Lorraina Marro Love Is For All Time

Lorraina Marro
 Love Is For All Time
 Self-produced
 
Los Angeles native Lorraina Marro is a singer with a high voice with a touch of vibrato that celebrates love in various ways on a recording that displays her ability to swing along with delivering a ballad with tenderness and grace. Marra cites Nancy Wilson as a prime influence and credits Barbara Streisand, Sarah Vaughan, and Linda Ronstadt as early influences and inspirations. On an album of standards, she is accompanied by pianist Steve Rawlins (who produced this session), bassist Jennifer Leitham, guitarist Grant Geissman, drummer Steve Pemberton, trumpeter Dr. Bobby Rodriquez, and tenor saxophonist Ricky Woodward.

Ms. Marro certainly has a presence with her vocals. Her pitch, phrasing, diction, and vocal dynamics are spot on, although I wish her vocals had less vibrato, although that is a matter of taste. It doesn't hurt to have such an excellent backing band. Saxophonist Woodward shines on the opening "Stairway to the Stars", while Geissman's comping, obligattos, and solo on acoustic guitar are marvelous, enhancing soft vocal on the bossa nova "I'm Not Alone." A swinging "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" has both Dr. Rodriquez and Woodward shining as they trade lines throughout the performance. Woodward plays majestically on her pensive vocal on Arthur Hamilton's ballad "Rain Sometimes." Her playful treatment of "My Baby Just Cares For Me," backed just by the rhythm section, places the spotlight on bassist Leitham before a choice solo from Rawlins. Greissman lends a bossa nova feel to a wonderful interpretation of "People."

Ms. Marro sings a couple of tunes in Spanish with a touch of drama in her musical storytelling for "Viajera Del Rio" with lovely trumpet from Dr. Rodriquez. The closing "Esta Tarde Vi Lover (Yesterday I Heard the Rain)" is a precious performance sung both in Spanish and English. Geissman's guitar accompanies her Spanish vocal before the rhythm section enters with her switching to English. If not wholly to my taste, Lorraine Marro still is a vocalist of considerable merit who is wonderfully supported on this well-programmed album.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here she performs "People."

Lauren White Ever Since the World Ended

Lauren White
Ever Since the World Ended
Café Pacific Records

"Ever Since the World Ended" is the fifth album by vocalist Lauren White who not only is an accomplished singer who has been an actress, performer on Broadway and Off-Broadway, and the successful producer on the HBO show "Homeland." Music, though, is central to her, and she regularly performs in clubs in Los Angeles and in New York, where she has a fanbase. The Quinn Johnson trio supports her. Pianist, arranger and producer Johnson's resume includes working with Diana Ross, Jack Sheldon, Diane Schuur, Tom Scott, Poncho Sanchez, Flora Purim, and many others in the jazz, pop, and Latin music worlds. This album is the fourth that White has made with Johnson, who produced, arranged, and played piano on this disc. The other members of the trio are Trey Henry on bass and Ray Brinker on drums. Kevin Winard adds percussion to one track, while Dolores Scozzesi adds vocals to the title track. Kevin Axt on bass, Alex Budman on flute, Grant Geissman on guitar, and Chris Wabich on drums.

Carmen McRae's "If You Never Fall In Love With Me" opens this short album with a sparkling Latin flavored accompaniment. White has a wonderful natural delivery, pitch being on the money, and a terrific sense of phrasing and dynamics. Johnson takes a fabulous solo here. White provides a reflective interpretation of the Bill Withers-Grover Washington classic "Just the Two of Us," again with Johnson shining. Mose Allison wrote the title song, and her rendition is perhaps a bit soberer than the pointed quality of Allison's original. Her performance of Bill Evans' "Remembering the Rain" was previously recorded. It is the one track not with the Quinn Johnson trio. Noteworthy on this song is Budman's flute and Geissman's Bossa infused acoustic guitar. Bassist Henry is prominent in the accompaniment of "Some of That Sunshine." Duke Ellington's "Take Love Easy" is performed at a brisker tempo than the song usually is performed at. Brinker is prominent in the backing and helps propel this sterling performance.

One wishes there were more than eight tracks and about a half-hour of music, but all the music here is excellent. "Ever Since the World Ended" is simply outstanding vocal jazz.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is Lauren White and Dolores Scozzesi singing the title track.