Album Notes

"Instant Classic" is one of the terms most regularly used to describe Philadelphia's phenomenal Amber deLaurentis. Amber's forceful piano style and powerful vocals drive a diverse catalogue of melodic original songs, carefully crafted with long-time lyricist and friend Sarah Blue. Their songs, like Amber's signature vintage attire, are at once both contemporary and timeless.

The Amber deLaurentis Band has been rapidly gaining momentum. Chosen as the only local act to perform before a crowd of 15,000 at 88.5 FM WXPN's Philadelphia's prestigious Singer-Songwriter Weekend, Amber went on to wow audiences throughout the country this year, including those at festivals such as Bethlehem's Musikfest (making two appearances at the East's largest outdoor music festival, before a combined audience of over 9,000), the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, and Toronto's North by Northeast. Nominated as Philadelphia's "Best Female Vocalist" in 2002, Amber regularly plays Philadelphia venues such as the Tin Angel and The Point, and has worked her way up to "Artist in Residence" for January 2003 at New York City's legendary Bitter End.

In late November 2002, the Amber deLaurentis Band was one of 6 finalists (chosen from over 1,200 entrants by the editorial staff of Billboard Magazine) to play before a panel of 12 heavy-hitting industry judges, in the Northeast chapter of the 2002 Independent Music World Series (www.discmakers.com/IMWS), where Amber's "home run" performance won her the Grand Prize!

Amber and her band (currently featuring Philadelphia all-stars David Anstine on bass, Mark Tucker on guitar, and Mark Schreiber on drums) are presently working on an independent project with producers Rick Slater and Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame Nominee, Shelly Yakus. deLaurentis' independent cd, "By George! Live at the Tin Angel", was voted "Best Live Album" of 2002 by the Just Plain Folks Musicians' Network (www.jpfolks.com), and is already into its second pressing.

Amber has opened for numerous nationally acclaimed performers, including:
Five for Fighting; Ellis Paul; Marshall Crenshaw; Alana Davis; NRBQ; Tom Paxton; Patty Larkin; Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer; Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks and Entrain

Recent Appearances/Nominations:

Grand Prize Winner - 2002 Independent Music World Series (Discmakers, Billboard Magazine)
Sole Local Artist chosen for WXPN's "Singer/Songwriter Weekend"
Philadelphia City Paper Nominee for "Best Female Vocalist 2002"
"Best Live Album" winner - Just Plain Folks
88.5 WXPN FM Live at the Writer's House
Live on the Gene Shay Show 88.5 WXPN
Live on the Women's Music Hour 88.5 WXPN
91.7 WKDU FM interview & performance
Live on the Leicht Lunch WXPN 88.5
Philadelphia UPN 57 "Inside Indre" televised profile.


Critics' Observations

"A voice that guarantees goosebumps and piano skills to die for will quickly separate Amber from the crowd. And if that ain't enough, the ace up her sleeve is lyricist Blue."
-Allen Foster, Songwriter's Monthly

"Big-voiced pianist deLaurentis sings lyrics written by longtime friend Sarah Blue. . . Perhaps the comparison is too easy (woman pianist belting out songs that sound like they could have been written at the Brill Building) but deLaurentis has always reminded me of Carole King."
-Brian Howard, music editor, Philadelphia City Paper

"Amber deLaurentis' Professor Longhair-style piano and early-70's Atlantic Records-Bette Midler charm are a refreshing change from the 'same old same old.'"
-Jesse Lundy, New Park Entertainment

"A young Bonnie Raitt!"
--Helen Leicht, 88.5 WXPN FM