After an extended break from performing—but not from singing and songwriting—Francesca returns to the public eye with a smoldering live album featuring a wrecking crew of a band. The 14-song record documents Francesca’s first time onstage fronting a band in over a decade. The audio will be paired with accompanying pro-shot video that brings this momentous occasion to life. The performances took place before COVID, and Francesca plans to follow this release up with more new music—singles and EPs—and select live performances.
“The performances for this album were magical. Onstage, we were seven musicians just channeling as one entity. It felt like I was back at home, but with nothing to prove,” the Garrison, New York-based artist says. She continues: “These days I have no agenda. I just want to make music and share this beautiful thing.”
Francesca’s three 2019/2020 performances were her first full band shows in over 20 years. She came out swinging with a band of trusted friends who happen to be top-tier musicians. These include Tony Garnier (Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Tom Waits), Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney, Sarah McLachlan), Marc Shulman (Suzanne Vega, Celine Dion, Chris Botti), Daniel A Weiss (Joan Osborne, Al Green, Anthony Rapp), Zev Katz (Ben Harper, Sheryl Crow, James Taylor), Diane Garisto (Paul Simon, Steely Dan, Laura Nyro), and Emily Bindiger (Carol King, Leonard Cohen, Buster Poindexter). The resulting 14-song album spans Francesca’s career with evergreen originals and choice cover songs, including a joyous, raucous, slightly tongue in cheek rendition of “Trust in Me” just in time for the 30th anniversary of The Bodyguard soundtrack album and movie.
The album also features a jaw-dropping version of her first album track, “Let Your Spirit Fly.” Here, Francesca’s vocals and rousing dynamics conjure gospel at its most goose-bump raising. She masterfully conveys the angst and of climate change and political conflict in the soulful “One World.” Other standouts include the ultra-funky “No Use Talkin” and a powerful rendition of Patti Smith’s “People Have the Power.”
Today, this new life is even sweeter with Francesca’s return to music. “I got everything I ever yearned for with this beautiful life I have,” she marvels. “Now, I have the added blessing of doing music with musicians that astound me and making decisions that feel authentic.”
credits
releases May 20, 2022
Francesca Beghe (vocals)
Jerry Marotta (drums)
Marc Shulman (guitar)
Daniel A Weiss (keyboards)
Tony Garnier (bass on tracks...)
Zev Katz (bass on tracks...)
Diane Garisto (backing vocals)
Emily Bindiger (backing vocals)
Mixed by Ben Wisch
Mastered by Adam Ayan
Additional Engineering by Daniel A. Weiss
Edited by Diane Cricchio and Diego Chiri at Timeline Video
Live Sound: Nick DiGiaimo
Cameras: Natt McFee & Alessandro Rafanelli
