REVIEW

All About Jazz, May/June, 2004
by Paul West

Laura Welland:

Doin' it all at the Jazz Alley

Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language ought to put a little picture of Laura Welland next to its defnition of versatile: “many sided—turning with ease from one thing to another.”

I was luckily on hand to discover Laura’s multi-faceted musicianship, along with her engaging personality, at the recent Jazz Alley release party for her new CD, "Love Is Never Out Of Season".

She pretty much did it all—played piano, played bass, wrote many of the arrangements and, most of all, sang with an infectious combination of originality and conviction. She’s one of the few vocalists I’ve heard who makes you believe she really means the words.

All this was built on the rock-solid and tasteful foundation of Larry Fuller on piano, John Clayton on bass, and Joe LaBarbara on drums (the CD includes Bill Mays on piano). They and Laura delivered a set chock full of surprises.

“Honeysuckle Rose” displayed a rhythmically in­triguing opening section before settling down to serious cookin’. (Larry Fuller always kills me, and his solo on this tune did it again.) Still more tasty rhythmic variations came along in “While We’re Young.” Laura was comfy with it all.

Maybe I should have called her verse-atile. Laura’s interpretation of “I’ll Be Seeing You,” began with its beautiful and rarely heard verse, and went on to gently capture the profound feeling of the tune. Even this far removed from the song’s original World War II context, it is a very bittersweet story.

Laura moved to the piano—beginning with another surprising verse—to “Pennies From Heaven.” I’d never heard it before. Her piano playing displays the same straightforward, solid musicianship and flawless time as her singing.

After Laura and bassist John Clayton joined forces on “You Make Me Feel So Young,” she picked up her own bass and they played a duet—taking turns at the melody and rhythm in a rich and intricate bass-clef exploration.

She returned to the microphone and, with the driving accompaniment of drummer Joe LaBarbara, burned through “I Got The Sun In The Morning And The Moon At Night.”

There were other goodies too, many of which are on the CD. But to get the full treatment, go see Laura in person the first chance you get. She’s something.

Available from Bud’s Jazz Records & online at www.oa2records.com.

12 I ALL ABOUT JAZZ SEATTLE I May/June 2004