“Send In The Clowns" Review by Lenny Bloom/Jazz Note Phrasing is what Tony Messina does best. Either you have it or you don't. His latest CD, “Send in The Clowns” on Heart Records, is loaded with meaningful lyrics and smooth rhythm licks. Messina knows them all, because for years he's played the club and concert scene all over the world with jazz groups and big bands. The bulk of the CD features Messina interpreting standards by the likes of Stephen Sondheim, Rogers and Hart, the Beatles, Bacharch and David, Jimmy Webb, and Cole Porter. This is Messina's strong suit. His versions remind you of when and where you were when you first heard those songs. Music does that to you- it's a love letter to life. Messina interprets lyrics like an instrumentalist. Standout standards include “Send In The Clowns," the uptempo "I Didn't Know What Time it Was" and Messina's Latin take on the Bacharach classic, “The Look Of Love." He's also a proficient songwriter. Messina swings like nobody can on "Jazz'd" and “I Love You," and on the ballad, "Lifetimes," a sadness and longing for past love affairs comes across. In the humor department is the cool hip, fun/loving, "Mile High Club." Tony's song writing and innovative take on pop and jazz standards is fresh, unique and undeniably infectious. Messina's accompanied by Stan Kenton’s Orchestra on “Send In The Clowns.” The other twelve songs are backed by his quality quartet that includes reedman Paul Chafin on sax and flute, Irwin Solomon on piano, Ed De Matteo on bass and John Hayman on drums. He may be a Sinatra and Ella disciple but Tony Messina's his own man on this well-paced CD.