ROSS LORRAINE - Heart Of Mine: Songs Of Ross Lorraine
Ross Lorraine Records RLR001
Gwyneth Herbert, Claire Martin, Liane Carroll, Sara Colman, Luca Manning, Ian Shaw (vocals);
Rob Barron (keyboards); Mike Walker (guitars); Elliott Henshaw (drums); Claire Martin (percussion); Chris Traves (trombone);
Sara Coman, Gwyneth Herbert, Claire Martin (backing vocals)
Recorded September 2021 & January 2022
Composer and pianist Ross Lorraine has long been an important figure on the contemporary music and theatre scene. He has written scores for theatre, played jazz piano along with writing contemporary classical pieces. A song writing partnership with Melissa James began in 2009 resulting in her 2012 debut album that featured eleven of their co-written songs. Why Lorrane has waited so long to record a collection of his own songs may be the (as yet) unanswered question, but there is much enjoyment to be had in the fact that he has now done so on this lovely album.
Quite why so many artists, composers and songwriters are seemingly very modest about their work is a shame, because a collection of songs as good as these come along far too infrequently. All these wonderful compositions are beautifully crafted and arranged, and with the assembled cast of musicians for the recording it just oozes quality.
Each song is impeccably arranged and never over fussy. The balance seems to be just right for the relationship between the instrumentation, the melodies and the lyrics with an A-list of vocalists who individually and collectively bring out the very essence in the in the meaning of each. Lorraine has also managed to match each of the vocalist to exactly the right song to bring out the very best in both performers and the repertoire.
The album has a wide spectrum of feeling and emotions, perfectly captured in Lorraine's lyrics and their interpretation. From the exquisite 'Play On' with Gwyneth Herbert's stunning and impassioned vocal delivery you know you are in for a treat. The seductive sway to 'Body Language' is totally owned by Claire Martin, and Liane Carroll's opening on 'The Waiting Game' announces that she will taking no prisoners. Sara Colman's vocals are deliciously tender on 'Pull You Back' and the introduction with Sara's voice accompanied by Mike Walker is exquisite; followed by 'Like Love' from the excellent Luca Manning who just gets better every time I hear him. And all this before we get to hear Ian Shaw in duet with Claire Martin!
In a set that just keeps hitting you with one great song after another, Ian and Claire show their mastery and empathy in a heartfelt 'I'm By Your Side' that also features a lovely instrumental interlude from piano, bass and guitar. Shaw gets another feature, this time to himself, on 'A Silent Cry' in which his poignant vocal really hits home. Manning shows that he is no slouch in the way in which he tells a story in his reading of 'We Will Sing Again' that again features some tasteful guitar from Mike Walker.
I'm not usually a fan of albums that feature multiple artists taking a turn at the microphone, but this recording transcends that notion of variety for its own sake. This album is first and foremost about the songs, and is presented in a way that each is complimented by a voice that the composer feels can capture the essence of the music, and this Lorraine has done in an exemplary manner with Heart Of Mine.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Ross Lorraine Records RLR001
Gwyneth Herbert, Claire Martin, Liane Carroll, Sara Colman, Luca Manning, Ian Shaw (vocals);
Rob Barron (keyboards); Mike Walker (guitars); Elliott Henshaw (drums); Claire Martin (percussion); Chris Traves (trombone);
Sara Coman, Gwyneth Herbert, Claire Martin (backing vocals)
Recorded September 2021 & January 2022
Composer and pianist Ross Lorraine has long been an important figure on the contemporary music and theatre scene. He has written scores for theatre, played jazz piano along with writing contemporary classical pieces. A song writing partnership with Melissa James began in 2009 resulting in her 2012 debut album that featured eleven of their co-written songs. Why Lorrane has waited so long to record a collection of his own songs may be the (as yet) unanswered question, but there is much enjoyment to be had in the fact that he has now done so on this lovely album.
Quite why so many artists, composers and songwriters are seemingly very modest about their work is a shame, because a collection of songs as good as these come along far too infrequently. All these wonderful compositions are beautifully crafted and arranged, and with the assembled cast of musicians for the recording it just oozes quality.
Each song is impeccably arranged and never over fussy. The balance seems to be just right for the relationship between the instrumentation, the melodies and the lyrics with an A-list of vocalists who individually and collectively bring out the very essence in the in the meaning of each. Lorraine has also managed to match each of the vocalist to exactly the right song to bring out the very best in both performers and the repertoire.
The album has a wide spectrum of feeling and emotions, perfectly captured in Lorraine's lyrics and their interpretation. From the exquisite 'Play On' with Gwyneth Herbert's stunning and impassioned vocal delivery you know you are in for a treat. The seductive sway to 'Body Language' is totally owned by Claire Martin, and Liane Carroll's opening on 'The Waiting Game' announces that she will taking no prisoners. Sara Colman's vocals are deliciously tender on 'Pull You Back' and the introduction with Sara's voice accompanied by Mike Walker is exquisite; followed by 'Like Love' from the excellent Luca Manning who just gets better every time I hear him. And all this before we get to hear Ian Shaw in duet with Claire Martin!
In a set that just keeps hitting you with one great song after another, Ian and Claire show their mastery and empathy in a heartfelt 'I'm By Your Side' that also features a lovely instrumental interlude from piano, bass and guitar. Shaw gets another feature, this time to himself, on 'A Silent Cry' in which his poignant vocal really hits home. Manning shows that he is no slouch in the way in which he tells a story in his reading of 'We Will Sing Again' that again features some tasteful guitar from Mike Walker.
I'm not usually a fan of albums that feature multiple artists taking a turn at the microphone, but this recording transcends that notion of variety for its own sake. This album is first and foremost about the songs, and is presented in a way that each is complimented by a voice that the composer feels can capture the essence of the music, and this Lorraine has done in an exemplary manner with Heart Of Mine.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
