Buzz on Lauren's CD

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Here's a vocalist that is going to knock you off your chair.
Newcomer Lauren Hooker, on what is essentially her debut recording, hits a double off the wall on this gratifyingly creative disc consisting of standards, originals, and refashioned jazz classics. Her voice - rich, confident and assured - is like Dianne Reeves, pitch perfect. Hooker's timing and sense of swing is absolutely impeccable, and she can take a lyric and mold it like clay. Putting her own lyrics to the likes of "Jitterbug Waltz" ("Lovebug Jitters") and "Footprints" ("Footprints On My Soul"), she gives the well known melodies a fresh twist of lime. Her pitch, as evidenced on Duke Ellington's searing "Creole Love Call," will give you goose bumps. Her own compositions, like "No Goodbyes" are perfectly suited jazz vehicles, and deserve to be appreciated on their own musical basis. The band, lead by master bassist Rufus Reid, is simply impeccable, and flies through these songs like a javelin. Swoop up Right Where I Belong, and look for this New Jersey lady when she comes to town; it's sure to be an event.
— George Harris, All About Jazz LA, www.allaboutjazz.com

What attracted me to Lauren's debut CD was her writing and delivery of new lyrics to five jazz instrumental standards - Goodbye Porkpie Hat, Jitterbug Waltz, Monk's Well You Needn't, Mal Waldron's Seagulls of Kristiansund, and Wayne Shorter's Footprints. They're a kick, reminding me of Jon Henrick's efforts in the same direction. She also has several original songs among the 13 tracks. Her voice is excellent, if not that unique, and Allen Farnham is one of the top jazz pianists around, providing first class backing for the her vocals. TrackList: [Lauren's titles for the jazz instrumental lyrics differ a bit from the originals] Right Where I Belong, You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To, Goodbye Port Pie, The Eyes of Chaz, The Other Side of the Sun, You Needn't Call Me, Time and Space, Seagulls, Lovebug Jitters, No Goodbyes, Footprints On My Soul, Ill Wind, Creole Love Call.
— John Henry, AUDIOPHILE AUDITION

Vocalist LAUREN HOOKER is another presence on the New Jersey scene. She was reared here, graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in Music Education, and has had a New Jersey-based career as a performer and music educator that has garnered her much critical acclaim, and an enthusiastic fan base. "Right Where I Belong" (Musical legends ˆ No Catalog #) is a hip initial recording from a very musical and creative lady, who complements her talents with the good sense to call upon the likes of pianist Allen Farnham, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Tim Horner for musical support. Most of the program is comprised of completely original pieces by Hooker or jazz tunes to which she has added her own lyrics. It is rare that a first album consisting of primarily original material grabs me upon a first hearing, but this one immediately felt like an old friend. Many performers like Hooker, who grew up at a time when rock and related styles of music were predominant, seem lyrically influenced by the style of the singer-songwriters who displaced the lyric artistry of giants like Cole Porter, Lorenz Hart, Johnny Mercer, Ira Gershwin, with lyrics that are carelessly penned, full of false rhymes, pseudo-intellectual imagery that reeks of pretension, and overly personal confessional story telling. Hooker finds a happy middle ground between these extremes. Her lyrics borrow from the best of both worlds, and are carefully written, often containing reflections of her personal experiences, but still general enough to avoid making you feel like you are a furtive observer of specific occasions and relationships. Hooker is an adventurous singer, with a fine voice of producing finely shaded readings of her material.This may be her first album, but it is evident that Lauren Hooker is a mature and talented performer who deserved an opportunity to record long before this.
— Joe Lang, New Jersey Jazz Society

It took this talented vocalist, composer, lyricist and yes even a darn good pianist a long time to come forth with her debut recording but here it is and it was well worth the wait. A bit of background on this person is in order. She has been a professional musician now since a teenager. I have no idea of her age and would never ask a lady that question in the first place. But I would venture a guess she has been on the scene for a number of years. A recording was made with Mal Waldron back in the 1980's but never was issued. I wish someone would issue it. Her education is long and varied and can easily be found on her website but will mention only two places, Manhattan School of Music and Rutgers University. She has had much professional training but despite that she comes across as a very free spirit.

Now to the recording at hand. So many records start off with what I would consider their best effort in order to immediately catch your intention. I do not find that here. This music just seems to build and build. She has the command of nearly a 4 octave voice. Yet you wouldn't even get a hint of that from the first track but believe me by the time you get to "Creole Love Call" (my favorite by the way) you know it well. The tune list above shows one song title and then another in brackets. Well, she wrote lyrics to some of these songs and alternate lyrics to others. No gimmicks here at all. The truth is they would make good poetry in their own right. The lyrics as well as her sharing some thoughts about each song are printed in the booklet. I found this to be very interesting and wish other artists would do the same. She does play piano on one tune, "Seagulls". The other musicians are to be commended. Rufus Reid is a well known bassist and his work here again is super. The same can be said of Mr. Farnham and Mr. Horner. They just know what to put down. All three give her all the support in the world. This is not just another vocalist backed by a trio. It is difficult to verbalize just how unusual this CD is. She is a very mature artist. She has talent and good taste. She just comes across as so honest and genuine. One wishes that he or she would know her personally as her music is so intimate. Well recommended.
— Herb Young IAJRC (International Association of Jazz Record Collectors Journal)

