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Lauren Hooker

Lauren Hooker helps to continue the tradition of great jazz singing. Critics from across the nation have compared her sound and style to that of Dianne Reeves, Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Shirley Horn and Sheila Jordan; her lyric writing to Jon Hendricks’ and her songwriting as some of the best in the business. Lauren is not just another singer, she is a consummate musician, known throughout the NY metropolitan area as a multi-talented vocalist, instrumentalist, composer, lyricist, educator, producer and storyteller.

Out of a flood of rave reviews, JAZZ TIMES writes, ... undeniably impressive… certainly imaginative… can hold her own against pretty much any singer- songwriter in the business… ability to add lyrics to instrumental classics… is flat-out masterful… ; JAZZ IMPROV NY says … a skilled scatter, talented lyricist and songwriter…intriguing, impressive…; ALL ABOUT JAZZ LA states, Here's a vocalist that is going to knock you off your chair… hits a double off the wall… her voice - rich, confident and assured - like Dianne Reeves, pitch perfect and ALL ABOUT JAZZ NY writes, "Hooker shows off her multi-faceted talent.. plays with time the way Monk did, would have made (Fats) Waller chuckle with delight...reminiscent of Sarah Vaughan’s bottom range...hint of Dinah Washington’s energy… but sound and style are unique.

Her critically acclaimed CD (Awarded Honorable Mention as one of AllAboutJazz-New York's selected Best CDs in ‘07) was produced by Rufus Reid and Allen Farnham entitled "Right Where I Belong", with Rufus Reid on bass, Allen Farnham on piano and Tim Horner on drums. It features jazz standards, her original compositions, and credits that include lyrics written to Thelonius Monk, Charles Mingus, Wayne Shorter, Fats Waller and Mal Waldron.

Within the third week of radio airplay, Lauren was at the top of the “chartbound” list of jazz CD’s played across the nation and in Canada according to jazzweek.com. A featured guest on WKCR's "Jazz Alternatives" 89.9 FM with Host Sharif Abdus Salaam, WRSU 88.7 FM out of Rutgers University, as well as WMSU at Montclair Sate University, Lauren's CD continues to receive heavy airplay on both radio and internet stations here and abroad.

She came onto the jazz scene with a degree in Music Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University where he father served as Professor of Music and Fine Arts Chairman and continued post-graduate work in jazz theory with pianist Kenny Barron at Rutgers University, jazz voice with Sheila Jordan at Manhattan School of Music and Bobby McFerrin at The Omega Institute.

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122
Album Review

Lauren Hooker: Life Of The Music

Read "Life Of The Music" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay


Singer and pianist Lauren Hooker takes chances on Life Of The Music, her second album. She sets her own compositions up against classics of American music, re-works old favourites and uses some vocal shifts and inflections that other singers might think twice about. And thank goodness she does, because in doing so Hooker has assembled a refreshingly original set that both challenges and brings out the best in the singer and the top-flight band that accompanies her. ...

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Album Review

Lauren Hooker: Life Of The Music

Read "Life Of The Music" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


In 2007, vocalist Lauren Hooker turned out an impressive debut, Right Where I Belong (Musical Legends, Inc., 2007), which highlighted her solid, yet flexible, voice, and an ability to graft her own lyrics onto familiar instrumental jazz standards. Three years later, Hooker returns with a program that largely focuses on her own lyrics and music, demonstrating interests in the blues, straight-ahead jazz, funk, pop and Brazilian music. The opening track--a collaboration between Hooker and poet Jeanette Curtis ...

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Album Review

Lauren Hooker: Right Where I Belong

Read "Right Where I Belong" reviewed by Marcia Hillman


Lauren Hooker shows off her multi-faceted talent in this, her debut CD. Teaming up with Allen Farnham (piano), Rufus Reid (bass) and Tim Horner (drums and percussion), Hooker runs through a selection of jazz standards and originals. Her originals break down into two types: original lyrics for instrumental standards and new pieces. The former included here are by Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Mal Waldron, Wayne Shorter and Fats Waller. Her lyrical take on Monk's “Well You Needn't ...

143
Album Review

Lauren Hooker: Right Where I Belong

Read "Right Where I Belong" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone


It turns out that not only does jazz singer Lauren Hooker have some impressive credentials, her debut album is also filled with surprises. Born into a musical family, (her father recorded with Bill Evans during their college days in New Jersey), Hooker assumed a career as an entertainer during the early 1980s as well as being a musical educator at The Bank Street School for Children in Manhattan.

