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Laura Theodore

"LAURA THEODORE has one of the most striking voices in jazz." (Rick Anderson, All Music Guide ) Reviewers have compared her to such legends as Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, & Sarah Vaughan.

Ms. Theodore can be seen weekly as host of the popular Manhattan Cable music television show All This Jazz, now in it's 6th year. She has made guest appearances on Good Morning America, Robert Klein Prime Time, Phil Donahue, America's Talking and the CBS New's Year's Eve Special. Laura has toured throughout the U.S. and performed at numerous major events such as: Night of 100 Stars, George Bush Inaugural, Fire & Ice Ball and The American Film Awards. Laura has recorded five solo CD's including Tonight's the Night , which won a Musician Magazine BUBS Award. Her recent release, "What The World Needs Now Is Love," debuted in June 2003 and is climbing the jazz charts. Ranging from the Golden Age of Gershwin and Rodgers, and swinging us on to Bacharach and the blues, the songs on this new recording include: What the World Needs Now is Love, Fever, Some of My Best Friends Are the Blues, How Deep Is the Ocean, S' Wonderful, The Lady is a Tramp, The Very Thought Of You, and I'm In The Mood for Love. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Laura grew up in the theatre and was often seen in the East Ohio Gas Television series based on popular fairy tales. Arriving in New York City, she quickly became a favorite on the nightclub scene. She was first discovered by Barney Josephson, owner of the legendary nightclub spot, The Cookery where she appeared on the bill with the late, great Alberta Hunter for a sold out three month run. Laura went on to play the Big Apple's hottest venues, and headlined in concert under the musical direction of Mr. Mercer Ellington. Laura is the title cut vocalist on producer Jim Steinman's cult classic Original Sin (which has since been covered by artists such as Meatloaf and Taylor Dayne.) Laura is also known for her portrayal of Janis Joplin in the Off-Broadway hit, Beehive which earned her a Backstage Bistro Award and for her acclaimed performance as Joplin in the World Premier production of Love, Janis for which she received the Denver Drama Critics Circle Award. What the media is saying!... "A formidable talent...a fully developed four-octave range and a styistic versatility that encompasses sophisticated pop-jazz, 1960's soul music and big cabaret ballads." Stephen Holden, New York Times

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344
Album Review

Joe Beck & Laura Theodore: Golden Earrings

Read "Golden Earrings" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


The duet program Golden Earrings is Laura Theodore's ode to Peggy Lee's standard-setting duets with her husband, guitarist and co-composer Dave Barbour. Subsequent circumstances have added a sadder tribute to Theodore's instrumental partner, guitarist Joe Beck, who recorded his final work on Golden Earrings before he succumbed to cancer in July 2008.

Tribute offerings can be tricky propositions. If you stay too close to the originals, critics say that you're simply “aping" them; change them too much and critics complain ...

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Album Review

Laura Theodore: What the World Needs Now Is Love

Read "What the World Needs Now Is Love" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


The world may need love now, but it also needs more original artists like Laura Theodore. The vocalist opens her new CD with a smoldering and sultry “Some of My Best Friends Are The Blues"... and the band gets the blues, too, with an R&B atmosphere and a stinging muted trumpet solo followed by the salacious growl of tenor sax.

Laura Theodore explores her full four octave range on this outing, sometimes on the same song, and she also explores ...

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170

Recording

"Golden Earrings" - Testament to Taste, Talent, and Exceptional Chemistry

"Golden Earrings" - Testament to Taste, Talent, and Exceptional Chemistry

Source: Michael Ricci

Whaling City Sound is excited to bring you this very special collection of music from the late, great guitarist Joe Beck and jazz vocalist Laura Theodore. This intimate and inspired series of duets effectively pays twin tributes. Initially conceived by Theodore as a tribute to the revered vocalist and popular music icon Peggy Lee, whose alluring, “cool" style captivated listeners through the '40s, '50s & '60s, it also stands as a tribute to the late guitar great Joe Beck, who ...

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