Paul Marinaro

Paul Marinaro Jazz Trio

Chicago-based jazz vocalist Paul Marinaro, dubbed as having “one of the most plush baritones in Chicago &endash; or just about anywhere else” by Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune, is a modern classic. While his vocal style is peppered with traces of his influences, he has successfully forged his own sound and personality; his performances all possess a fresh, playful, and inventive sense of rhythm and melody, and an expansive repertoire.

The youngest of a large Italian family in Buffalo, NY, Paul was a born singer, growing up in a home surrounded by music. Singing to the radio by the time he was four, Marinaro was raised on the standards, hearing his father singing or playing Sinatra and other classics from the Great American Songbook. Eventually this led to Paul becoming involved with and trained in music as a young child.

Since moving to Chicago in 2003, Paul Marinaro quickly made a name for himself, becoming one of the most in-demand male vocalists and having been featured at most of the best music venues in the city. He has maintained an exhaustive performance schedule since arriving in Chicago.

The formation of The Paul Marinaro Trio in May 2008, centering Paul’s vocals between the energetic intimacy of piano and bass, began a new chapter in his Chicago career. Featuring classic jazz interpretations, the trio has developed a vast repertoire all culled from The Great American Songbook, has performed weekly at various clubs and has presented a successful tribute series at since 2008. Included among his successful tribute shows are “Sinatra: The World on a String”, “A Night of Lady Day: A Tribute to Billie Holiday”, “A Celebration of The Nat King Cole Trio”, “Marinaro Sings Mercer” and “Marinaro Sings Ellington”.

Paul’s name can currently be seen attached to many of Chicago’s best musicians and can be seen weekly at various venues. Through his countless appearances at various Chicago theaters and supper clubs, Paul has had a quick rise to prominence and critical acclaim.

Paul Marinaro has an infectious and palpable passion for the material he chooses, demonstrating an uncanny knowledge of history and musical styles. Possessing a vast repertoire, Paul enjoys re-interpreting well known songs, as well as re-introducing long forgotten gems, each presented with both musical intelligence and playful integrity.

In 2013, Paul will celebrate his premier album, Without a Song, an extraordinary debut recording that is a carefully crafted concept album stemming from and inspired by his father and his father’s unfulfilled dream to have been a professional singer. It is a meticulously culled, exciting, and varied selection of standards on which Paul is accompanied by an array of Chicago’s finest musicians.

For this album, Paul incorporates the beginnings of his love affair with music, when at the age of five, he found his father’s homemade 78RPM acetate discs in the attic, heard him singing “That Old Black Magic”, and was mesmerized.
Little did his father know that this scratchy recording would be Paul’s first musical inspiration&helip;and little did he know that it would be restored and used to open his son’s debut album 66 years later.