Lisa Lauren - It Is What It Is

Styles:  Vocal
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:29
Size: 104,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:32)  1. The Word
(3:48)  2. Passing Fantasy
(4:20)  3. Life Is Good
(4:12)  4. I've Just Seen A Face
(4:02)  5. I'm Looking Through You
(3:39)  6. Pull Of The Moon
(4:28)  7. Dreamer In Disguise
(5:21)  8. Here Comes The Rain Again
(4:43)  9. Where Or When
(4:27) 10. Eleanor Rigby
(1:53) 11. Daddy's Lullaby

Lisa Lauren returns with her newest album, "it is what it is", blending together deep-in-the-groove rhythms and soulful melodies, once again demonstrating her unique voice in the industry. Featuring the legendary David Sanborn for his third appearance, along with an ensemble of Chicago all-stars Fareed Haque, Steve Rodby and Neal Alger, you will find this disc to be one of the most compelling musical experience available today. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lisalauren3

"What separates Lisa Lauren from the scores of pop songbirds who populate the airwaves these days are the skillful arrangements and clever instrumentation she deploys on "it is what is is" . . . ~ Jeff Johnson, Chicago Sun-Times

"On her marvelously eclectic release, "it is what it is", singer/songwriter Lisa Lauren brings a fresh hybrid of roots rock, jazz, and pop sensibilities to a mix of wistfully romantic originals and trippy arrangements of several other appealing covers." ~ Jonathan Widran, Jazziz/All Music Guide

"As folk-jazz vocalists go, she's as impressive as Norah Jones (whom she sounds like a sandier version of). As a songwriter she's even better than the venerable Jones." ~ Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times

“A jazz pop crossover which will appeal strongly to fans of Joni Mitchell and Rickie Lee Jones and which may prove to be Lauren’s breakthrough album”. ~ Peter Quinn, Jazzwise (UK)

Personnel: Lisa Lauren (vocals, piano); Fareed Haque (guitar, acoustic guitar); Greg Koch (guitar, electric guitar, dobro); Neal Alger (guitar, electric guitar); Brian Wilkie (acoustic guitar); Inger Carle, Susan Voelz (violin); Alison Chesley (cello); Jim Gailloreto (soprano saxophone); John Pazdan (drum programming); David Sanborn (alto saxophone).

It Is What It Is

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Lisa Lauren - My Own Twist

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:31
Size: 93,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:58)  1. Sweet Seasons
(4:19)  2. A Shame
(6:06)  3. Life Goes On
(4:27)  4. My Own Twist
(2:59)  5. It Sucks To Be You
(3:55)  6. That's All She Wrote
(4:09)  7. A Little Romance
(3:36)  8. Here Comes The Sun
(3:29)  9. A Guy Thing
(3:28) 10. Yours And Mine

For all the hype in 2002 surrounding jazz hybrid vocalist Norah Jones, she can't really hold a candle to the far superior, multi-faceted Lauren, an indie artist from Chicago who artfully blends pop and jazz influences with a dash or two of country and worldbeat. So it's promotion that's missing. Or is it the narrow play lists of adult contemporary and smooth jazz stations which would rather stick with tried-and-trues and Mariah Carey and Sade instead of allowing new voices in the mix Lauren went Beatles-happy on her previous CD, and here does a cool jazz seduction with "Here Comes the Sun," also playing an elegant, purposeful piano line that challenges Fareed Haque's strumming guitar and Jim Gailloreto's silky soprano sax to keep up. 

More high-profile sax contributions come from none other than David Sanborn on the sassy, Steely Dan-inspired "A Shame," whose lyrics brim with attitude and wistful energy; Lauren sounds a bit like Marilyn Scott on this tune, and that's a compliment. Fellow Chicagoan and smooth jazz guy Steve Cole offers a tender soprano line behind one of Lauren's more romantic moments on "A Little Romance." "Life Goes On" is designed as a quartet piece, with soft, seductive drum brushes easing past a tender-hearted delivery of a lyric pondering love's mysteries. Lauren sometimes runs the risk of being overshadowed by her high-profile personnel, such as on this tune, where Fareed Haque's credit reads "homage to Pat Metheny." In the end, though, she more than holds her own. Lauren's a strong vocalist and honest songwriter, but she's also aces with cover tunes, making old songs like Carole King's "Sweet Seasons" sound fresh via colorful arrangements (this one with harmonica-laced country seasoning). ~ Jonathan Widran  http://www.allmusic.com/album/my-own-twist-mw0000210489

Personnel: Lisa Lauren (piano, keyboards); Fareed Haque (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, slide guitar); Inger Carle, Susan Voelz (violin); Stacia Spencer (viola); Alison Chesley (cello); Jim Gailloreto (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); David Sanborn (alto saxophone); Rob Parton (trumpet); Mike Halpin (trombone); John Blasucci (keyboards); Steve Rodby (acoustic bass); Jeff Thomas (drums, percussion); Kevin Connelley, Larry Beers, Tom Hipskind (drums).

My Own Twist

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Lisa Lauren - Lisa Lauren Loves The Beatles

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:45
Size: 143.7 MB
Styles: Jazz-pop vocals
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[3:18] 1. The Word
[4:20] 2. Love Me Do
[6:17] 3. Dear Prudence
[4:03] 4. Eight Days A Week
[3:34] 5. Can't Buy Me Love
[3:12] 6. What You're Doing
[3:59] 7. I'm Looking Through You
[4:11] 8. I've Just Seen A Face
[5:25] 9. And I Love Her
[4:30] 10. With A Little Help From My Friends
[4:21] 11. Eleanor Rigby
[4:17] 12. All My Loving
[3:14] 13. I'm Happy Just To Dance With You
[3:33] 14. Here Comes The Sun
[4:25] 15. The Word

Singer/songwriter and pianist Lisa Lauren's 4th CD is a compilation of Beatles tunes, endearingly titled, Lisa Lauren Loves the Beatles. A mix of pop, jazz, folk, and world music, the CD's understated, acoustic arrangements bring new life to these classic favorites. Special appearances by Grammy award winning sax player David Sanborn, singer/songwriter Willy Porter, and high-profile Chicagoans like Howard Levy, Fareed Haque, Steve Rodby and Neal Alger give the compilation an added cachet.

Lisa Lauren Loves The Beatles   

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