Dominic Mancuso shares a moving real-life story in his new single and video Her Simple Truth — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The lead single from the Juno and CFMA-winning jazz artist’s new fourth album Dances In My Mind, Her Simple Truth chronicles the story of a woman who left everything she knew to begin life again a new country.
“Her battle with an abusive relationship saw her leave South Africa with her two children under the age of four and emigrate to Canada, where she became a professional massage therapist” explains Mancuso. “I used her narratives to inspire a totally fictional story based on the idea of possessing a love for oneself. I am BIG on the idea that one cannot love another if one cannot love themselves first.”
Her Simple Truth rides on a sophisticated musical landscape anchored by a heavy groove that smoothly navigates between piano and horn section-driven, smoky soul and virtuosic jazz solo interludes. Mancuso’s strong and worldly-wise voice with its whiskey rasp positions him as the perfect narrator to tribute his friend’s triumphant story, which Mancuso fleshed out with the help of poet and novelist Antonio D’Alfonso.
Dances In My Mind, which celebrates Mancuso’s 25-year career in music and his symbiotic relationship with Italy, sees this consummate storyteller teaming up with renowned Italian pianist/arranger Vittorio Mezza, who plays piano, celeste, and Rhodes on the album. Mancuso also worked with his longtime band DMG, featuring guitarist Tony Zorzi, percussionist Rosendo “Chendy” Leon and bassist Francisco “Paco” Luviano, joined here by guests John “JJ” Johnson on sax and woodwinds and Jerry “Poppa Bear” Caringi on B3 organ, accordion, piano, and vocals.
Rich and cinematic in scope, the 10 tracks on Dances In My Mind take Mancuso, his group and a chamber ensemble through a soulful blend of singer-songwriter fare, classical and jazz. The album also features string work from a quartet headed by Grammy-nominated violinist and arranger Drew Jurecka (Dua Lipa, Ron Sexsmith).
Mancuso released his solo debut Calling Out in 2000. 2010’s Comfortably Mine netted him a Juno for World Music Album of the Year, a first for an album sung entirely in Italian, Sicilian, and various Italian dialects. Later that year, he also took home the Canadian Folk Music Award for World Music Artist of the Year. In 2014, he released the internationally acclaimed Sub Urban Gypsy.
Watch the video for Her Simple Truth above, sample more from Dominic Mancuso below, and meet him at his website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
