- Bryon Harris
Jimmy Merchant – “A Painted Lady Featuring Adam Pascal”
“A Painted Lady” is a beautiful, heart-broken love ballad written and composed by Jimmy Merchant with a stunning vocal performance from Broadway singer Adam Pascal who is well known for his roles in Rent and School of Rock. This theatrical piece takes you through a journey from getting over somebody you loved to moving on.
Strong, bright piano chords open the record pulsing on the downbeat. After a brief 2 measure introduction, Adam begins to narrate the story through electric vocals with a shimmering vibrato that croons for listeners. Through dynamic passages, Adam seamlessly transitions from the lush and raspy tones of his chest voice to the pure, silky smoothness of his falsetto.
“So now it’s over / I can hardly breath / you hurt me baby / but opened up my mind to see that I / I’ve been blinded / heart lost in a dream / the dream is falling / and now you are just a memory”
Moving forward, the brilliant arrangement evolves with layers of somber strings spread across the stereo field adding depth in the form of rich harmony, charming melodies and supportive structure that drive the song. Ebbing and flowing with Adam’s vocals, each passing section the song becomes more involved leading up to a climactic finale before wrapping up with a soft emotion ending.
“I’ve been missing all the laughter / And then what happened after / It will be better this way / now there’s nothing left to say.”
Make sure to give Jimmy Merchant’s “A Painted Lady featuring Adam Pascal” a listen to and become enraptured in this love story.
About Jimmy Merchant
Jimmy Merchant, a Jersey Shore native, is a 26-year-old professional saxophonist, composer, and arranger. He works as an in-demand sideman in live performances on Broadway, for singer/songwriters and corporate bands. He performs as a studio session musician for artists and bands of various genres.
Some of the bands Jimmy performs with are: Jay and the Americans, The Chiffons, Quincy Mumford and The Reason Why, Evangelia, Eryn Shewell, The Bryan Hansen Band, Eastside Mix, and LYF. Jimmy also works as an educator/guest clinician for all age groups. Jimmy currently is a substitute musician on Broadway for Mark Gross in the musical “Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of The Temptations.”
Jimmy started playing saxophone when he was 10, and remained committed to pursuing his formal education in the arts. He attended the prestigious Mannes Prep of The New School for Music in Manhattan where he majored in Music Theory and Saxophone Performance. He went on to Rutgers University Mason Gross School of Arts where he graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance.
He currently endorses BG France, Marca Reeds and TallSlim Tees.
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For more information on Jimmy Merchant, please visit his website.