Based in southern California, Dan Olivo was born into a theatrical family, his parents founding the Italian Theatre of Arts in Los Angeles in 1972, three years before he was born. He also took an early interest in music, studying saxophone while in junior high school.
He later studied acting at The Beverly Hills Playhouse and worked on the stage, had roles in films, including The Deposition Of Lou Bagetta (a 2009 short film) and Charlie Says (2018). On television, he has appeared in Good Girls, New Girl and Malcolm In The Middle.
On reconnecting with guitarist Ian Robbins, an old friend from high school, Olivo began singing and soon he and Robbins were performing in venues in the area, among them The Beverly Hills Hotel, The Ritz Carlton, Rancho Mirage and the Frank Sinatra House in Palm Springs. Stylistically, Olivo clearly favours the work of singers such as Sinatra and Harry Connick Jnr and his song selection reflects this.
On Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston & Sammy Cahn’s Day By Day tenor saxophonist Kyle O’Donnell has a good solo and he solos on flute on Riz Ortolani & Nino Oliviero’s More, on which there is fine work from Robbins. The guitarist is also effective on Fats Domino & Dave Bartholomew’s I’m Walkin’ and on Burt Bacharach & Hal David’s This Guy’s In Love With You.
Pianist Joe Bagg is featured on Jule Styne & Sammy Cahn’s Time After Time and on Jimmy Van Heusen & Sammy Cahn’s All The Way. Trumpeter Jamelle Adisa and trombonist Garrett Smith are the featured soloists on Gene Austin & Roy Bergere’s How Come You Do Me Like You Do?, on which bassist Lyman Medeiros also has a moment in the spotlight. Olivo’s vocal range is limited but he sings a pleasing selection of songs with obvious affection.
Discography
Day By Day; I’m Walkin’; It Had To Be You; More; Time After Time; It’s Only A Paper Moon; Sway; How Come You Do Me Like You Do?; L.O.V.E.; This Guy’s In Love With You; Come By Me; All The Way (48.05)
Olivo (v); Jamelle Adisa (t); Garrett Smith (tb); Kyle O’Donnell (ts, f); Joe Bagg (p, org); Ian Robbins (g); Lyman Medeiros (b, also uke, v on Paper Moon); Kevin Winard (d, pc); Renee Myara Cibelli (v on Paper Moon). Burbank, CA, 28 & 29 July 2018.
Ava Maria Records AMR5316
