Size: 95,0 MB
Time: 40:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front
01. What's Wrong With Being Lazy (4:34)
02. Blue (3:37)
03. Fly Away With Me (3:40)
04. Brave (4:18)
05. Smile (3:03)
06. One Person At A Time (3:21)
07. I'm Movin' On (4:09)
08. Here And Now (3:25)
09. I Don't Know You (3:53)
10. A Work In Progress (3:29)
11. Miracle Of Life (3:09)
Jean Laughlin, who started singing music from an early age, discovered her skill as a songwriter in the 1990s. Miracle Of Life is her sixth recording as a leader and features her in prime form, both as a vocalist and as a composer.
If this were a different time period, say the late 1950s, Jean Laughlin would be a cinch to be signed to the Capitol label, both as a recording artist and as a staff writer. But since the music world is much different today, she is an independent artist who should be much more widely heard. Miracle Of Life finds her singing 11 of her originals, and several deserve to become standards.
Ms. Laughlin’s lyrics are often philosophical and filled with worthy messages. Her melodies, which can work in both jazz and cabaret settings, are often memorable. And her voice is quite expressive, whether on swingers or ballads. Her confident delivery and wide range allow her to easily make interval jumps and her voice is so clear and attractive that one never has difficulty understanding the words that she sings.
Miracle Of Life, which features the singer in several different settings with a rhythm section led by pianist Frank Caruso, up to seven horns (with tenor-saxophonist Mark Colby and trombonist Tom Garling taking solos), and a string section on six of the songs, is full of variety. The opener, “What’s Wrong With Being Lazy,” which is about the joy of relaxing, is a highpoint but every selection is worth hearing. Other highlights include the pretty ballad “Blue,” the upbeat “Fly Away With Me” (which has the singer overdubbing in spots to form two harmonized voices), “Brave” (a ballad worthy of Barbra Streisand), the celebratory “Smile,” “Here And Now” (about the importance of letting go of the past and making every moment count) and the swinging “”Work In Progress.” Throughout the set, the inventive arrangements of Jim Martin are a major plus.
Fans of high-quality singers, swinging numbers and heartfelt ballads will definitely want to discover Jean Laughlin and will certainly find Miracle Of Life to be quite enjoyable.
Scott Yanow, author of ten books including The Jazz Singers, Swing, Jazz On Record 1917-76 and Jazz On Film
If this were a different time period, say the late 1950s, Jean Laughlin would be a cinch to be signed to the Capitol label, both as a recording artist and as a staff writer. But since the music world is much different today, she is an independent artist who should be much more widely heard. Miracle Of Life finds her singing 11 of her originals, and several deserve to become standards.
Ms. Laughlin’s lyrics are often philosophical and filled with worthy messages. Her melodies, which can work in both jazz and cabaret settings, are often memorable. And her voice is quite expressive, whether on swingers or ballads. Her confident delivery and wide range allow her to easily make interval jumps and her voice is so clear and attractive that one never has difficulty understanding the words that she sings.
Miracle Of Life, which features the singer in several different settings with a rhythm section led by pianist Frank Caruso, up to seven horns (with tenor-saxophonist Mark Colby and trombonist Tom Garling taking solos), and a string section on six of the songs, is full of variety. The opener, “What’s Wrong With Being Lazy,” which is about the joy of relaxing, is a highpoint but every selection is worth hearing. Other highlights include the pretty ballad “Blue,” the upbeat “Fly Away With Me” (which has the singer overdubbing in spots to form two harmonized voices), “Brave” (a ballad worthy of Barbra Streisand), the celebratory “Smile,” “Here And Now” (about the importance of letting go of the past and making every moment count) and the swinging “”Work In Progress.” Throughout the set, the inventive arrangements of Jim Martin are a major plus.
Fans of high-quality singers, swinging numbers and heartfelt ballads will definitely want to discover Jean Laughlin and will certainly find Miracle Of Life to be quite enjoyable.
Scott Yanow, author of ten books including The Jazz Singers, Swing, Jazz On Record 1917-76 and Jazz On Film
Miracle Of Life
Size: 91,0 MB
Time: 38:55
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1992
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front
01. I Want Affection (3:33)
02. Skylark (3:34)
03. Soon It's Gonna Rain (4:03)
04. Angel Eyes (3:58)
05. Lover Man (3:26)
06. Come Rain Or Come Shine (4:35)
07. The More I See You (4:22)
08. When Sunny Gets Blue (3:58)
09. I'm Glad There Is You (4:42)
10. Make The Man Love Me (2:40)
Released in 1992, this is the first album I recorded after having taken a long break to raise my children. While recording this, I discovered that I needed to say more than what was offered to me in the standards I so loved. I wrote my first song, "I Want Affection," for this album. After that I decided to write all of my songs and have done so for the 4 (and a 5th in the works) I have recorded since.
I tried to interpret some of these standards a little differently from what I had been brought up with--just for fun !
I tried to interpret some of these standards a little differently from what I had been brought up with--just for fun !
I'm Glad There Is You