Lorraine Feather - Such Sweet Thunder (11 tracks) +Album Reviews

"Music of Duke Ellington Orchestra ~ Lorraine Feather"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 04/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many of us are fans of Duke Ellington, but this release from Sanctuary Records featuring the talents of Lorriane Feather "Such Sweet Thunder", gives the music another level of spectrum within a host of less known themes from the "Duke" ~ swinging, haunting and mesmerizing performances abound without so much as a flinch from the band, backup vocals and solos are the trimmings ~ bringing together an outstanding array of musicians, being inspired by one another, plus having fun ~ solo work and lyrics by Feather is a dream of creativity, she's clearly a world class act from start to finish ~ originality is pure and so refreshing, keep them coming Lorraine.Possibly one of the best contemporary Jazz vocal albums via Ellington ever recorded ~ captures all the essence of both musical styles and is a perfect entree to the Jazz genre. Wonderful original arrangements by Morgan Ames (vocal - background & vocal arrangements), Shelly Berg (rhythm arrangements), Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra (horn arrangements),Russell Ferrante (bass, piano & rhythm arrangements), Mike Lang (piano arrangements), Lorraine Feather (vocal/rhythm arrangements) ~ each track sends vibes, feel the impact from each member and the integral artistic success, dynamics trip in and out with every musician having a blast, with all the ingredients from Ellington and Feather cooking up a tasty dish for all us fans of Jazz!Entire album is a stand out ~ "A PEACEFUL KINGDOM", "ANTARCTICA", "BACKWATER TOWN", "CAN I CALL YOU SUGAR", "IMAGINARY GUY", "LOVELY CREATURES", "MIGHTY LIKE THE BLUES", "THE 101", "RHYTHM, GO 'WAY", "SEPTEMBER RAIN", "TENACITY" ~ while building on Feather's original style, Lorraine pays tribute to the late great Ellington ~ this is certainly a keeper to add to your ever growing collection ~ this is Jazz at its finest hour...gotta love it! Total Time: 44:08 on 11 Tracks ~ Sanctuary Records 86353 ~ (3/23/2004)"

BRILLIANT!!!

J. Lovins | 03/31/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hold onto your hats - we're heading down the 101!!! This new CD from Lorraine Feather has to be the slickest recipe ever created: one part nostalgia (Ellington's tunes and rhythms), one part SMOKIN' new, hip arrangements of same, one part modern lingo and sensibility, a splatter of patter, a dash of psychological insight, and a sweet-crisp crust topped with a dollop of whipped cream. Who'd have guessed that Thunder could be baked up in a pie? Lorraine's reinterpretations of these old chestnuts are inspired, humorous and filled with compassion for the human condition. The musicians are fabulous, the recording is impeccable, and Lorraine's singing is glorious. Treat yourself to a HUGE slice of this perfect confection!"

Such Sweet Lorraine

johnr1note | Tinley Park, IL United States | 06/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is my first foray into Ms. Feather's solo efforts. Of course, I'm quite familiar with her father's work as a jazz critic, and years ago I enjoyed her work with a vocal trio called "Full Swing," which also featured Mel Torme's son Steve March and Charlotte Crossley, one of Bette Midler's backup singers.

I can't praise this material enough. Just like Ellington, there's a subtle, nuanced sophistication to Feather's lyrics. This isn't the same as "Vocalese," the concept of putting lyrics to not only the melody but the improvised solos of jazz greats, which Lambertss, Kendricks and Ross and later on the Manhatten Transfer were so good at. Lorraine isn't trying to be THAT clever -- yet, the result is so intellectually stimulating, and satisfying. Its as if these formerly "just instrumental" tunes were meant to have just these lyrics.

Lorraine's voice is a jewel too. Its a plain, unadorned sound, very effortless, not showy, but very emotional and musical. The arrangements are simple and tastefull.

The themes of the songs are poignant as well, and seem to touch themes not usually explored in popular music. My pesonal favorites are the opening track "101," "Imaginary Guy," and "Backwater Town," but for an eclectic blend of a great melody, tasteful arrangement, and lyrics that really make you think, you can't beat "Antarctica." A song that tries to conceptually take you into the mind of a woman living on what is ostensibly a science base at the South Pole while carrying on a relationship -- that's poetry. The final selection, a setting of a tune written by her late father, is especially sweet when you understand the connection.

Lorraine Feather, and this recording, proves that she is more than a singer, but a real jazz artist. If I could give it 6 stars, I would have."

More Great Songs from a Child of the Jazz World

T. P. Sterling | San Francisco | 04/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"if you have an ear, a heart or a sense of humor you will definitely enjoy the music of Lorraine Feather, regardless of your musical preferences! And now she thrills us with another amazing performance with her own imaginative lyrics and Duke Ellington's music. Having lived and breathed in the world of jazz all her life, this singer is an amazing and definitive artist. I never tire of listening to her. I highly recommend all of her albums. Take the plunge and add to your musical pleasure with this new CD."

"She is a musician--not all singers are--and she knows that

Mary Whipple | New England | 10/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a fabulous treat this CD is for anyone who loves hearing jazz "stories" sung by someone who can do it all. Lorraine Feather, god-daughter of Billie Holiday and family friend of Duke Ellington, here creates delightful and often humorous lyrics for many of Ellington's songs, all of them becoming musical stories about people living their lives and loves the only way they know how. Backed by the Duke Ellington Orchestra, she sings (frantically) of an equally frantic woman chasing her departing lover down "The 101," of a young couple about to move from the city to a rural cottage by the sea in "Backwater Town," of the girl whose lovers never match the "Imaginary Guy" of her dreams, and of the "Peaceful Kingdom," inspired by Edward Hicks's famous painting, showing a lion sleeping beside a lamb, which becomes an allegory about people and their relationships.

Feather keeps her voice completely under control here, ignoring any temptation to "let it all hang out" emotionally, or to burst into wild scat, which would deflect attention away from her lyrics and change the focus of the song. She calls little attention to her wonderful, clear voice, instead using it dramatically as one more instrument, just one part of the whole, to create a complete artistic experience--the orchestra, music, lyrics and her voice completely integrated into a single mood. Her sense of irony is so finely tuned that the listener will smile knowingly for many of the delightful songs here--not because they aim to be funny but because they recognize the humor in everyday life and in our attempts to deal with circumstances we cannot control.

At times funky, sexy, vampy, melancholy, rollicking, mysterious, panicky, or moodily romantic, Feather shows her versatility here, using her remarkable phrasing and perfect diction to segue from one musical "sentence" to another in perfect sync with her lyrics. In her final song, a tribute to her father, Leonard Feather, one of the great music critics of the century, she sings "Mighty Like the Blues" as the great bluesy song he wrote--and as she obviously prefers to remember it. Brilliant singer, clever and sensitive lyricist, and consummate musician, Lorraine Feather deserves a much wider audience for this CD. n Mary Whipple

Dooji Wooji

Café Society

New York City Drag

Body Remembers

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