I'm Old Fashioned Luis Giraldo

• 1 You Took Advantage of Me 03:55
• 2 Spring Won't Be Around This Season 05:20
• 3 Candy 03:39
• 4 A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square 04:41
• 5 Don't Go To Strangers 04:36
• 6 I'm Old Fashioned 03:17
• 7 I Could Have Told You So 05:09
• 8 Mean to Me 04:07
• 9 Blame it on My Youth 04:07
• 10 Surfer Girl 04:23
• Total Runtime 43:14

Info for I'm Old Fashioned

Most of the story about how this record came together is already penned in the liner notes for Ready, Willing, and Able, last year’s release. I’ll spare you the repetition, except to say that “I Could Have Told You So” is the song that started this whole project. There are probably few musical experiences I’ve had that would compare to hanging out in New York for a few days with Cory, recording in the hallowed ground that is Rudy Van Gelder Studio, and doing so with the caliber of musicians that play on this record: Ben Paterson, Chris Flory, and Neal Miner. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity, and the musicality these titans brought to the record.

Sequencing this record was tough. There are many slower songs, so breaking up the tempos was tricky. We kick off with just Neal’s bass and the vocal to You Took Advantage of Me. This song has been a stalwart in my repertoire for years, and I love its playful lyrics.

“Spring Won’t Be Around This Season” takes things into serious land. Cory brought this song to me, as performed by Teddi King. I spent quite a bit of time with it and simply loved it. But it’s so poignant. I loved the metaphor of hanging in the balance of life when love has ended.

I picked “Candy” because I can’t get it out of my head! Nat Cole’s trio plays it at a perfectly delicious tempo, and it feels SO great. We wanted to recreate this feel, and Ben, Neal, and Chris really keep it in the pocket.

When we were talking about “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square”, Ben was insistent on trying a straight feel with this cool rhythmic pattern that he knew Chris Flory to do. “Twist my rubber arm,” I said, as it felt great from the very first run-through. Cory also loved this song enough (OK, ‘love’ is probably a strong word…) to pick it as the first single. I recorded my vocals for the album on a vintage RCA ribbon mic, and for some reason, I felt this tune really sounded great.

“Don’t Go To Strangers” is such a well-known classic—I’ve loved this song for decades. Ben suggested we start the refrain in a rubato style, and it felt great. Ben brought so much depth and musicality at every turn; it was really a delight to have him on the album.

For the title track and second single, we have “I’m Old Fashioned.” I decided to title the record with this tune, as it really encapsulates how this music makes me feel. This song’s tempo is what I’d call “Ben’s tempo,” in a way. The band really swings, and I can see the dancers enjoying the heck out of this track. Chris plays a killer solo and is so tasteful handing it over to Neal.

Next up is the song that started it all, “I Could Have Told You So.” I tell the story on my previous album’s liner notes, but Cory had brought Ben to Vancouver a few years ago, and after inviting me on stage to sing a tune, we played this tune. We had to include it, of course, and Ben plays a beautifully longing intro to what is easily one of my favorite songs of all time.

Ben’s stride intro on “Mean to Me” sets us up nicely for this next track, which is pure fun. It would seem the older I get, the more I’m into the tunes with the playful and sarcastic lyrics! Ben’s, Chris’s, and Neal’s solos are so great. I really loved the vibe of this track overall.

Speaking of old, I was 25 when I started singing “Blame it On My Youth.” It’s an introspective ballad that, 25 years later (for me), still captures the bittersweet nostalgia of young love and the inevitable heartaches of giving oneself without measure. I love this melody and lyrics so very much.

“Surfer Girl” is a song that’s been on my mind for years. If you’re reading this before getting to this song, it’s the wonderful ballad Brian Wilson wrote for The Beach Boys. It’s also my wife’s and my song. I used to call her my “little surfer girl.” I knew Ben could make it feel like it always belonged in this style, and every time I listen to it my eyes still well up a little. Happy tears. I hope you love it.

This album was recorded over the same two-day period as Ready, Willing, and Able, and although that’s over 2 years ago now, it feels timeless to me. Shawn Pierce did a beautiful job mixing and mastering. We’ve done 3 records together now, and I look forward to many more. Thank you, Shawn!

My friend Cory: Thank you. I hope you know that I love our friendship and shenanigans to no end.

Luis Giraldo, vocals
Ben Paterson, piano
Chris Flory, guitar
Neal Miner, bass

Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, on January 29th, 2022
Engineered by Maureen Sickler
Mixed and mastered by Shawn Pierce
Produced by Luis Giraldo & Cory Weeds
Executive Producer: Luis Giraldo & Cory Weeds

Luis Giraldo
Originally born in Montreal, Luis Giraldo grew up in Bogotá, Colombia. His musical career began playing keyboards and singing with a Rock band in High School – they called it “Shade of Black”, and played mostly covers of U2, Miguel Mateos and Soda Stereo songs, among other popular music of the early 90’s.

He was then drafted to the Colombian army, and joined the presidential marching band, playing trumpet (and becoming section leader!) during his one-year service. Can you spot Luis in this army picture?

Later in university, he joined a Ska-Rock band called “El Jardín de Daniela” (Daniela’s Garden) while majoring in Industrial Engineering, with this group they won a couple of music contests (“Notas Radioactiva” and “Concurso de Música Kool”) and won some studio recording time. He soon realised his true calling was music, and after 3 semesters, switched over to a Music pogram with an Audio emphasis at Universidad Javeriana.

In music school he was invited to join the nationally-renowned Rock band “Poligamia”, and went on to record 2 albums with them on the Sony Music label. He also contributed original songs, which were in a more “bluesy” style, and this would prove to be the beginning of Giraldo’s interest in the genre of Jazz. Poligamia’s lead singer, Andres Cepeda, is now an even more successful recording artist. While in Bogotá on holiday, Giraldo visited Andres in the studio during the recording of his first album “Se Morir”, and ended up playing piano on the title track, which quickly became a runaway hit.

After some touring with “Poligamia”, Giraldo was asked to join Pop star Shakira’s band, in the capacity of keyboardist, acoustic rhythm guitarist and vocalist, and he went on to perform with her on 40+ shows all over North, Central, and South America.

Upon finishing that tour, Giraldo moved to Vancouver to pursue Audio Engineering studies at Columbia Academy, went on to study composition at SFU, all the while growing his interest in Jazz and the American Songbook.

One fine day he was asked to join a trio on a 4-month cruise ship engagement, playing all Jazz standards. This really drew the line in the sand for Giraldo, as he would fully “convert” to Jazz.

He spent some time aboard Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, and Disney cruise ships, and in 2002 he released his first Jazz album as vocalist, “Day Dream“. He is accompanied on the album by accomplished pianist Chris Sigerson, and well-known bassist and producer Rick Kilburn.

On July 6th, 2008, Giraldo released “It’s Always You” to a sold-out room at the Jazz Cellar in Vancouver! The album features arrangements by Bill Coon, Bill Runge and Jill Townsend, and its roster is a who’s-who of Vancouver Jazz musicians. This album is not to be missed!

Since, Luis has continued to perform in the Greater Vancouver area with different bands and under his own name. In 2013, he and Nick Apivor started a Cal Tjader tribute band called “Caliente” and have had some performances in local music venues.

This album contains no booklet.