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Lori Bell

An award winning flutist of admirable depth and broad musical sympathies whose recordings and live performances over the years have set new and higher standards in contemporary jazz and classical music, Lori Bell paid heartfelt tribute to her family and birthplace on her critically acclaimed 2016 album Brooklyn Dreaming.

A longtime resident and innovative cultural presence in San Diego, Lori paid special homage to her parents whose musical passions and talents gave rise to her own. Her father was a big band lead trumpet player in NYC for over 30 years and her mother played the accordion with a great ear for both jazz and classical music. Growing up, she was influenced by the traditional music of her Jewish culture and a wide range of musical legends from violinist Jascha Heifetz, jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, and guitarist Wes Montgomery.

Brooklyn Dreaming, Lori’s ninth solo album, was an across the board critical smash, earning four star ratings from Jazz Journal, Jazz Times and the Los Angeles Times (four and a half stars) and Downbeat, which chose it as one of their “Top CD’s of 2016.” Huffington Post also chose Brooklyn Dreaming for their Best of 2016 List. Bill Milkowski wrote in the March 2016 issue of Downbeat: “Bell flaunts prodigious chops on both C flute and alto flute, though her pen might be mightier than her sword. Her originals all reveal a wide harmonic palette, a sophisticated rhythmic sensibility and a refined sense of dynamics, along with an urge to swing.” Veteran jazz critic Scott Yanow chose it as one of his Top 25 Best CD’s of 2016.

Brooklyn Dreaming also earned Lori her third honor from the Global Music Awards, for Outstanding Achievement for album and composition. In 2011, she received the competition’s Award of Excellence for her depth of playing, composing and arranging for her self-titled debut album Lori Bell. She followed that in 2014 with the Gold Medal Award for her composition “Une Chanson Pour Claude” from her album Night Soliloquy. A showcase for musical gems and unique voices, the Global Music Awards is a top tier music competition that honors talented musicians around the world.

Prior to releasing her solo debut album Lori Bell in 2002, the flutist recorded three previous works as part of different group settings, including Love Will Win (featuring pianist Dave Mackay and bassist Andy Simpkins), Take Me To Brazil and Interplay (featuring Mackay and guitarist/vocalist Ron Satterfield. Her discography includes Interplay Live at the New York Grill, the Lori Bell Trio date Higher Standards and The Music of Djavan (featuring pianist Tamir Handelman). Lori and Ron Satterfield are currently recording a duo album called blue(s) set for release later in 2017.

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Album Review

Judy Whitmore: Isn't It Romantic

Read "Isn't It Romantic" reviewed by Richard J Salvucci


"Take a page out of Judy Whitmore's playbook for life, and be inspired by a true modern-day Renaissance woman--cabaret and recording artist, best-selling author, and licensed jet pilot--whose passion for adventure has audiences and readers across America abandoning their fears and reawakening to long-forgotten dreams and new desires." Thus Judy Whitmore, her web page. Ms. Whitmore, you may gather, is not a professional jazz singer Of course, it would be hard to know what exactly qualifies someone as ...

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Album Review

Judy Whitmore: Isn't It Romantic

Read "Isn't It Romantic" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Sometimes it is a pleasure to listen to an album simply because the quality of the music is so consistently gratifying. And if the music is sung as well as Judy Whitmore sings it on Isn't It Romantic, well, that is icing on the cake, as are the superb performances by her supporting cast, especially pianist Tamir Hendelman and saxophonist Rickey Woodard. The music is taken for the most part from the Great American Songbook, and much ...

3
Album Review

Judy Whitmore: Isn't It Romantic

Read "Isn't It Romantic" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


It seems that for most singers at some point in their career, delving into the Great American Songbook is “de rigueur." And why is that? Perhaps it's because the melodies are captivating, the lyrics are meaningful, and the quality of the compositions has proven to be timeless. In any event singer Judy Whitmore has added her name to that long list of vocalists who have taken the up the challenge with her third release. There are ...

