“What’s The Matter With That?” is the most catchy and memorable tune on the album and sounds radio ready. On the other side of the coin, they do an about face and do an old standard like “Amazing Grace” with aplomb. The track is not the easiest to make sound new again because its one of the pillars of the American songbook and very old. On top of that, to come up with some fresh insight and make it happen, well I thought the band did a nice job with that from top to bottom. The lead and background vocals of Lindsay Melancon, who also plays oboe on the track, did not bore me in the least and that was my fear when I saw the track listed. The message is the same only the delivery method is different.

The Beatles’ “In My Life” is done very well. I am always a little skeptical of Beatles covers and very judgmental. I have to say that the more I hear their special version of “In My Life,” the more it grows on me. For this staunch Beatles lover, that is saying a mouthful, so kudos for a job well done to Martin and Carol Hart handling the vocals and to the band for their fine musicianship!

Those were the highlights for me and actually, I found plenty of value and enjoyment in every track. I especially enjoyed the smooth jazz aspects and the careful mixture of pop and rock, which was interspersed amongst the jazz rudiments, as well. This is a very good album so if you are looking to kick back and go for a sail along your fantasy shoreline throw on this CD and let it happen.

Smooth Sailing
By: MuzikMan (Associate Writer), MusicDish.com

Artist: Paul and Friends
Title: Smooth Sailing
Genre: Jazz-Pop-Rock
Label: P & J Records