Laurie Antonioli - American Dreams

[GA Russell]

I received a promo of a new album that might interest some here. Laurie Antonioli is a singer who has spent the past twenty years in Europe, so maybe some of you Yurpeens are familiar with her. She made a duo album with Richie Beirach in 2005, and I think that this album American Dreams is her first one since.

I have mixed feelings about it. I like her voice a lot. And I like the musicians here. But I don't like half the songs. I find them interesting but not enjoyable. It's as if she was more interested in making an album that was different to stand out in the crowd than to make one that was likeable.

I have found the CD at both Amazon and CDBaby, but unfortunately the samples are so brief that you can't hear enough of each melody to see what I mean when I say they are interesting and different. Too bad Lala is no longer with us to sample the album.

Anybody here familiar with her?

[Antonioli]

Here's background on the artist as well as a current review. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Making assumptions about the artist's intentions ("making an album that is different to stand out in a crowd") is utterly incorrect. Please keep in mind that artists who perform new and original material take risks that put them out of the mainstream. Not everyone will like it, but, some people actually love it. Click the link below.

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=36951

[GA Russell]

Laurie Antonioli is a singer who has spent the past twenty years in Europe...

I see that I have made an error. Antonioli spent 2002-2006 teaching in Graz, Austria, but she has lived in the US other than that. She now is based in the San Francisco Bay area.

She made an album with George Cables in 1985, and two during her time in Europe. This is her fourth album.