Laura Theodore is a compelling singer who employs and enjoys a wide vocal, emotional and stylistic range. Audiences and the best of musicians alike routinely marvel at Laura's musicality, flexibility of voice, rhythmic perfection, and the singer's astonishing breadth of repertoire. On this CD, Laura celebrates her love for the classic popular standard song with a few suprises along the way!
"What the World Needs Now is Love" features the Juliene Purefoy Big Band and contains immortal standards, ranging from the Golden Age of Gershwin and Rodgers, and swinging us on to Bacharach and the blues, which Laura burnishes with awesome authority and authenticity.
"As a singer, Laura Theodore has it all. A dynamic four-octave range that allows her to soar, crystal coloratura clear into the Maynard-sphere and then power-dive into the growling grit-and-gravel of the gutter, effortlessly and believably, with no glitches, gaps, gulps or gasps in the transition.
What’s more, she has the imagination and daring to explore new, meaningful interpretations of well-known lyrics and give them fresh, innovative excitement and relevance; she has an inherent “jazz-sense” that permeates and electrifies her every performance, which she aptly describes as “New Vintage Jazz.”
Backings include “doing-it-the-hard-way” with acoustic bass only on one track, a trio on a few others, and Juliene Purefoy’s Big Band on most. Whatever the setting, La Belle Theodore is outstanding. Sensational tracks include the Big Band-powered opener, “Some Of My Best Friends Are The Blues,” a pulsating, sensual update on Peggy Lee’s “Fever,” and an intimate, longing rendition of Clint Eastwood’s composition, “Why Should I Care?
For free audio samplings of all her CDs, along with a bio, photos, and everything else you might want to know about this singing sensation, visit: www.lauratheodore.com. ‘Tis browsing that will both pleasure and illuminate. "
FRITZ THE NITEOWL, APRIL 2006
"Laura Theodore has one of the most striking voices in jazz - a clear mezzo that drops unexpectedly into a rich and throaty tenor and soars upward again at the drop of a beat."
RICK ANDERSON, ALL MUSIC GUIDE
"Forceful and dynamic, there is nothing half-hearted about this singer. She has a bold, take-charge way with a song and has a dynamic approach."
BRUCE CROWTHER, JAZZ JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
"Laura has a big voice with tons of character. Her personal touch has lots of fearless expression placing her among today's best jazz singers. " O'S JAZZ FAVORITES
"The world may need love now, but it also needs more original artists like Laura Theodore..."
DAN MCCLENAGHAN, ALL ABOUT JAZZ
"A versatile singer, Laura Theodore will thrill her listening audience with this collection. Highly enjoyable!
LEE PROSSER, JAZZ REVIEW
"It is best not to try and judge a singer by the picture on the liner; the demure looking Laura Theodore sheds that mantle the moment she approaches a microphone. The opening track "Some Of My Best Friends Are The Blues" immediately establishes her as a singer with power and versatility; singing mostly as a mezzo-soprano she can go lower and considerably higher in an amazing four-octave range. A fine, assured and well balanced performer; it is a must buy for those who like Jazz vocals." FERDINAND MAYLIN, JAZZNOW
"This gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED from us!"
IMPROVIJAZZATION NATION
"Theodore is enjoying the songs she sings and brings back a very nostalgic look at when life seemed a little simpler. Delightful!"
IRENE WADKINS, JAZZ JOURNALIST
"Laura & her aggregation are simply put: Jazz specialists."
GEORGE W. CARROLL, MUSICIANS'OMBUDSMAN
"Comparisons are odious so I'm quite glad that I don't have to make any here. There are plenty of female singers around reviving the standards and some of them get an awful lot of media attention. I hope Laura Theodore gets some of it too because she is a little different. ...I hope we'll be hearing more from her."
PAUL DONNELLY, EJAZZNEWS
"There's a treat in store when Laura's latest CD "What the World Needs Now is Love" is released. Not only will this new CD give her fans a taste of her musical skills, but it will again site the versatility and charisma of this vocalist whose voice continues to stun both her audiences and critics." KAPPY KAPNER, SUBURBAN NEWS
Musicians:
Laura Theodore: Vocals
Piano: Brian Murphy
Bass: Chuck Bergeron
Drums: Lee Schwartz
Saxophones:
Juliene Purefoy
Noah Brandmark
Mike Brignola
Jim Hayward
Mark Hurwitz
Trumpets:
Hernan "Teddy" Mulet
Doug Michels
Dale Sloman
Paul Ayick
Trombones:
John Kricker
Jim Trimble
Mike Balough
Dave Dickey
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