Photo: Alan Mercer
Julie Esposito originally hails from Chicago and made her professional singing debut at the age of 16.
For the last several years, Julie has performed in almost every major jazz and cabaret venue in the Los Angeles area. She is celebrated for her pure, warm tone and artful phrasing, and has a unique style, characterized as a mixture of jazz, pop and Broadway.
Julie is also known for her willingness to showcase lesser-performed song gems, as in her CD, "Unsung Hollywood." She always delivers her individual `take' on a song, endeavoring always to honor the intent of the songwriter, while steering clear of imitating any prior recording.
On a personal note, Julie is the daughter of the late jazz pianist/musical director, Gene Esposito, who worked with many greats, including Joe Williams, Mel Torme, Doc Severinson, and Woody Herman, with whom he co-produced an album Grammy-nominated for best jazz album of 1979. It was her father, Gene Esposito, who penned the arrangement for "If I Love Again," which appears on "Unsung Hollywood."
Julie is also descended from a long line of notorious politicians and judges (she is a member of the Shriver clan and a direct descendant of a U.S Supreme Court Chief Justice), and in that tradition, she has forged a second career in law and public service. She currently volunteers as a youth mentor and as a Judge Pro Tem for Los Angeles County. She finds her passion for social justice and her love for music completely compatible, and considers giving voice to under-represented songs, like those in "Unsung Hollywood," to be her way of effecting some musical justice, as it were.
Music Critic Don Heckman (International Review of Music, Los Angeles Times) has said of Ms. Esposito, that not only can she sing almost anything, she can do it with spirit and imagination.
Oscar winning songwriter and multiple Oscar nominee Richard M. Sherman ("Mary Poppins"; "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang;""The Jungle Book") who wrote two of the album's selections, has characterized Ms. Esposito's singing as "gorgeous," and summed up by calling the CD, "So beautiful . . . a lovely, lovely album."
The late great multiple-Oscar winning and Oscar nominated lyricist, Ray Evans ("Que Sera, Sera,""Mona Lisa,""Buttons and Bows,""Silver Bells") who also wrote one of the album's selections, wrote that "Unsung Hollywood," is "completely unique," that Ms. Esposito "sings the material beautifully," and has "a tremendous range."
Richard Edgcomb for "Center Stage" writes: "Fabulous New CD - Esposito sings from the heart and truly understands the lyrics, bringing new life to some forgotten and wonderful movie songs."
Songwriter Bob Levy, Silk River Music writes: "Julie Esposito knows her way around a great song. Absolutely wonderful vocals on some delightful Hollywood tunes. . . . I wouldn't compare her to anyone other than 'Julie Esposito'....she's in a league of her own. I'm going to enjoy this CD for a long, long time... "
Oscar Groomes, writing for O's Place Jazz Newsletter praised Ms. Esposito and her musicians as well as the content of the CD itself, including the comment that, "The songs are all lesser known gems that give the CD freshness vs. a rehashing of overworked standards."
Ms. Esposito has also been the guest of Lou Powers of WBCB, who described the CD as, "fantastic," and "getting a great response," and Jim Stone of WLNZ, who raved about the CD's "wonderful songs," and praised Ms. Esposito's "beautiful voice."
Photo: Alan Mercer
Alan Mercer: So, Julie did you grow up in Chicago?
Julie Esposito: Well I moved to Los Angeles when I was 11 because my dad was a musician. So, I’m from Chicago but I grew up in West Los Angeles. Then after college I moved back to Chicago for a couple of years.
AM: Were you always into music?
JE: Yes, I’ve sung professionally since I was a teenager. I knew I was a singer when I was three.
AM: You seem to be able to perform different styles of music.
JE: I like a mix of pop, jazz and Broadway.
AM: Do you ever get labeled as a jazz singer?
JE: Now, I am more so, but I used to be labeled more Broadway. I tried to do a mix of styles I like on my album.
AM: Your album, ‘Unsung Hollywood’ is so special! I love it.
JE: Thanks, I’m trying to make another one.
AM: What made you record an album of underappreciated movie songs?
JE: I would run into composers like Richard Sherman and Ray Evans, who love my singing, and they would tell me they wished I would sing a certain song they wrote because it never got any play.
AM: Are you working on anything now?
JE: I have a couple of projects in mind. My next album will be called, ‘Open Your Window.’ It’s songs that came together after I recently discovered my family that I hadn’t seen in 40 years. It’s about awakenings with songs by Harry Nillson and Randy Newman, among others. I am working on a Harry Nilsson tribute for my next cabaret show. This will include not only his songs, but the obscure standards he recorded.
AM: You don’t work in music full time, do you?
JE: No, and there are a couple of reasons. One is because I am very particular about what I sing. Also, I had a brain and I knew I could do other things so I wouldn’t have to live on it. I did my first casual when I was sixteen.
AM: What kind of a gig was it?
JE: It was a Sweet Sixteen party and the first time I got paid to sing. I said then that I wasn’t going to do that anymore. I don’t want to sing at weddings or with food being served. Also, my mother’s side of the family is from Virginia politics and I have always had a passion for doing some justice somehow.
AM: Did you also want to be an attorney?
JE: I thought I was going to be a journalist but then discovered that being a lawyer really suited my personality better. I only work part-time because I like to do pro bono things, so the part-time work is the paid work. So, this gives me the ability to sing what I want.
AM: Do you like law better than singing?
JE: I love both so I’m lucky in that way. I grew up in the Eighties and Broadway really sucked at that time. There were very few musicals.
AM: Your album is ten years old now, but it has no real date. It’s more timeless.
JE: I hope so.
AM: It could have just come out today.
JE: That’s what I go for. I’m very particular.
AM: So, tell me more about the new album you are working on.
JE: Yes, ‘Open Your Window’ is the name and I’m working on the arrangements right now. I’m working with a new arranger who is a little more jazz oriented.
AM: You don’t really perform live very often do you?
JE: I used to, but I don’t so much anymore. Doing a show is an investment. I don’t like to charge people a lot of money because they don’t have it. I do like to do a show once a year. I put a lot of work into it. I write everything.
AM: Oh, so your show is theatrical. You’re not just standing up there and singing songs.
JE: No, I’m a writer so I write the show. My last show took me a year to write, but it showed.
AM: Have you ever filmed a performance?
JE: No, because there are usually sound issues and then licensing. I do want to film myself in the recording studio, so I have the good sound. It’s also a little more sophisticated. I think it would be much better.
AM: Is there anything left for you to do that you haven’t yet?
JE: Not really, but I would like to just record.
AM: Yes, I want you to leave behind a nice catalog of work.
JE: Thank you, that’s how I feel too. I didn’t expect it, but it’s very creative to record.
Photo: Alan Mercer