Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Lorraine Feather: Attachments

5

Lorraine Feather: Attachments

By

Sign in to view read count
Lorraine Feather: Attachments
First, there is "who exactly is Billie Jane Lee Lorraine Feather?" Well, she is the daughter of jazz writer and impresario Leonard Feather (1914 -1994) and Jane Feather, a former big-band singer and ex-roommate of Peggy Lee (ergo "Lee"). The Billie in Feather's name is her godmother, Billie Holiday, and the Jane, well that is obvious. The Lorraine part is from the Cliff Burwell (music) and Mitchell Parish (lyrics) 1928 standard, "Sweet Lorraine." That is quite a pedigree by any estimation. Bigger than this is the fact that Feather is a noted singer and lyricist who has released eight solo jazz recordings featuring only her music. That is, eight recordings since 2000. Feather is one busy woman.

Most recently, Feather has released Tales of the Unusual (Jazzed Media, 2012) and her collaboration with pianist Stephanie Trick as Nouveau Stride on Fourteen By Nouveau Stride (Relarion, 2013), both to positive attention. Feather now moves into closer and more intimate confines on Attachments.

With the opening of "A Little Like This," it is apparent that this will be a different kind of Lorraine Feather recording. Introduced with Charles Bishrat's earthy and genuine violin, "A Little Like This" proceeds as an edgy:

"Like the softest note ever played I try to grab it in the air but all in vain— Gone, like an earring down the drain, gone. Sometimes there's a kiss with no longing. Sometimes there's a longing but no kiss. nce in a blue moon, It can be a little like this..."

Clever lyrics of the past give way to densely personal ones in the present. Feather works again with her regular collaborators, Russell Ferrante, Shelly Berg and Eddie Arkin. She adds the wares of Dave Grusin, with whom she composed the jaunty, "I Thought You Did." The song was based on Grusin's "Memphis Stomp," that was originally part of the soundtrack to The Firm (Paramount, 1993). Feather opines:

"As you can see, I'm glad you've got that goin' about me. I think of you, I get all Rhapsody in Blue..."

Well, the lyrics are still clever, as well as densely personal.

Track Listing

A Little Like This; Attachments; I Thought You Did; Anna Lee; 159; We Have the Stars; I Love You Guys; I Hope I Never Leave This Place; Hearing Things; The Veil; Smitten With You; True.

Personnel

Lorraine Feather: vocals; Russell Ferrante: piano (1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11); Shelly Berg: piano (6, 7, 10); Dave Grusin: piano (3, 12); Michael Valerio: bass (1, 2, 4, 5, 7-9, 11), vocals: (5); Grant Geissman: guitar (1, 5, 9); Eddie Arkin: guitar (2, 5); Michael Shapiro: drums and percussion (1, 2, 5, 9, 11); Tony Morales: percussion (1) Gregg Field: drums (7); Charles Bisharat: violin (1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12); Bob Mintzer: bass clarinet (11).

Album information

Title: Attachments | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Jazzed Media

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.