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.

The emphasis is keyed in on Ms. Kassel’s unique vocalizing which shines a light on the songs but equally as well on her vocal skills which sound inspired by a range of legendary jazz singers like Billie Holiday for example while the artist also cites Sheila Jordan and Abbey Lincoln as vocal influences. Some of the melodic vocal cadences here are almost progressive rock in scope. Ms. Kassel's ability to hold a note, along with her occasional vocal gymnastics, are also amazing to hear. Check out her very impressive vocals on “Sea Humanity”.

At times, the band sounds quite improvisational sounding as well, with the vocalist exuding a keen sense of vocal gymnastics which seem to bend and flow like water throughout the songs. Overall, Ms. Kassel sounds very upbeat and positive throughout which reveals a stellar vibe. Armed with a great recorded sound, Moments was tastefully produced by Steve Barbar.

The songs appear to flow into each other giving the Moments album an organic, unique sound movement and the musicians go out of their way to accommodate the singer’s flights of fancy. Surely, an appealing jazz vocal album featuring an excellent singer backed by first rate jazz musicians. Surely the album to bring Melissa Kassel further recognition, Moments sits comfortably somewhere between legacy jazz and future jazz.

 

RMR speaks to Melissa Kassel

RMR: Tell us about growing up in New Jersey and some of your early musical influences. Where do you live now and what do you like best about it and what era of music were you born in and what music influenced you early on?

Melissa Kassel: I grew up in a suburb called Scotch Plains, New Jersey, in a home where there was a bus across the street to take us into Manhattan. I loved roaming the streets of our town and as I got older loved hopping on the bus or the train to explore music in Manhattan. I had an older sister, and I used to take her license from her bag and go to jazz clubs.

There I got to see Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Flora Purim, Hermeto Pasqual, Charles Mingus and many other great musicians. I saw Bruce Springsteen with his original band in Asbury Park. I was deeply influenced by Laura Nyro and saw her live at a New Jersey university. I loved Sly and the Family Stone.

I loved Long Beach Island on the Jersey Shore and I believe that the sound of the ocean made me a singer because it gave me what I needed to release my voice. I now live in the Boston area where I was lucky enough to study with the great Charlie Banacos and Joe Maneri. I found it a great place to raise my children.

 

RMR: How did you meet pianist and your co-writer Tom Zicarelli and what is the chemistry between you both as far as your songwriting goes? Who put the band together for the Moments album? The album features a group of well-known, talented musicians and how far do you go back with them? There is a kind of ESP in the playing and performance on the album.

Melissa Kassel: Tom and I met through a friend we played music with. We never questioned our connection because when we played it was a constant flow. When I met Tom he was playing saxophone.

At one point, he moved to Maine and sent me a box filled with recordings of songs he had written without lyrics. The music came to him after he lost his father. I started pouring over them and picked the ones that inspired me to write lyrics.

We have been playing with the same band for many years. Sometimes the bass has changed but Bruce has been consistent for at least the last 6 years. I look at Tom at the piano and say he is my right hand, Phil is my left, Bruce is our backbone and Gary a truly creative force. We really like and respect each other.

 

RMR: What inspires your song lyrics? Would you call your lyrics and songs upbeat and what singers these days inspire your own songs and arrangements?

Melissa Kassel: My song lyrics are inspired by the force of love and nature. I think some of my lyrics are quite sad and some joyful. The songs I have been writing lately have a political edge. I am inspired by so many different genres of music. I teach and I am exposed to many modern vocalists.  

 

RMR: Were you also influenced by rock music like The Beatles or was it jazz all the way? I read you were also influenced by singers Sheila Jordan and Abbey Lincoln. Can you tell us some your big influences like Billie Holiday… any other jazzy pop singers or composers you can cite?

Melissa Kassel: I loved the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, etc.… I was drawn to jazz because it offered freedom of expression. With jazz you can feel the wind blowing and you can go in any direction. I love Billie Holiday, Cassandra Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, so many singers that I am dizzy answering this question!

 

RMR: Can you name five essential classic jazz and/or pop-rock albums that made a huge impact on you? I know it must change day by day.

Melissa Kassel: Laura Nyro and Labelle - Gonna Take a Miracle, Rahsaan Roland Kirk - The Inflated Tear, Donny Hathaway - Live, Peter Gabriel / Genesis - Foxtrot, Casandra Wilson Harvest Moon.

 

RMR: As far as further songwriting, recording and performances do you plan for in 2025 and beyond? Are you keen on recording more albums?

Melissa Kassel: Nothing planned but there are a lot of new songs I cannot wait to record!