In September '88, jazz singer/composer Augie Alonzo undertook writing an innovative course on health. While formulating his ideas, he came upon the idea of including an original piece of music dealing with the healing nature of sound and music. With this in mind, he lovingly composed TALT's Theme to assist those who would be reading through the course materials.
To record his music, Alonzo called upon his friend, jazz violinist Johnny Frigo, whom he had first met in 1967 when Frigo played bass at an Alonzo recording session. For TALT's Theme, Frigo arrived fresh from recording his own rave-reviewed album with guitarists John and Bucky Pizzarelli, and more recently, from live performances with Ahmad Jamal, Anita O'Day, and Monty Alexander, as well as from appearances on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show.
As it turned out, both the course and the single recording were very well received. With urgings from professionals, Alonzo agreed to change the format of his course. However, when the written materials were converted into a paperback version for mass distribution, the cassette of TALT's Theme could no longer be included. From this quagmire, TALT's Theme became the leader on its own album.
TALT's Theme is the only piece of music on the album specifically intended to have salutary qualities. The rest of the material was drawn from Augie Alonzo's existing repertoire. Three tunes (Not 'Cause I Need, The King (Without a Throne), and First Love Song) are from his New York-created musical "First Grade Babees."
The album's four instrumentals, TALT's Theme, Nocturne, Raja, and First Love Song, feature the emotionally charged virtuosity of Johnny's violin, while the four vocal cuts, Not 'Cause I Need, Play the Game?, Her Song, and The King (Without a Throne), showcase Augie's unique jazz, vocal, and writing abilities. TALT's Theme, as well as the other seven cuts, convey a soft, warm quality meant to create a mood of rapture.
This unique combination of talents--Johnny Frigo's violin and arranging abilities and Augie's vocal and composition skills on all eight pieces, coupled with the artistic assistance of cellists Susan LaBella alternating with Felix Wurman and the exciting synthesizer work of Ed Tossing alternating with Mark Streder, create a whole that will touch all who listen.
It is from this great love the the group "Keepsake" was born to share with you the joy and satisfaction of creating this great album. Listen, love, and share with them this truly unique experience.
Barbara H. Wohlstadter
TAQUA Records
June 5, 1990
AUGIE ALONZO