Formidable comes to mind when I ponder the musicianship of the backing contained therein for jazz singer Lauren Hooker's new CD effort. And, "swing" is the positive result of all that musical interplay. Lauren & her wondrous group of three veterans, (Tim Horner-drums, Rufus Reid-bass, & Allen Farnham on piano deliver a myriad of artistic polyphonic jewels joined to a panoply of reflection, color, & dynamics. As for Lauren, she is the embodiment of the aesthetic, deeper, philosophical side of the vocal idiom. Her passionate delivery is imbued with candor, structure, reflection, & lovely kaleidoscopic song patterns that are certainly easy to listen to.
— George W. Carroll/ The Musicians' Ombudsman www.ejazznews.com

A solid trio backs Lauren Hooker in this, her debut album.
In "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To" Allen Farnham at the piano romps merrily along in a magnificent solo. This tune, done up tempo is a tour de force for Farnham. Hooker sings Monk's melody most pleasantly on "Well You Needn't" and sings the changes nicely. "Lovebug Jitters" based on "Jitterbug Waltz" is done at a rapid fire mode with a clever set of lyrics performed admirably by Hooker. Again Allen Farnham steals the show with a hip soliloquy. This tune is the high mark of this recording.
— John Gilbert, www.ejazznews.com

Lauren Hookers newest entry into the world of jazz is far from mediocre. Powerful in vocals, a positioned flow of acute arrangements, and a vast array of fine selections sets the stage for a highly seasoned musical performance! Musical Legends' release, Right Where I Belong, has numerous attitudes, however, none more profound than that of a sultry soul. Her talent is best described with the numerous cuts in which Hooker bleeds
her bondage into each and every ballad. Feelings are invoked when Hooker lets loose her vocals, giving the listener a sense of much more than just notes on a scale. The impact on most cuts is strong with a high fever pitch. Her soul is her sound! That, my fellow jazz enthusiast, is the main ingredient to the craft itself.

"Seagulls" by Mal Waldron, is such a wonderful piece. It articulates a story with music. Hooker, taking this Waldron instrumental and adding her lyrics, cements herself as a Œmulti-talent‚ in this genre. Many have been quoted as labeling Hooker „a full circle musician. If any piece of Hooker's work substantiates this statement, it would be "Seagulls." A heartfelt piece is shown by Hooker's own creation, "No Goodbyes." One becomes enveloped in the strong jazz piece, exhibiting the warmth of every broken heart ever torn. Lyrics are simple, yet in the purist form, addressing the love that was lost without a trace. The arrangement adds to the deep sorrow. An embraceable ballad for those nights when one reminisces and falls once more into the arms of the lost! Hooker is where she needs to be. In other words, "Right Where She Belongs." This experience can only offer us hopes of more expressive and diverse journeys with Ms. Hooker. Add to your collection only in hopes for another addition soon.
— Karl Stober, www.JazzReview.com

Here's a vocalist that is going to knock you off your chair.
Newcomer Lauren Hooker, on what is essentially her debut recording, hits a double off the wall on this gratifyingly creative disc consisting of standards, originals, and refashioned jazz classics. Her voice - rich, confident and assured - is like Dianne Reeves, pitch perfect. Hooker's timing and sense of swing is absolutely impeccable, and she can take a lyric and mold it like clay. Putting her own lyrics to the likes of "Jitterbug Waltz" ("Lovebug Jitters") and "Footprints" ("Footprints On My Soul"), she gives the well known melodies a fresh twist of lime. Her pitch, as evidenced on Duke Ellington's searing "Creole Love Call," will give you goose bumps. Her own compositions, like "No Goodbyes" are perfectly suited jazz vehicles, and deserve to be appreciated on their own musical basis. The band, lead by master bassist Rufus Reid, is simply impeccable, and flies through these songs like a javelin. Swoop up Right Where I Belong, and look for this New Jersey lady when she comes to town; it's sure to be an event.
— George Harris, All About Jazz LA, www.allaboutjazz.com

....brilliant, soulful... her debut on a diamond laden silver platter.
New Jersey's brilliant, soulful jazz composer / musician / vocalist / lyricist, Lauren Hooker, presents her debut opus to the world on a diamond laden silver platter. Right Where I Belong is packed full of both original and classic jazz compositions as well as Lauren's original lyrics set to tunes that you may remember from decades past (Fats Waller, Monk, Mingus, etc.). Lauren's four octave vocal range alone sets her leaps and bounds ahead of the competition, not to mention her jaw-dropping composition genius found on tracks such as "Time & Space" and "No Goodbyes".

To describe Lauren's presence on Right Where I Belong, one would immediately sense inspiration from such classics as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane and Miles Davis. However, Lauren has been fortunate enough to grow up in an environment that allowed her to meet and spend time with jazz legends such as Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, Mal Waldron (Billie Holiday's former pianist), Michael Cochrane and Allen Farnham. Now that the world is wise to Lauren's ability, the hardest part is waiting until she releases her sophomore album, unless you live in the New York metropolitan area where you can catch her performing at such swanky venues as LoungemZen... and the many Greenwich Village Jazz clubs.
— Brian Ball, Music Editor Womens Radio