“INVITATION” Graceful, effervescent, transcendent; these are some words that could be used to describe Jerry Costanzo’s lovely vocal style. He’s not one for the flash. Rather, he delivers the lyric in an almost “everyman” approach. It is as if he is singing directly to you or confiding in you as a friend. He embraces the classic Great American Songbook and breathes new life into well-worn material. He and arranger Tedd Firth offer a program of road-tested tunes honed during his seven month residency at Feinstein’s Night Club at the Lowe’s Regency in NYC. From the first note you can tell Costanzo and his compa- dres are here to entertain, reminisce and inspire.

Eric Harabadian ~ Jazz Inside Magazine

“INVITATION” (Daywood Drive Records)
Jerry Costanzo turns to yet another chapter in the Great American Songbook with the release of Invitation. The vocalist brings his friendly ambience to tunes that are both playful and reflective, crooning away with silky pizazz. Pianist Tedd Firth sets the scene with a sparkling melody that envelops Costanzo’s easygoing sound. “Don’t Let It Go To Your Head” continuously jolts the senses awake, as Costanzo knows when to keep the lyrics curt and when to make his notes resonate. Bassist Neal Miner’s uptempo cadence complements the former while Joe Cohn’s breezy guitar harmoniously twirls with the latter. “This Is My Night To Dream” gives a glimpse of the vocalist’s more pensive side. While Firth and drummer Jonathan Mele craft an upbeat interlude, Costanzo explores the wistful side of romance with a tinge of melancholy in his voice.

  by: Sharon Mizrahi ~ New York City Jazz Record

 “INVITATION” Daywood Drive- Jerry Costanzo’s smooth velvety voice will command your attention all through this 15-song program. Tedd Firth’s piano can be heard throughout this cd. It’s his arrangements also that are captivating. Jerry’s sound reminds one of Nat Cole at his most mellow. “Here’s To The Losers”(Wells/Segel) is a wild non-stop duet with the remarkable Champian Fulton. Both have the opportunity to really shine. Listen for Brian Pareschi’s grand upright trumpet solo — it’s steaming.“The Lonely One” (Heller/Hambro) is a careful medley with “Nature Boy” (Ahbez) weaving a magical spell in, out, and back. The bosa nova “Little Boat”/“O’Barquinho” (Boscoli/Menescal/Kaye) gets a fine revival here in another duet this time with Giada Valenti. Together they are in a brisk groove It’s a soft “all aboard” for everyone. “You’re Looking At Me” (Troup) is just perfect for Jerry. His version stands very much along side of the monumental Nat Cole’s oldie. The familiar“Invitation” (Kaper/Webster) is another standout. Mr.Costanzo delivers an extraordinary finely crafted vocal with Joe Cohn sparkling on a creative first-rate guitar solo. The swinging “I Was A Little Too Lonely” (Livingston/Evans) here is an excellent example of musical toe tapping magic. “Stella By Starlight” (Young/Washington) is crooned in a delightfully gentle very light swing take with a long held concluding vocal note. Jerry is greatly supported here by his superb exceptional bass player Neil Miner. This cd is an “Invitation” to an extremely favorable musical experience.  Why not take it?
By: Dan Singer- Singers Singer’s ~ IN TUNE INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE UK

CAN’T WE BE FRIENDS—Daywood Drive Records – Word has it that the way things start out is the way they progress and the way they turn out. Or as I’ve heard it said about a person’s character, “At seven, like at 70.” In other words, the tell-tale signs are often there to giveaway what to expect – good or bad. In the case of the new album Can’t We Be Friends, by vocalist Jerry Costanzo, all of the leading indicators point to a winner with a winning release in every way. Sure enough, from the opening notes of the medium groove first track, “East Of The Sun,” through the gentle closing of “Stairway To The Stars,” Costanzo delivers a set of consistently high-quality renditions of delightful standards and leads his band of cracker jack musicians through a series of compelling and delightful arrangements.

By: Ryan Baker ~ Jazz Inside Magizine

“Can’t We Be Friend’s?” Costanzo’s ear is precise, his voice has a remarkable blend of velvet and timbre which adds a relaxed, convincing ease, a sense of humor to the exchange of vocals and band. His timing is natural. The songs live at their height behind these gifted interpretations . . . Happy to be featuring the music,

Jeff Thomas ~ WUSB FM Stony Brook University

Destination Moon Jerry Costanzo | Semi-Quaver Jazz (2008) it’s hard not to like Jerry Costanzo and the amiable Andy Farber Swing Mavens octet. Costanzo has an unpretentious, good-natured voice and the arrangements slyly honor the originals. While campy, modern swing-style bands often miss the right feeling and weaken their cause with unexciting soloists, Farber, from subtle Basie-book quotes to the clever Star Trek reference at the end of “Fly Me to the Moon”, shows he understands, enjoys and respects the tradition. And there’s isn’t a throw-away solo on the album.

~ By Jazz Review.com

Destination Moon: The divas have been getting all the attention the last few years but here’s a cat that knows how to swing it 50s style and could give Steve Tyrell and few pointers on how to sharpen it up to get his groove back. Working that tried and true Sinatra/50s vein, Costanzo and his swinging pals know how to grab the Vegas vibe that most of us have heard about but never were old enough to really experience. It’s not a time piece, just a good time that doesn’t try to recreate, but exist in it’s own place bringing some authenticity along for the ride.

CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher ~ MIDWEST RECORD

Can’t We Be Friends?: With a mission to bring the American songbook into the 21st century, Costanzo surrounds himself with some very capable jazzbos and instrumentalists with resumes beyond reproach and casts himself as the saloon singer that makes you want to learn how to work your DVR. With a nice personality and style, he has a feel for swinging the classics just short of infusing them with schtick and keeping their integrity in tact. A really fun romp for vocal fans feeling the male side of the ledger is vastly underserved.

CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher ~ MIDWEST RECORD

Nothing seems to ruffle this fellow named Jerry Costanzo. He has a pleasant voice and sounds comfortable with a band—and if the album’s title were a literal invitation, rather than the title of the old 1930s song about a break-up and disappointment, you’d probably find him genial enough to be his friend. He comes off as the ultimate nice guy. But nice guys aren’t the most compelling interpreters of songs that might be drenched in romance or regret. On that title song, where the singer bemoans being rejected as a love partner and is only offered platonic friendship, leading to the rueful resolve of “Never again,/ Through with love …,” it’s still casual Costanzo. He eschews the kinds of songs whose lyrics would demand deep introspection or deep, dark sorrow… To read complete review go to www.jerrycostanzo.com

By: Rob Lester, ~ Talkin` Broadway

“I finally got to see Jerry Costanzo in the last of his seven appearances at Feinstein’s at the Loew’s Regency last night. Mr. Costanzo is a singer in the masculine tradition of Dean Martin, Perry Como and Nat Cole but one who sings their songs in his own swinging style and baritone. The show last night featured a collection of some of the finest songs in the Great American Songbook. Mr. Costanzo’s seven-piece orchestra backed him beautifully on swinging numbers such as East of the Sun and West of the Moon, You’re Driving Me Crazy and Mean to Me. Mr. Costanzo was equally adept at performing ballads, as he displayed with his vocals on Stairway to the Stars, Penthouse Serenade and his closing number We’ll Be Together Again. The seven-piece orchestra provided the perfect back up for Mr. Costanzo’s vocals and included Michael Carubia on trumpet, virtuoso work on vibes by Mark Sherman and pianist and musical director Tedd Firth.“It was an excellent musical evening. My only regret was that I did not get to see the show sooner”

-Ron Forman- ~ On the town Columnist at Conirnescorner.com