Customer Reviews

Right Where I Belong

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Lauren Hooker has been singing jazz on the East Coast for 25 years. The daughter of a professional musician and music educator, she studied with pianist Kenny Barron and the great vocalist, Sheila Jordan. Ms Hooker says that she wants to "... reach... Sarah Vaughan's range, Ella's scat, Miles Davis' tone and Coltrane's intention." If you'll pardon my observation, that's one heck of a "reach." But then, to paraphrase Robert Browning, a singer's reach should exceed her grasp, or what's a heaven for?

"Right Where I Belong" is Ms Hooker's debut album. It's a mixed set of original songs penned by Ms Hooker and instrumentals composed by the likes of Wayne Shorter, Mal Waldron, "Fats" Waller and Thelonious Monk for which she has written lyrics. A rather unusual and bold move for a singer's first record. So how about her "reach" versus her "grasp"?

Frankly, I think that at least based on the evidence provided by "Right Where I Belong," Ms Hooker is a better singer and composer, than she is a lyricist. Her lyrics are for the most part predictable - there's nothing memorable here. When it comes to her lyrics, her reach has indeed exceeded her grasp. But as for her voice and the music - well, let's just say there's no problem with her reach in these departments - they are firmly within her grasp.

Ms Hooker has an excellent, well trained, mid-register voice. She moves easily and effortlessly within her range, phrases well and scats like an old pro, (now that I think of it, with 25 years of experience, she is an old pro). As a singer, she's first-rate. And then there's this....

Her supporting trio is really top notch. You can't get any better than pianist Allen Farnham, and bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Tim Horner are outstanding. These guys know how to play and Ms Hooker has the good sense to let 'em do it - in return they give her almost perfect support.

The sonics are excellent: Ms Hooker's voice is front and center and the trio is mixed with enough "oomph" and separation so that you can follow the individual instruments and yet they never get in her way.

Bottom line: Three stars for the lyrics; five stars for the music; four stars over all.

There are few musicians with the depth of training that Lauren Hooker has. She is highly respected in the New York music scene not only for her admirable qualities as a jazz vocalist (she is one of the best before audiences today!), but she is also a composer, a creative lyricist, and an innovator in a field of luminaries.

On this CD, appropriately named 'Right Where I Belong', Lauren Hooker is finally available to those of us on the West Coast who know her only by reputation. Here she works with Allen Farnham, piano, Rufus Reid, bass, and Tim Horner, drums and percussion - the perfect set of superb musicians that supply all the atmosphere and zest Hooker sets in her styling. She has an incredible vocal range, able to carry her irresistible scat singing into the stratosphere (as in 'You'd be so nice to come to') while at the same time dipping into the contralto range for her special imprints on songs such as 'The other side of the sun'.

This is a well balanced album, one that allows us to sample the many aspects of Hooker's talent. She is clearly a force to contend with and it is rewarding to finally have a CD that will bring her to the appreciation of a wider audience. Lauren Hooker is right where she belongs - here! Grady Harp, June 07