Diane Armesto Biography
The daughter of composer/graduate John Armesto, of Eastman School of Music – and her mother Isabelle Rinker Armesto, a soprano – vocalist, Diane Armesto has an early background in classical music. And there is her equally passionate appreciation for Jazz where in Los Angeles she served as a booking agent for world-renowned artists such as virtuoso trombonist Frank Rosolino, trumpeter Conte Candoli, drummer Billy Higgins, saxophonist Joe Farrell … and many more. In upstate New York, Diane served as a booking agent hiring jazz greats such as Cedar Walton, Louis Hayes, Bobby Watson, Bob Berg, and Jimmy McGriff.
Best known for her long-term association with Frank Rosolino, Diane was constantly exposed to the finest in jazz during festivals, tours, on recording dates, and in night clubs throughout the United States, Canada and Europe (Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Quincy Jones, Toots Thielemans, Horace Silver, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, James Moody, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker, Elvin Jones, Shelly Mann, Roy Haynes, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughan, June Christy, Carmen McCrae … the list is endless).
Diane presently resides in upstate New York where she sings and records with her own group. She has also performed at WGMC’s “Meet the Artist” series, and with Joe Romano at the Rochester International Jazz Festival.
Diane’s debut CD “EVERYTHING I LOVE” which blossomed from her work at The Little, was voted ‘top recording by a local artist’ in Rochester. It features pianists Russ Schmidt who at the time was associate professor of jazz at Eastman, internationally renowned Harold Danko, and “Cabo Frio’s” Joe Santora. The drummers are Rochester’s Mike Melito, and Joe LaBarbera who presently resides in Los Angeles and is best known for his long-term performances with jazz greats such as the legendary Bill Evans and singer/Grammy Award winner Tony Bennett. The bassist is Fred Stone Jr., a graduate of Berklee College of Music and of Eastman, who has performed and toured with an impressive list of jazz legends including Buddy Rich, Mel Lewis, and Peggy Lee. On trumpet is featured Mike DiMartino (aka “Miguelito ‘Coco’ Lopez” when he toured and recorded with Afro-Cuban percussionist Mongo Santa Maria).
Diane’s second CD “CLASSIC JAZZ STANDARDS AND ORIGINALS” features most of the same clientele that is on her debut CD “EVERYTHING I LOVE”. The only new addition is Eastman School of Music faculty drummer Rich Thompson on several selections. “No endless blues bends or stylistic pretense here!” comments Mike DiMartino (himself a CD annotator as well as musician) on Diane’s performances. “Diane is about the art of nuance. Upon hearing her, you are likely to become at once absorbed by the depth of her emotional intensities, her contrasting dynamics, her opulent tonal shadings. Diane communicates music that rewards the attentive listener!” And there is her penchant for presenting original compositions which on her latest CD, we have two. The first is “A New Autumn”. “When I first heard this tune by Harold Danko on his CD, “NEW AUTUMN” (released in 1996 on Steeple Chase) I fell in love with it and asked if he’d mind my writing lyrics. When he told me he’d be ‘honored’, I was too and then went to work to create a story I felt would fit the mood of the music and to which I imagined many listeners could relate.”
“Knowing You’re In My Life”, is another original. The music is written by pianist Mark Flugge and the lyrics by Diane. This selection – sans piano – employees one of jazz’s ‘coolest’ sounds … the chord-less rhythm section. “It is here,” says Mike DiMartino, “that Diane reveals the secret of fully exploiting this ‘sound’, by letting the space left by the absence of chords – that is, the walk of the bass, the wash of the cymbal … speak with and between her phrases.” Different from the arrangements of the same tune on her first CD, here we have the opportunity to hear Mike deliver a solo that not only exhibits his complete command of his instrument, but which is rich too, in “emotional intensity and contrasting dynamics”.
As for the “classic jazz standards” on Diane’s latest CD, one of her particular favorites is “There Will Never Be Another You”. On this track we can only sit back and enjoy Harold Danko’s adjustments of the chords and chord extensions according to Diane’s whims – thus leaving lots of space for her to say something … and then for him to respond. Notice too the slick transition Joe LaBarbera makes from brushes to sticks when Harold comes back in after Diane’s first chorus. And there is - as always – “the walk”, “the talk”, “the groove” that Fred Stone so consistently brings to each medium-swing tune. “I have so much respect for Fred’s combined natural talent and educated knowledge of music. He’s been a total inspiration and guiding force for me ever since I began singing!” Diane proudly exclaims.
Another inspiration and strong supporter of Diane’s musical career is pianist Joe Santora who we get to hear on two other standards, “All The Way”, and the more obscure “This Is Always”. Both selections begin with Joe’s first chorus and are then followed by Diane’s entrance on the second and final refrain. Together Joe and Diane compliment each other in their sparse and profoundly sensitive – even poignant approach to performing ballads. And there are the equally tender performances by drummer Rich Thompson and bassist Fred Stone Jr. both of whom can be heard employing some very tasty “interplay”. “It’s as though the air - the energy between us is like a canvas upon which we’re painting a picture – real art,” says Diane, “the subtle splashes of color and shading on Rich’s sizzle cymbal at the end of a phrase; and the timing, the placement … the drop of just one absolutely “choice” whole note from Fred Stone that can make my heart sink!”
It is on another ballad, “You Don’t Know What Love Is”, that Diane deviates from her usual insistence on playing and keeping them S.L.O.W. Here instead, she has the group create and sustain a double-time feel upon her finishing her first chorus and then re-stating the bridge. “I simply felt that it would be musically effective” says Diane, although she admits to a little discomfort by bringing the slightest bit of joy to such a somber lyric by way of a “double-time feel”. On this tune she asks that we once again pay special attention to drummer Rich Thompson. “Rich has played with me often at The Little Theatre Café and is a master on brushes!”
Rich Thompson is a master of “latin/swing” too, which you’ll clearly hear on the classic jazz standard “Night And Day”. Fiery, intense, and impeccable time too, not only from him, but from pianist Joe Santora. “I just knew I had put these two players together along with Fred Stone and me on this selection. I sensed it would work – be perfect for the excitement I wanted to generate,” Diane beams.
As there are still several other tunes and much more to listen for on this newer release which Diane has dedicated to her father who she so deeply admired and who was and will forever be an inspiration to her. Simply put, “CLASSIC JAZZ STANDARDS AND ORIGINALS” is another “must-have” for those who appreciate great music.
As for Diane's latest CDs: "JAZZ WITH BRASS, WINDS & STRINGS" and "BALLADS WITH STRINGS", refer to her latest interview with Ron Netsky in City Newsweekly.