![Softly | Walter Martella and Gergana Velinova, recorded live [Photo by Robert Colasanto]](softly.jpg "Softly | Walter Martella and Gergana Velinova, recorded live [Photo by Robert Colasanto]")
Listen Softly
Enjoy mellow jazz selections
By Jessica Colasanto
Buying local is a very rewarding experience, and this holiday season brings us a great local treasure: the latest CD by Walter Martella, a live recording featuring his jazz piano complimented by the voice of Gergana Velinova.
Softly, as the name suggests, is a collection of relatively mellow selections—a perfect mix of wistfulness and bliss, strung together with beautiful melodies.
While tracks such as Blue Orchids and Moon River conjure an innocence of youth, and Estate brings in a Latin groove, many of the songs—such as Mood Indigo, I Get Along Without You Very Well, Didn’t We, and Where or When—certainly have lyrics tinged with melancholy. But Martella unravels the tunes as he plays, and Velinova lifts the essence of those lyrics to bittersweet as her voice floats above the piano strings. There is nothing melancholy about this album.
| The tracks for Softly were captured earlier this year at the Powell River Academy of Music. Martella plays the Steinway concert grand piano, an instrument renowned for its tonal beauty, in a hall known for its acoustics. The disc is truly a live recording, capturing a few noise imperfections and performance originalities in order to deliver an authentic feel and sound. | Listen to two tracks: |
Martella’s musical skill is remarkable, and his favourite musical language is jazz. His musicianship landed him a spot teaching at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and it was there that he met Velinova, who is on the VCM Jazz Department faculty and conducts its Vocal Jazz Ensemble.
Gergana Velinova is a respected and admired figure for many of Powell River’s vocalists, having led several popular vocal jazz workshops in the community, brought in by the Powell River Chorus—which Martella conducts. These workshops always culminate in a performance not unlike the tracks on this disc, and the musical rapport between the two musicians inspired many audience members to suggest that they produce a disc.
When Martella was discussing his next project with Paul Steenhuis, an internationally-known recording engineer who just happens to make his home on the Sunshine Coast, the collaboration with Velinova was deemed a perfect fit. Steenhuis recorded, mixed, and mastered the production. Photographer Robert Colasanto was on hand during the session to capture still images, which comprise the album artwork.
![Gergana Velinova and Walter Martella at the Steinway work on the music for "Softly." [Photo by Robert Colasanto]](walter.jpg "Gergana Velinova and Walter Martella at the Steinway work on the music for \"Softly.\" [Photo by Robert Colasanto]")
Readers wishing to purchase a copy can find it at the Powell River Academy of Music (open Monday through Thursday) or may contact Martella at walterfmartella@hotmail.com. For more information visit waltermartellamusic.com.
