Sunday, November 20, 2005
A portion of album sales from the evening will benefit the Rescue Mission.
By GUY D'ASTOLFO
VINDICATOR ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
NILES -- Mary Jo Maluso and Rick Blackson are still based in Canfield, but they don't get many chances to play before Mahoning Valley audiences anymore.
They've become one of the country's top cabaret acts and now mostly perform in Florida, New York or at private engagements.
But with the release of their first album nearing, the husband- and-wife duo found themselves looking for a local venue, a place to showcase the songs for the hometown folks.
They found the perfect spot in Alberini's Restaurant in Niles.
"Twelve years ago, Richard Alberini gave us a chance to break in our first cabaret show in his restaurant," Maluso said. "We've always been grateful that he took a chance on us. We've been great friends ever since."
Maluso and Blackson will give two supper-club performances, at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., on Friday at the elegant restaurant on the U.S. Route 422 strip.
"When they asked me, I jumped at the opportunity," said Richard J. "Chook" Alberini, who is in charge of the day-to-day operation of the restaurant, which was founded by his father 44 years ago. "I want to utilize this entire complex to bring together food, entertainment and fun in one place."
A piano will be set up on a small landing, with a fireplace as a backdrop. Blackson will play throughout the evening, with Maluso joining him every 15 to 20 minutes to sing selections from their new CD.
The album
Titled "The Bigger Picture," the album contains 11 songs composed by Blackson, who also wrote the lyrics.
The title came from a line in a letter written to the couple by a man they met while on their honeymoon four years ago. The man, an American Indian, wished the newlyweds luck and offered some words of wisdom, ending with the line, "Just remember to look at the bigger picture."
Explains Blackson, "Since over half the songs on the CD are about putting our past in perspective based on the wisdom we've gained at this point in our life, 'The Bigger Picture' was the best choice for the title."
To remain true to their live sound, the duo kept it simple. The recording consists solely of Blackson on piano, with Maluso singing. There is no backing band and no overdubbing.
"I wanted to either go with full orchestration, or just keep it to piano and voice -- nothing in between," said Blackson.
Maluso's sparkling, expressive voice and Blackson's bright melodies make for uplifting songs that are instantly likable.
"It's music that appeals to people who don't listen to a lot of music," said Blackson, who describes it as easy listening with Broadway influences.
On the final track, the pair explain the stories behind each song.
A first
Surprisingly, Maluso and Blackson have performed together for 15 years but never recorded an album as a duo until now.
"The Bigger Picture," recorded at Tune Town Studios in Newton Falls, will be available for $17 at Friday's shows and also at Barnes & amp; Noble Booksellers in Boardman and Shine! beauty and wellness center in Columbiana, as well as through Maluso and Blackson's Web site, www.beyondbroadwayent.com.
Ten dollars from the sale of each CD at the Alberini's shows will be donated to the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley.
The mission, located in Youngstown, receives no government funding. Its goal is to help people turn their lives around.
"We're seeing a changing need," said Jim Echement of the mission. "It's the working homeless. They have jobs but need a place to stay while they get on their feet."
The restaurant
While Maluso and Blackson are returning to the place where they got started, some Valley residents are also rediscovering Alberini's -- thanks to the newly opened 711 Connector, the new freeway that connects interstates 680 and 80.
"People from Poland are coming up and saying, 'Hey, it only took 15 minutes to get here,'" Alberini said.
His fine-dining establishment, beautifully appointed but warm and casual in tone, will almost be a co-star at Friday's shows.
It is one of only nine in the state -- and the only one in the Mahoning Valley -- to receive accreditation by the Distinguished Restaurants of North America. The DiRONA organization is overseen by an independent board, and its award is given to restaurants exemplifying the highest quality standards in all aspects of the dining experience.
Spacious but intimate, the restaurant has also received the AAA-Three Diamond Award and the Mobil Travel Guide Three-Star Award.
Alberini's is most noted for its wine cellar, which is easily the finest and most complete in the area.
It has won the Wine Enthusiast magazine Restaurant Award for 10 straight years. Also, Wine Spectator magazine has bestowed its Award of Excellence to Alberini's. The award goes to restaurants that have the most outstanding wine lists in the world.