Born and raised in upstate New York, Carmela Rappazzo heard classic music from an early age. She moved to New York City singing in clubs and performing in off-off Broadway Theater and a few independent films before moving to Los Angeles. While in L.A. she worked with several notable film directors such as Rob Reiner and Wolfgang Peterson and also sang in local clubs with top jazz musicians. She made her recording debut with “Black And White” (a standards album with the Jon Mayer Trio) and “Regarding Frank” (a tribute to 1950s Frank Sinatra) with the legendary pianist Paul Smith. Carmela started writing songs, formed her own trio, and recorded mostly original songs on “The Girl Who Dreams Out Loud” Her fourth album which also features songs Hirth Martinez and songs by Mike Melvoin and Donald Fagen.

 

After that she resided in New Mexico and recorded Joseph City, mixing together fresh versions of standards with her own originals and was nominated for best Jazz original composition by The New Mexico Music Awards. 

During her period in New Mexico, Carmela acted in local theater productions and worked on the feature film “A Bird Of The Air” and served on the board of New Mexico Women in Film co producing an event with Barbara Orbison, a screening of Roy Orbison’s “Black and White Night” raising money and awareness of New Mexico’s homeless children.

 

She then returned to New York city once again performing and while there created “Myths and Legends”, comprised mostly of her songs about strong and difficult women, and love gone wrong, While in New York she also did a ‘guest track’ on jazz clarinetist Mort Weiss’s record “Mort Weiss is a Reality TV Show”

 

New Orleans called to her and she now resides there performing in numerous clubs around town as well as The New Orleans Jazz Museum and New Orleans Museum of Art.

In New Orleans she has been working with and writing with some great local musicians soaking up the Crescent City, making it her home.

 

Howlin’ At The Moon, her sixth recording, pays tribute to her adopted hometown and was recorded at The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music with some of New Orleans best.

 

Her seventh recording “Love and Other Difficulties” also recorded in New Orleans and explores the complications of love and is a departure from a ‘strictly jazz’ form.

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The eighth project "Whispering" features all new original songs from Carmela including co-writes with Paul Sanchez as well as songs from local New Orleans artists. This recording features an all new band and style with Russell Welch on guitar, Chris Beroes-Haigis on cello, Jasen Weaver on bass, Glenn Hartman on accordion, Scott Johnson on bari sax, Mark Carroll on lap steel and featuring Paul Sanchez singing duet with Carmela. 

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And now, "9", her ninth recording re-unites the stellar band from "Whispering" with 9 new original songs by Carmela and some co-writes with Paul Sanchez, Russell Welch and Chris Beroes Hagis. There are two covers, Dylan's "A Simple Twist Of Fate" and "Travelin' by the late Spencer Bohren.

Available now on Bandcamp as are all of her recordings.

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Described as  “A storyteller of picturesque tales” Carmela hopes to continue to create memorable and personal songs that discuss topics that can be related to by a wide audience while performing and enjoying life in New Orleans.