Search - Lorraine Feather :: Dooji Wooji

Truly a "fresh new voice" in jazz

madamemusico | Cincinnati, Ohio USA | 09/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here, in the early 21st Century, jazz singing seems to have evolved (devolved?) into white chanteuses singing swing-styled numbers: Diane Schuur, Diane Kraal, Madeleine Peyroux, Dena DeRose and Lorraine Feather among them. Of course, however, there is a wealth of talent difference between them, as well as a sliding scale of listenability. Schuur and Kraal, for instance, have (to my ears) unpleasant voices but swing like mad; Peyroux, though she plays fine jazz guitar to accompany herself, basically does the most letter-perfect Billie Holiday imitation I have ever heard (though I do love her versions of "Was I?" and "Dance Me to the End of Love"); and DeRose is, far and away, the greatest overall female jazz talent we have seen since the flowering of Toshiko Akiyoshi, sort of a modern-day feminine Nat King Cole.



Lorraine Feather, daughter of one of the most famous jazz critics of the past century, grew up wealthy and wanting nothing. She also grew up totally immersed in jazz, as well as somewhat lonely and remote. As the child of a famous jazz scribe, something great was expected of her, a talent that did not blossom for many years. As someone who received, in her own words, "brains but not beauty," she was socially ostracized in the exclusive schools she went to, often isolated during her growing-up period.



But Lorraine has triumphed, and in a way that I'm not sure her famous father would have envisioned. She has become an excellent jazz singer - more on her quite unique style in a moment - but, more importantly, she has become the single greatest writer of vocalize lyrics in the entire history of jazz. There is not a single track on this album that does not contain brilliant, touching, funny or wry lyrics; and Feather is not only adept at re-imaging the music of Duke Ellington (five numbers on this CD alone) or Fats Waller: seven pieces here are original numbers written for her to "play with," and they inspire some of her finest words (pride of place, for me personally, goes to "Remembering to Breathe").



Lorraine's style lies somewhere between the straight-but-swinging style of any number of jazz singers (Carmen MacRae, Lee Wiley, Rosie Clooney, etc.) and the more varied improvising of singers like Ella, Sarah, Connee Boswell or Sheila Jordan. She has evolved a style that eschews scatting or overt pushing of the voice; her tone rides effortlessly on the breath, wrapped totally around the lyrics and projecting an inner warmth that is far more attractive than the swinging-but-brassy style of Schuur. In short, there are moments when the listener suddenly realizes, to his or her surprise, that Lorraine Feather sounds like no one else. And yes, that IS a compliment.



This disc is very highly recommended. I loved every single track except the last one - a little too sedate of a closer for my taste, and the weakest music on the disc, but not weak enough to warrant my giving it less than 5 stars.

"

Lorraine Feather Remembering to Breathe on "Dooji Wooji"

D. W. Girten | 06/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When it comes to captivating, swinging vocals and witty lyrics few can hold a candle to Lorraine Feather. Her latest contribution Dooji Wooji is her best effort to date! Whether it is a hilarious rapid-fire tale of a female runner in her song" Indiana Lana" or the opener "Calistoga Bay," a swinger backed by a big band, Lorraine leaves no doubt that she is a singer whose lyrics will stand up and grab your attention.



Melodies on this CD compliment her lyrics. "Remembering to Breathe" is a graceful, sentimental ballad

on the lessons learned when young ladies take ballet. The snappy "Cicada Time" reminisces about the

seventeen year cycle of these noisy insects. There is irony in the swinging "Shameful" and warmth in the

sensuous "On the Esplanade." The floating vocals of Lorraine matched with a 1929 instrumental by Duke

Ellington in "Tryin' to Get Over" is just one of four pairings between these two.



In "I Know the Way to Brooklyn" the singer is able to kill the worst case of blues with her wit. The bluesy

and sensuous "Sweet Honolulu" has a solid boogie-woogie vamp to carry the listener through. Clever and

delightful lyrics matched with her vocals and the contributions of her collaborators make Dooji Wooji an

outing with Lorraine Feather that will entertain and stand the test of time!"

More Great Work From The Premier Lyricist

Luke, the Duke | Los Angeles, CA, USA | 05/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Miss Feather has three magnificent talents.

First, an awesome gift for incredibly zany and intelligent lyrics that blend seamlessly with marvelous music.

Second, a great voice with perfect timing, enunciation and amazing precision.

Third, the ability to attract and collaborate with an incredible number of tremendous song writers and hot musicians.



Between her excellent work pulling gems out of Ellington's archives and her great interaction with some of today's best, she continues to create awesome tracks.



From the very tender sweetness of "Remembering to Breathe" to the runaway antics of "Indiana Lana"; from the wild entomology-meets-jazz piece "Cicada Time" to the fully believable "I Know the Way To Brooklyn", Ms. Feather has put together a marvelous treat. I found myself yearning to join the party on Calistoga Bay. There is nothing shameful about this album but one song title; Lorraine Feather is definitely NOT tryin' to get over on us, and when you listen in, you'll be happy you were there.

I guarantee that you will marvel at the skill level of all those involved in this splenid project.



Bravo!!"