Before a packed crowd at the upstairs and upscale Vitellos, vocalist/songwriter Lorraine Feather delivered a concerto/advertisement for her latest album release Attachments. Teamed up with LA all stars Charlie Bisharat/violin, Russell Ferrante/p, Michael Shapiro/dr, Michael Valerio/b and Grant Geissman/g, Ms Feather mixed her thoughtful and thought provoking lyrics with sophisticated jazz harmonies and rhythms showing that music can appeal to the head as well as the heart. Sort of like a female version of Tom Waits (or is Waits a male version…?) Feather told stories of the obscure but unforgettable parts of life; things like roommates and old relationships are sung about on “Anna Lee” and “Attachments,” while a boppish “159” has Feather and company oozing cheerfulness over nothing more than various conversations at the dinner table. Dueting with Ferrante, she and her off Broadway voice delivered a fragile and elliptical observation of life during “The Veil” just before TV/movie composer Dave Grusin joined up for a striding and rollicking pair of songs that had Feather put lyrics to one of his themes that even had the composer himself scratch his head over the accomplishment. With Bisharat’s violin and Grusin’s Bach’s musings, Feather produced a delicate and porcelain dedication to dearly departed ones on “True” before closing with an homage to all of the musicians she’s teamed up with on “I Love You Guys.” The combination of thoughtful and fresh lyrics with intriguing music that actually swung is a refreshing splash of water to those who want something new besides music from 3 Wars ago.
Another singer songwriter, Tony DeSare, comes to Vitellos on Oct 27. This guy delivers the goods!
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