debut CD has arrived!
I'm proud to announce the release of my first CD! If you know me, you know jazz singing is a more recent development in my life, but I've loved this music for a long time. Fortunately I met drummer Bernard Linnette at a jam session a few years back when I was slowly working up the nerve to sing in public. I didn't realize it at the time, but Bernard was something of a singer's mentor, after having spent many years of his career in the bands of great singers like Freddy Cole and Dakota Staton. To make a long story short, Bernard guided, encouraged and eventually hired me - a jazz-fanatic in her late 30's finally ready to bust out of her shell.
I played every week for over a year in Bernard's band, where I came to know and love some great musicians and the CD unfolded from there. Louis Heriveaux, (pianist, producer) is responsible for the arrangements and setting the stage for the music to happen on this recording - and when you listen you'll recognize his brilliance right away. The rest of the credit goes to Craig Shaw on bass, Melvin Jones on trumpet, Eric Fontaine on tenor sax and of course Bernard Linnette on drums.
There are 10 tracks of jazz standards ranging from bossa to swing. Some tunes are off the beaten path like "Con Alma," a Dizzy Gillespie classic destined to become a jazz vocal standard with uplifting lyrics penned by Judy Rafat. With more familiar tunes, I looked for a slightly different spin: on "The Girl From Ipanema," I sing in Portuguese, and "Besame Mucho" becomes a jazz waltz inspired by one of my favorite Wes Montgomery recordings.
We've put a lot of love in this project. And as Freddy Cole said, "that girl can sing!" so take his word for it, buy a copy, tell your friends, and enjoy. cdbaby.com/lauracoyle You'll be among the early adopters!!
