Customer Reviews

It Had to Be Swing

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

NOT SINCE LINDA RONSTADT RECORDED WITH NELSON RIDDLE HAVE I HEARD A BETTER SELECTION OF TORCH SONGS! LAURA'S INTERPRETATON OF THESE CLASSICS ARE A DELIGHT. JOHNNY MERCER WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD TO HEAR HIS MELODIC AND MOURNFUL SKYLARK SUNG WITH SUCH EMPATHY. LAURA'S BEAUTIFUL VOICE IS SHOWCASED ON OUR LOVE IS HERE TO STAY. JUST LAURA AND THE BASS FOR THE FIRST PHRASE, THEN LAURA'S SIDEMEN REALLY SWING.I THINK LAURA'S ABILITY TO INTERPRET A LYRIC IS EXEMPLIFIED ON WHAT'LL I DO. IF YOU ENJOY GREAT MUSIC, OR HAVE EVER BEEN IN LOVE THEN ORDER THIS CD NOW. ENJOY! MONTY JETT MORNING PERSONALITY WLOW 107.9 FM HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA

This CD is for you. It is a collection of old favorites that one can't help but enjoy and it is a perfect showcase for Laura's enchanting voice. Once you are able to snap the spell that Laura casts, you realize that the band which accompanies her is also excellent. If listing to this CD doesn't lift your spirits, I don't know what will. I highly recommend it for all swing/jazz lovers.

Laura Pursells "It Had To Be Swing" CD takes you back to the days of martini's and ciggarette holders. It gives a feel of a simpler time when music was fun. Laura's command of this type of music puts her in that rare catogory of performers like Harry Connik Jr. and Etta James. The upbeat tunes like "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and "Song Is You" are high tempo and alive. While ALL the ballads are melodic with great arrangements and sung in a style that you think Ms. Pursell is living it not merely telling you about it. This should be a welcomed addition to any swing/jazz collection.

I heard Laura sing a few months ago, and when I heard that her album was finally out, I had to buy it! These are great classic standards and Laura sings them beautifully! It's the kind of CD that you can leave in your CD player and listen to over and over. The arrangements are fresh and fun. This is the kind of music that I think would be perfect played on a tranquil night in the middle of Africa with the firelight from the campfire dancing against the black sky....but back to reality, this music will take you anywhere your imagination can dream up! I highly recommend the album and the artist!

So I started playing the CD "It Had To Be Swing" recently to which a friend introduced me. Being a Jazz and Swing fan, of course I was interested. I was immediately captivated and fell in love with the rich warm tone of Laura's voice backed by one of the best big band arrangements I have heard in a long time. I wondered not why she wasn't a household name, but WHEN she would become one. Each song is very "listenable" and quite enjoyable, and definitely puts one in a good mood. One of my personal favorites is the humorous and catchy "Undecided". Julia Holland is colorful conrast and adds greatly to the big band numbers. I must say it's a real joy to hear some familiar songs take on a whole new tone and even meaning when interpreted by this incredible osng stylist. Is "songstress" a word? If not, do we have artistic license to coin it for Laura? She is definitely one artist to who's success and career I look forward. Thank you Ms. Pursell, wherever you are!

So I started playing the CD "It Had To Be Swing" recently to which a friend introduced me. Being a Jazz and Swing fan, of course I was interested. I was immediately captivated and fell in love with the rich warm tone of Laura's voice backed by one of the best big band arrangements I have heard in a long time. I wondered not why she wasn't a household name, but WHEN she would become one. Each song is very "listenable" and quite enjoyable, and definitely puts one in a good mood. One of my personal favorites is the humorous and catchy "Undecided". Julia Holland is colorful conrast and adds greatly to the big band numbers. I must say it's a real joy to hear some familiar songs take on a whole new tone and even meaning when interpreted by this incredible osng stylist. Is "songstress" a word? If not, do we have artistic license to coin it for Laura? She is definitely one artist to who's success and career I look forward. Thank you Ms. Pursell, wherever you are!

So I started playing the CD "It Had To Be Swing" recently to which a friend introduced me. Being a Jazz and Swing fan, of course I was interested. I was immediately captivated and fell in love with the rich warm tone of Laura's voice backed by one of the best big band arrangements I have heard in a long time. I wondered not why she wasn't a household name, but WHEN she would become one. Each song is very "listenable" and quite enjoyable, and definitely puts one in a good mood. One of my personal favorites is the humorous and catchy "Undecided". Julia Holland is colorful conrast and adds greatly to the big band numbers. I must say it's a real joy to hear some familiar songs take on a whole new tone and even meaning when interpreted by this incredible osng stylist. Is "songstress" a word? If not, do we have artistic license to coin it for Laura? She is definitely one artist to who's success and career I look forward. Thank you Ms. Pursell, wherever you are!

How do you perform 14 classic standards and make them sound as fresh as today? You gather Laura Pursell, Rusty Higgins, and several fine sidemen and produce "It Had To Be Swing." Now have a listen, and the answer will leap out of your loudspeakers. Laura caresses the gentle "Skylark" and "Our Love Is Here To Stay" and your mind swirls with thoughts of every love you ever had. Then change the pace to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" where it's 1943 all over again, and you can easily picture Laura as leading the Andrews Sisters, khaki uniform and all!

I defy you to resist this woman's warm, rich alto. Strong, firm, unwavering, leaping eagerly to her high range as readily as to her lows, with consistent voice quality throughout. And after you've heard the whole album, you'll be struck by her flawless intonation, never missing even half a note throughout.

The signal qualities of this collection are its easy accessibility and casual, almost jammed improvisational feel. Don't be fooled: there's tons of careful preparation in the vocal styling, and the band and band charts are just first-class. This is rockin' stuff, folks. Hear the wistful "Watch What Happens" and then enjoy the change-of-pace "Almost Like Being In Love" with its surprising up-tempo bounce and nice key-change in the last chorus. The range of Ms. Pursell's expression is impressive.

And don't forget to have a listen to "Undecided" and the two "Boogie" tunes, on which Laura is joined by another fine and talented singer, Julia Holland. Double your pleasure: these ladies sing as one, with lyrical and tonal accuracy and such high energy, you'll be breathless.

Do you think I like this CD? Do I think you'll like this CD? "I could swear I was falling..."