Lou Pomanti & Friends – Review

The Gananoque Reporter

(Vesuvius Music, 2022)

Canadian composer, arranger and producer Lou Pomanti has assembled a stunning list of colleagues for this recording – too many to name, in fact. Most of these tracks are covers that will be familiar to listeners, but with fresh new arrangements. Other tracks are deeper dives and Pomani includes a couple of original compositions as well.

Come Together (Lennon/McCartney) is a cool jazz groove that features Marc Jordan & Robyn Black. A House is Not a Home (Bacharach/David) also features Black. Other highlights include Matt Dusk’s performance on The Nearness of You, David Clayton-Thomas & John Finley’s

punchy take on Your Mind is On Vacation and Emilie-Claire Barlow’s soulful rendition of Stoned Soul Picnic.

Pomanti’s son Sam closes the album with a tender and poignant instrumental arrangement of Yusuf Islam’s Father and Son (formerly Cat Stevens). The obvious message of the song is not lost on the listener as we can imagine a proud father sitting behind the soundboard listening to his son perform.