Anton Commissaris shares “On Starry Nights”

The latest single from Californian artist Anton Commissaris, “On Starry Nights”, is a beautiful lounge jazz love story with an intriguing backstory. The song opens with a vibrant horn section that harkens back to the days of Getz, Gillespie and other jazz legends who loved and incorporated Latin rhythms into their work. Commissaris’s vocal delivery pays homage to the Bossa Nova tradition of gentle, subtle, emotional singing that pairs perfectly with wistful lyrics concerning personal longing, love and the inspiring tranquility of nature.

The song tells the story of a man who finds hope and love in a special woman that could save him from madness and give him the strength to get well and leave the asylum from which he gazed at the starry night. Commissaris creates a dream-like, romantic imagery with his lyrics, which is enhanced by the light Samba rhythms that drift into the listener’s ears. The song’s imagery is influenced by Van Gogh’s famous painting, ‘The Starry Night’, which depicts the view from the east-facing window of Van Gogh’s asylum room at Saint Remy-de-Provence, just before sunrise.

Commissaris added a few images from his time spent in paintings famous location of Provence to evoke the setting. The song takes the listener on a journey through a small French village, where the blue hills, the spire and cypress trees adorn the church in the town square. The lyrics create a beautiful scene that transports the listener to another place and time.

The solo instrumental phase of the song is beautiful, with the horns building in their staccato pips before the tenor saxophone is set free in an elegant style, which is then answered by a rolling Jobim-style piano run. The song continues through the final verse into a horn-inflected outro with heightened vocals and a longing refrain that ends with the song’s title.

The song’s production quality is exquisite, with every instrument and vocal line being crystal clear and well-balanced. The horns are crisp, and the saxophone solos are emotionally stirring, making the listener feel like they are in the room with the musicians.

Overall, Anton Commissaris’s “On Starry Nights” is graceful and timeless modern jazz number that takes the listener on a journey through the beautiful scenery of Van Gogh’s painting. The song’s lyrics create a dream-like scene and the instrumental performances are top-notch. The song’s subtle tension and ambiguity add depth and nuance to the story, leaving the listener wondering whether the artist will overcome his darkest moments or succumb to them. His latest single is a beautiful and emotionally stirring piece of music that showcases Anton Commissaris’ talent and creativity as a musician, vocalist and composer.

Listen to On Starry Nights below