hello!

  • Thanks for visiting my blog! My name is Laura Coyle and I'm a Jazz vocalist in Atlanta, GA. I sing with some great musicians at venues around town.

    Visit my website at lauracoylejazz.com for upcoming performances, sound samples, bio, photos and contact information. And you can check me out on myspace too at myspace.com/lauracoylejazz. Thanks for stopping by!

illustrator laura

  • My longest running gig is as a freelance illustrator for companies like Target, Better Homes and Gardens and Hallmark. If you are looking for illustrator Laura Coyle, visit my other website, coyleart.com

October 09, 2008

organ trio art

DE_081008 Last night I went to Twain's to investigate the relative hotness of the Dave Ellington Organ trio. I had already created this poster to promote their upcoming shows and needed to make sure I had included a plausible number of flames around the Hammond B-3. My suspicions were confirmed, I could have drawn even more - this trio is really burnin'. With John Bagnato on guitar and Chris Burroughs on drums they covered tunes by Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire and Jack McDuff with a few jazz standards and originals thrown in for good measure. Next week Mace Hibbard joins the group and the flames will really be flyin'. You don't want to miss it!! Next Wednesday, October 15th at Twain's in downtown Decatur. Visit iwasdoingallright.com for some video.

August 28, 2008

jazz jam session at Twain's 8/26/08

Every Tuesday, Atlanta jazz trumpeter Joe Gransden hosts a very happening jam session at Twain's in Decatur. See if you don't agree:

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Mace Hibbard on alto sax

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Tyrone Jackson on piano

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Justin Varnes on drums, Craig Shaw on bass

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and then... like a whole marching baltic brass band showed up! Russell Gunn and Joe Gransden joined in.

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baritone, sousaphone, Mace Hibbard and fantastic clarinet player

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and a little later, a conga drummer

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and I got to play one with Marcus Printup

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and then Kemba Cofield was tellin' it like it is.

go Twain's! And go visit iwasdoingallright.com for the video!

photos by Laura Coyle

Heidi Pollyea student cabaret at Shorty's Pizza 8/24/08

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Alicia Moore. I wish I knew the name of the singer in the above photo. So beautiful!

My music teacher, Heidi Pollyea, puts together a quarterly showcase to give her vocal students a chance to get up on stage and have the backing of a great band. 

Vince

I met Vince (pictured above) at the Twain's jazz jam session, and now he's started lessons with Heidi. He did a great job on "Nature Boy."

I've been going to these shows for years and I remember my first ones well; they gave me the opportunity to get over my stage fright bit by bit. We're all in the same boat, singing through nervousness and learning to let our expression come through.

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And then there's Teresa Williams (above) who is a pro - there are singers at all levels working with Heidi Pollyea (who is at the piano in this shot). There's always a mix of musical styles and it is a thrill to see singers develop from show to show. 

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And she has great musician friends too, like Bruce (above) who always provides the tastiest solos on violin. Doug Morton plays guitar.

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Here's the lovely Kitty Ray Swain with husband Mark Jones (of Deja Blue Grass fame) on bass.

Heidi's a great teacher, pianist and singer - and she's the reason I'm singing!

thanks to Shorty's in Tucker

photos by Laura Coyle

jazz jam session at Twains 8/19/08

Every Tuesday, Atlanta jazz trumpeter Joe Gransden hosts a very happening jam session at Twain's in Decatur.

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vocalist Nicole Chillemi

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guitarist David (help me with his last name please) first time at Twain's

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trumpeter Marcus Printup with Che Marshall on drums

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Marcus Printup and Joe Gransden

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Kingsized vocalist Mike Geier

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drummer Che Marshall

photos by Laura Coyle

Laura Coyle & Dan Baraszu at Tilt Coffee 8/22/08

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We moved the party next door, from the Auto Shop Lofts over to Tilt Coffee Shop in Atlanta's Castleberry Hill neighborhood for their monthly Art Stroll, avoiding the rain that never really came. Jazz guitarist Dan Baraszu and I had a great time - he's an amazing musician, just check him out at you tube where some video was captured from that evening, but alas I can't get it to embed here, so you have to use the link.