Her first big break came in 1989, when she recorded ...

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Event

Lauren Hooker Quartet In Concert

Lauren Hooker Quartet In Concert

Source: Lauren Hooker

Teaneck Jazz Vocalist Lauren Hooker and Trio Perform Standards and Originals at the Puffin Cultural Forum Teaneck, NJ, Saturday, November 17 – While often compared to Dianne Reeves, Nancy Wilson, Anita O’Day, Sarah Vaughan or Dinah Washington, Lauren Hooker’s style remains uniquely her own. A jazz vocalist, pianist and educator, Lauren has performed and/or recorded with some of the best in the business including Rufus Reid, Allen Farnham, Bucky Pizzarelli, Reggie Workman and Billy Holiday’s former pianist, Mal Waldron. Her ...

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Performance / Tour

Lauren Hooker Upcoming Appearances

Lauren Hooker Upcoming Appearances

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Lauren Hooker Upcoming Appearances

Sunday, Aug 26 at 1:30pm Live Radio Show: WFDU 89.1 FM JAZZ INFLUENCES with Host Marc Copland

Friday, Aug. 31 7:30 to 9:30 pm Lauren Hooker with Allen Farnham on piano Lounge Zen 254 DeGraw Ave. Teaneck, NJ (201) 692-8585 No Cover. Reservations recommended http://www.lounge-zen.com/

Sunday, Sept. 9 2pm (Festival 11am-6pm) Jazz Vocalist Lauren Hooker with ...

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Performance / Tour

Lauren Hooker Performing at Jerzey Jazz Girlz Series June 29th at 8 PM

Lauren Hooker Performing at Jerzey Jazz Girlz Series June 29th at 8 PM

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Jerzey Jazz Girlz Series celebrating the role of New Jersey Women in the field of Jazz continues at the Barron Art Center in Woodbridge, NJ on June 29th at 8 pm with Jazz Vocalist Lauren Hooker. Performing with Lauren will be pianist Allen Farnham, drummer Tim Horner and bassist Belden Bullock.

Free to the public but reservations are necessary and can be made by calling the staff of the Barron weekdays between 9am and 4 pm at 732- 634-0413. Lauren ...

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Performance / Tour

Lauren Hooker at Red Restaurant & Lounge in Red Bank May 17

Lauren Hooker at Red Restaurant & Lounge in Red Bank May 17

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Thursday, May 17 7 to 10 pm Lauren Hooker with guitarist Paul Meyers Red Restaurant & Lounge 3 Broad Street, Red Bank, NJ (732) 741-3232 No cover. www.rednj.com

Lauren Hooker Right Where I Belong Label Musical Legends 1001 Street Date: May 1, 2007 Lauren Hooker-voclas, Allen Farnham-piano, Rufus Reid-bass, Tim Horner-drums

“Lauren Hooker's Right Where I Belong is one of ...

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Performance / Tour

Lauren Hooker with Allen Farnham Friday, March 23rd at Lounge Zen

Lauren Hooker with Allen Farnham Friday, March 23rd at Lounge Zen

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services


Out of a flood of rave reviews, JAZZ TIMES writes, ... undeniably impressive… certainly imaginative… can hold her own against pretty much any singer- songwriter in the business… ability to add lyrics to instrumental classics… is flat-out masterful… ; JAZZ IMPROV NY says … a skilled scatter, talented lyricist and songwriter…intriguing, impressive…; ALL ABOUT JAZZ LA states, Here's a vocalist that is going to knock you off your chair… hits a double off the wall… her voice - rich, confident and assured - like Dianne Reeves, pitch perfect and ALL ABOUT JAZZ NY writes, "Hooker shows off her multi-faceted talent.

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Primary Instrument

Vocals

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Teaches piano - beginners - intermediate - specializes in teaching vocalists how to use piano as a tool - to learn tunes - write charts - find keys - write arrangements, etc.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Musical Legends Presents “Jazz 4 Kids” An Interactive, Educational, Musical Experience for all Ages Explore the jazz legends of the world with Musical Legends interactive, educational program: “Jazz 4 Kids”. Together, with world renowned jazz musicians and vocalist/educator Lauren Hooker, the ensemble leads the audience through the origins of jazz, beginning the journey with a participatory African “Call and Response” song and translating it into singing a “Twelve Bar Blues”, a “Swing” tune, and a “Bee-Bop” and “Modern Jazz” composition

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Life Of The Music

Miles High Records
2010

buy

Right Where I Belong

Musical Legends, Inc.
2007

buy

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