Diane Marino sings with affable spirit and effervescent personality. She’s also a stellar arranger and pianist who has chosen a dozen splendid songs for her seventh album, I Hear Music. Born in New York, and now based in Nashville, Diane Marino draws upon Great American Songbook repertoire associated with such artists as Dakota Staton, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O'Day, and others.  A song like “Let Me Off Uptown” was a big hit for Anita O’Day when she was with the Gene Krupa Orchestra from 1941-43.

The album’s title cut begins the set with Marino’s cheerful, positive rendition of a Burton Lane and Frank Loesser tune from the 1940 film, “Dancing on a Dime.” In a bluesy vein from the same era, “Moonray” was made famous in the 40s by Artie Shaw and Helen Forrest. Throughout the album, producer-husband Frank Marino’s bass line, Pat Bergeson’s guitar, and Chris Brown’s drums and percussion add solid, masterful accompaniment. Various tracks are colored with saxophones of Joel Frahm or Cole Burgess, vibes from Chuck Redd, keyboards and organ of Brad Cole, trombones of Wycliffe Gordon or Desmond Ng, and trumpet from Leif Shires. For the biggest band sound, check out the Benny Carter classic, “Rock Me to Sleep” and the album’s closer, "You'd Better Love Me."

Together, the band and vocalist create cohesive grooves that capture many moods. Charismatic Marino is versatile and vivacious, showing her lively side on “The Late, Late Show,” imparting a Latinesque feeling to “It Could Happen to You,” and sparkling soulfully on “You Showed Me the Way.” Other moods are conveyed in Marino’s spirited rendition of “When Lights are Low,” poignant ballad “Detour Ahead,” sumptuous and melancholic “I'll Close My Eyes,” and straightforward “You'd Better Love Me.”

Diane Marino seems quite comfortable with a large body of material from show tunes to swing standards, and Latin classics to the blues. Her sublime voice is confident, assuring and optimistic on I Hear Music. Passionate and filled with memorable passages from a solid repertoire, I Hear Music is a joyful, timeless expression of lyrical depth in a contemporary approach towards music. She sings with charming mystique and mature sophistication that allow her to find her own style and voice. The result is that I Hear Music yields a bountiful reward of jazz pop panache. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)