"Clara Bellino is a delightful singer/songwriter who has an attractive voice, a way with words, and a knack for writing catchable melodies. Her CD, This Is Happiness – Hand In Hand, is notable in a few ways. Her song “This Is Happiness” is quite infectious and will have listeners singing along. “Hand In Hand” is a previously unrecorded song by the legendary Bobby Sharp (best known for “Unchain My Heart”) that has Clara duetting with the 87-year old songwriter. In addition, the enhanced CD has fun videos of both of the songs plus a documentary that is a discussion with Bobby Sharp about his life.
"Give this CD a listen (and a look) and if you like what you see and hear, tell your readers and listeners. Clara Bellino is a talent well worth discovering."
Scott Yanow, jazz historian and journalist
“Clara Bellino brings much more than her amazing vocal talent to the stage. She also brings a sparkling personality that wraps her sweetness, vulnerability, humor and sensuousness into one very appealing package. She is, on large stage or small, a complete performer.”
Greg Hoffman, official Chet Helms biographer
"Clara Bellino has the disarming quality of sounding like no one in particular yet someone distinctly familiar. As footloose and fancy-free as contemplation can be, this EP is not your typical ear candy. This is more like a shell on Clara Bellino's private beach...one you playfully put to your ear as you rock back on your heels, listen and think, 'This is Happiness.''
T. L. Murray, Owner, *Jazz-O-Mat Radio
"This Is Happiness" CD Diary: The story of "Hand In Hand" written in 1947 by Bobby Sharp
I met Bobby Sharp -author of Unchain My Heart- in 2003 when I painted his apartment. A couple years later he told me he was thinking of a song for me and played me “Hand In Hand”, a song he wrote in 1947 that Nat King Cole expressed interest in when he played it for him! It was inspired by ...
With Fantasy Studios Director Jeffrey Wood, Mixer extraordinaire Adam Muñoz and the one and only Bobby Sharp at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA - August 2011 - Mr Sharp laid down the piano track for "Hand In Hand"
On the set of the video for my upcoming Single release: "This Is Happiness".
Leaving our rehearsal last week, trombonist extraordinaire Mike Rinta has to negotiate the passage to his car with Tom, the local turkey:
