A Podcast Conversation with Lou Pomanti

By Bill King

We questioned with the passing of arranging/keyboard greats like Doug Riley who would step in and fill the void. Not the jingle scene, which is mostly out of view these days, but the sophisticated production chores. Those recordings require an astute ear for arranging, production and potential trial on radio.

Enter keyboardist Lou Pomanti, who has found his groove.

More about Lou

The mid-'90s saw Lou’s emergence as a prominent TV and film composer, which continues to this day, scoring for networks such as CBC, CTV, Global, HBO, and Showtime.

In the 1990s, Lou surfaced as one of the country’s top Musical Directors. Lou was the MD for the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (6 times), The Gemini Awards (7 times), the Genie Awards (5 times) and the Junos. Lou has written and directed music for James Taylor, Herbie Hancock, Leonard Cohen and Michael Bublé.

Lou received a Gemini award for arranging and conducting Both Sides Now for Joni Mitchell’s induction to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was Musical Director of the CBC TV show Hockey Night in Canada Anthem Challenge with producer Bob Rock. He also conducted the orchestra for the CBC’s How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria on live national TV.

Lou arranged the orchestra for Michael Buble’s smash hit“Haven’t Met You Yet, which has sold over 7 million copies worldwide. He has 8 arrangements in total on Michael Buble records. Lou composed the music for the 2011 Pan Am Games Handover Ceremony in Guadalajara, an 8-minute suite for multimedia. He also leads his 10-piece horn band Oakland Stroke in Toronto.

The last few years have seen Lou’s return to his first love, making records. He has contributed to and/or produced recent albums by Marc Jordan, The Tenors, Matt Dusk, David Clayton-Thomas, June Garber, John Finley, Barbra Lica, and many more. Decades into a long and successful career, he is excited to be releasing an album as leader, featuring many of his famous vocalist friends and his most treasured studio musicians.”  Source: Loupomanti.com

More on the recording and concert:

The new album is diverse! There's big band, blues, Bossa nova, soul, classic R'n'B, there's something for everyone here. Lou's first single was released Friday, Feb 18. It features Marc Jordan & Robyn Black (one of Lou's favourite up-and-coming singers). The album also features Emilie-Claire Barlow, Randy Brecker, David Clayton-Thomas, Dione Taylor, George St. Kitts and so many others. 

Lou Pomanti & Friends is distributed by Vesuvius Music. Arranged, produced, recorded, and mixed by Pomanti the album features many of his illustrious collaborators; a stellar backup band, phenomenal, featured soloists and a "who's who" of vocalists performing ballads to big band, Bossa nova to blues, with plenty of soul. 

Lou Pomanti & Friends host an album launch party and concert on May 27 at The Paradise Theatre, Toronto. Tix here.

Listen to the new single here.