Lisanne Lyons Latest Release
Washington Post Weekend
“Smile,” Lisanne Lyons’s latest album, reminds us of the magic that can happen…
Product Description
“Smile,” Lisanne Lyons’s latest album, reminds us of the magic that can happen when the right singer, the right song and the right accompaniment fall into place. Blessed with a luminous, flutelike soprano, Lyons delivers a collection of cheery themes and dreamy ballads that seem particularly well-suited to her bright tone and improvisational flair. Beginning with Cole Porter’s “I Love You,” Lyons gracefully demonstrates that while all jazz vocalists may consider themselves musicians, some are far more musician-like than others. Her fluid scatting and spot-on intonation allow her to fully participate as the fourth member of the John Toomey Trio while harmonizing the melody or engaging in crisp exchanges with drummer Howard Curtis. Toomey, Curtis and bassist Jimmy Masters, who were recently in town accompanying veteran bop-bred vocalist Mark Murphy, are quick to create a nimble rapport with Lyons and are chiefly responsible for the album’s fresh and often challenging arrangements.While the vintage standards, which include “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was,” “Put on a Happy Face,” and “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” easily outclass the more recent pop tunes, even the unusually languid rendition of “Never Can Say Goodbye” and the slow and sultry reprise of “Daydream” manage to cast a romantic spell, thanks in part to guest saxophonist Chip McNeill — Mike Joyce
Track Listings
- I Love You
- Put On a Happy Face
- Smile
- I Didn’t Know What Time It Was
- Never Can say Goodbye
- I Thought about You
- I Want To Be Happy
- Daydream
- the Touch Of Your Lips
- You Don’t Know what Love Is
- Again
Right As Rain
Track Listings
- Come Rain or Come shine
- As Long as I Live
- I’ve Got the World on a String
- Right as the Rain
- Blues in the Night
- Out of This World
- If I Only Had a Brain
- My Shining Hour
- When the Sun Comes Out
- What’s Good About Goodbye
- Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Lisanne Lyons is currently the lead soprano for the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet and is Associate Professor of Music for Virginia Tech’s vocal jazz program. Lisanne received her Master of Music degree (Studio Music and Jazz Performance) from the University of Miami (Fl), where she served as assistant director and lead soprano for the award winning “Jazz Vocal One” ensemble and featured vocalist for the nationally acclaimed “Concert Jazz Band.” During that time she received the Down Beat magazine “Dee Bee” award for best jazz vocal soloist for two consecutive years.
Lisanne’s career began immediately following high school as the featured vocalist for the Air Force bands. During her six years in the service she performed worldwide with the “Norad Command Band”, Travis AF “Band of the Golden Gate”, and the U.S. Air Force Academy “Falconaires”. She has since been featured with the Woody Herman Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau, Arturo Sandoval, the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band and various bands across the the country. She has also performed with many of the world’s top jazz artists such as Bobby McFerrin, Mark Murphy, the Four Freshman, Mose Allison, Jon Hendricks, and Darmon Meader.
Prior to accepting a Virginia Tech faculty position, she performed a year with the first national touring company of Cy Coleman’s Broadway hit “City of Angels.” With numerous performing, recording, and back up singing credits, she was also a featured performer with Joel Grey on the NBC TV Orange Bowl half-time show, “You’ll Get a Kick Out of Cole.”
Band members: Duffy Jackson
Mike Orta
Dennis Marks
Manuel Castrillo
Arturo Sandoval
Brian MacDonald
Billy Spencer
Jason Carder
Al Hood
Dana Teboe
Dante Luciani
John Kricker
Billy Ross
Gary Keller
Chip McNeill
Ed Calle
Mike Brignola
Doug Bickel
Ernesto Simpson
Bruce Wethy
John Bippuccio
David Chappell
Deana Shapiro
Barbara Corcillo
Product Description
Lisanne Lyons steps out from her lead soprano role with the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet and surrounds herself with a world class big band and strings. These swinging arrangements and lush ballads are the perfect vehicle for Lisanne to display her powerful voice, extensive range and sophisticated style. Right as the Rain pays tribute to the late great Harold Arlen, one of America’s most prolific composers of the twentieth century. This CD is packed full of great players such as Arturo Sandoval, Chip McNeill, Duffy Jackson, Ed Calle, and many others who have played and are still with Maynard Ferguson, Arturo Sandoval, Woody Herman Orchestra, Harry Connick Jr., and other great jazz bands.
The arrangements were written by some of the finest jazz arrangers today, Chip McNeill, Tom Garling, and Michele Weir. This powerful debut recording features Lisanne in a variety of musical settings and allows room to showcase some of these fabulous musicians. This is truely a collaberation of world class musicians, arrangers and a vocal delivery that posseses a true understanding and love for the art form.
This product is now available in 10x8 Landscape size for only $454.00 and includes shipping and handling. Call me ...