Song:If I Didn't Have You
Album:The Music Of Randy Newman
Jazz singer Roseanna Vitro emerged from the Houston jazz scene of the 70s and has done well recording as a solo artist since the 80s. If I Didn't Have You is from her latest CD The Music of Randy Newman, her tribute to one of the all time great songwriters. She was born Feb. 28, 1951 in Hot Springs, AR. Her father owned a local nightclub so Roseanna was interested in music at an early age. She moved to Houston in the 70s and sang frequently with tenor sax great Arnett Cobb. She also sang with visiting jazz musicians like Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson and Tommy Flanagan. Roseanna moved to New York in 1978 and toured with Lionel Hampton. She also worked frequently with Kenny Werner. She first recorded as a solo artist for a couple of small labels in 1985. Her 1993 CD Softly on Concord was her major label debut. She usually records with a small band. On that CD, the band was led by pianist Fred Hersch. Since then Roseanna has recorded for Telarc, Challenge and Half Note. The Music Of Randy Newman is her first CD on Motema Music and was released in 2011. The band is led by former Sonny Rollins pianist Mark Soskin with violinist Sara Caswell, bassist Dean Johnson and drummer Tim Horner. If I Didn't Have You is from the 2001 film Monsters Inc. and won Newman his first Best Original Song Oscar. This CD was nominated for a Best Vocal Album Grammy and Newman praised it as well. So Randy Newman fans should check it out. Rosanna Vitro is currently on the faculty of New Jersey City University. She is currently working on her next CD which will be a tribute to big band leader Clare Fischer. Here's Roseanna Vitro performing If I Didn't Have You with Mark Soskin, Sara Caswell, Dean Johnson and Tim Horner at Dizzy's Coca Cola at Lincoln Center in New York City June 13, 2011.
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