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Since the title of the debut album by the Melissa Kassel & Tom Zicarelli Group is Moments, it’s appropriate to imagine just how many incredible and inspiring ones the veteran singer (nominated as Best Jazz Vocalist in Boston) and pianist have created performing live since they began collaborating in the 80s.
A quarter century after Kassel first graced the world outside the New England region with her critically acclaimed debut album Live at the Acton Jazz Café, she and Zicarelli tap into their extensive repertoire for ten compelling original musical moments that showcase not only their symbiotic artistry, but also that of their cohorts Bruce Gertz (bass), Gary Feldman (drums) and Phil Grenadier, whose soulful trumpet solos add extra fanciful magic to the jubilant, high-energy swingers “Dancing” and “Spring Forth Joy” and a touch of sensual romance to the ballad “Glow of Your Love,” among others.
Working with these stalwarts, Kassel, as critic Frank John Hadley once wrote, “brings real imagination and passion to her close study of tone, intonation and phrasing.” She is a thoughtful, insightful storyteller, whether she’s in a reflective, melancholy mood (as on the graceful opener “Lullabye” and the moody, haunting “Adrift”) or celebrating life and love via “Dancing,” “Glow of Your Love” and the peppy, lighthearted “Breath.”
One of the more curious, and truly adventurous, tunes is “Sea Humanity,” which begins in a whimsical percussive mode, with Kassel singing lyrics along with Zicarelli and Grenadier as they intriguingly scale up, Then the piece eases into an extended ambient, hypnotic avant-garde instrumental interlude before returning to the original quirky tempo. Kassel and Zicarelli wrap this continuously engaging set with a brief but emotionally intense vocal-piano duet that further showcases her expansive vocal range.
Check out the Jonathan Widran review in JW Vibe from July 10, 2025
“If you’re in the mood for inventive and original jazz that will get your mind racing, then you have to check out ‘Moments’ by Melissa Kassel & Tom Zicarelli Group. Melissa Kassel is a talented singer and lyricist who has a knack for telling a story through song. With Tom Zicarelli Group adding depth, Melissa Kassel is able to bring ‘Moments’ to life for a wide audience.
This new release explores many facets and musical structures, with Melissa Kassel leading the way with her distinctive voice. Love, nature, and everything else in between are touched on here, making ‘Moments’ a must listen…
Melissa Kassel is so inventive with her lyrics and vocal approach, while Tom Zicarelli Group plays like seasoned champs. Through fearless expression and artistic freedom, Melissa Kassel & Tom Zicarelli Group have created ‘Moments’ that will last a lifetime.”
Read Jimmy Rae’s full review in Skope Entertainment, July 2, 2025
“Melissa Kassel & Tom Zicarelli Group: “Moments” opens gently with “Lullabye,” which has a gorgeous late-night vibe, established by Tom Zicarelli’s work on piano. And there is an interesting innocence to Melissa Kassel’s vocal approach. “Shed your skin and let me in/Is it possible to learn to fly/Stars so high in this vastness of sky.” The others come in approximately a minute into the track, and there is a smoky feel to the trumpet lead, like a lone figure in the mists rising from a city street. And there is a moment near the end when the music is like stars falling from the heavens, particularly the piano work.”
Check out the Michael Doherty Music Report blog from May 16, 2025
“On her debut album from 2007, Live At The Acton Jazz Café, vocalist Melissa Kassel covered a range of well-known jazz standards, and in mid-2025 she returns to the recording medium again with a 10-track, 48-minute album complete with all original compositions co-written by Ms. Kassel and pianist-composer Tom Zicarelli. The resulting album, simply called Moments, is quickly building a positive reaction in the jazz community.
Teamed with co-writer Tom Zicarelli, Ms. Kassel displays true vocal finesse and variety while receiving excellent support from Tom Zicarelli (piano), Bruce Gertz (bass), Gary Feldman (drums), and Phil Grenadier (trumpet). The tracks are all original this time around, and the music displays a fresh spontaneity with the central focus being on the jazz vocal medium. Fortunately, Zicarelli and Ms. Kassel seem to have a musical ESP that is easy to discern after several listens.”
”Read Robert Silverstein’s full review in the Roots Music Report, May 2, 2025
“The Melissa Kassel & Tom Zicarelli Group encompasses years of collaboration with Phil Grenadier (trumpet), Gary Fieldman (drums), and Bruce Gertz (Bass) to produce this new sampling of original compositions.
Their instinctive musicality conveys synergy that is expressive, compelling, and a feast for the ears.”
Read the review in Russell Trunks Exclusive Magazine, April 2025
“Take a little bit of cool jazz, add boldly inventive vocals at times distinctly rooted in the realm of free jazz, gently sprinkle with bebop solos here and there, and season with heartfelt lyrics. Mix until smooth. Enjoy Moments by Melissa Kassel and the Tom Zicarelli Group.
Melissa’s deeply emotional and vulnerable voice intertwines with the soft and sophisticated accompaniment, leaving the aftertaste of unrestrained improvisational artistry. ”
Read Anastasia Bogomolets entire review in All About Jazz, December 2024
“This smart, sensitive, and quietly adventurous band, led by singer Kassel and pianist Zicarelli, proves New Yorker critic Whitney Balliet’s dictum that jazz is “the sound of surprise,” providing an unexpected detail or emphasis around each corner of even the most familiar standard or jazz classic.”
Keven Lowenthal, The Boston Globe
“The past ten years have been a golden age for jazz, and depending on your definition of the genre, jazz-related instrumentalists. Many have a working knowledge of several genres and have been synthesizing them in many ways to create a flowering of new styles. However, there hasn’t been anything like this sort of evolution in the jazz vocalist area. Betty Carter’s breakthrough work finally gained her some attention during the last dozen years… still it’s rather annoying to note that the jazz singer with the highest profile these days is Diana Krall, a generic and old-fashioned stylist.
“Boston based vocalist Kassel’s live CD, though, gives us reason to hope. A powerful, emotional artist…she alters themes until they become paraphrases of the original melodies, employing microtones in the process. She brings all of her by jazz standards, wide range into play. She swoops, she bends notes, she lays behind the beat, then catches up with it. Dynamically and texturally her work contains a good deal of contrast, sometimes she shouts, she growls, sometimes she almost whispers or talks the lyrics. She employs vibrato effectively in different ways…. she’s among the best jazz vocalists to emerge in years.”
Harvey Pekar, 90.9WBUR, Boston’s NPR news station
“For a debut recording, this is one of the smoothest live recordings to come about in recent years–it has a special feel about it, and the performances are excellent in all aspects… Melissa Kassel and her Quintet are new to the jazz vocals CD world, and what a welcome touch of freshness they are. The Jazz listeners will find ‘Live at the Acton Jazz Café’ a feast for the ears…”
Less Posner, Jazz Review
“Some see the 21st century jazz world as full of unoriginal, unimaginative young instrumentalists who go out of their way to emulate their idols, and the problem is often just as bad among singers… It’s not hard to find a surplus of Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald clones. But Melissa Kassel isn’t one of them. The Boston based jazz vocalist strives for originality…”
Alex Henderson – All Music Guide