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Album Review

Lori Bell: Brooklyn Dreaming

Read "Brooklyn Dreaming" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


No matter where we go, our formative experiences travel with us. That's what Lori Bell appears to say with Brooklyn Dreaming. For her ninth album, this California-based flutist decided to glance eastward, recalling time spent soaking in the sounds of New York City with her musical family in her youth. The result? A love letter that proves that Bell has bi-coastal jazz citizenship, having been baptized in Brooklyn's swing and sizzle while currently belonging to the hot Golden State scene. ...

467
Album Review

Lori Bell: The Music of Djavan

Read "The Music of Djavan" reviewed by Brian Gall


A tribute record can be an interesting way to discover an artist--especially one with such a lengthy career, gone previously unnoticed.

Most of the material by phenomenal flautist Lori Bell on The Music of Djavan is originally from the 70s, and here she takes a look at the Brazilian singer-songwriter whose songs have been recorded by Al Jarreau and Carmen McRae. In 2000, Djavan won a Grammy for Best Brazilian Song at the first Latin Grammy Awards.

Leaving enough space ...

121
Album Review

Dave Mackay, Lori Bell, Ron Satterfield: Interplay

Read "Interplay" reviewed by Dave Nathan


When one thinks of jazz trios, it's usually piano, drums and bass, or guitar in lieu of bass. Here there's the unusual combination of piano, guitar and flute. One result is the sharp contrasts created, with the flute at the high end, the guitar at the bottom and Dave Mackay's piano the bridge between the two. Another and more relevant result is more than an hour of dazzling musicianship applied to an eclectic program of interesting tunes. Lori ...

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Recording

Virtuoso Lori Bell Pays Homage To Music Titan Joe Henderson On 'Recorda Me: Remembering Joe Henderson'

Virtuoso Lori Bell Pays Homage To Music Titan Joe Henderson On 'Recorda Me: Remembering Joe Henderson'

Source: 1888 Media

Accomplished arranger, virtuoso musician and esteemed educator, Lori Bell returns April 19th with Recorda Me: Remembering Joe Henderson, an extraordinary new collection paying homage to one of the all-time greats, hard bop, jazz icon, Joe Henderson. Portuguese for “Remember Me,” the 9-song, Recorda Me: Remembering Joe Henderson showcases Bell at her enchanting best, one that the LA Times has dubbed “briskly inventive…gorgeous playing” while Downbeat describes her as “an improvisational shapeshifter.” “Joe was an exceptional jazz saxophonist and to my ...

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Performance / Tour

Virtuoso Flutist Lori Bell Celebrates 10th Studio Album CD Release Concert On February 25, 2018 at A Frame Jazz

Virtuoso Flutist Lori Bell Celebrates 10th Studio Album CD Release Concert On February 25, 2018 at A Frame Jazz

Source: Lori Bell

blue(s) includes three originals plus renditions of classics by Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, Oliver Nelson, Joni Mitchell and Miles Davis. Nine-track opus features vocalizations and accompaniment from guitarist Ron Satterfield. Record release show June 25 at Museum of Making Music (MoMM) in Carlsbad, CA. On February 25th 2018 virtuoso flutist, composer/arranger, and educator, Lori Bell will perform a CD release concert of blue(s), a 9-track opus including straight ahead blues and songs with ‘blue’ in the titles highlighting its rich ...

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Recording

Virtuoso Flutist Lori Bell Returns With "Blue(s)," Her 10th Studio Album, On July 14th

Virtuoso Flutist Lori Bell Returns With "Blue(s)," Her 10th Studio Album, On July 14th

Source: 1888 Media

On July 14, 2017, virtuoso flutist, composer/arranger, and educator, Lori Bell will release blue(s), a 9-song excursion showcasing straight-ahead blues, and the word “blue” (which appears in each song title), highlighting its rich color, lingering mood and resplendent hue. Now in the third decade of her acclaimed career, blue(s) is Bell's 10th album overall, and the follow-up to her critically-acclaimed release, Brooklyn Dreaming, which won a Global Music Award for “Outstanding Achievement,” while also garnering a “Best Jazz Album” nomination ...

3

Recording

Virtuoso Flutist Lori Bell Returns With "Blue(s)," Her 10th Studio Album, On July 14

Virtuoso Flutist Lori Bell Returns With "Blue(s)," Her 10th Studio Album, On July 14

Source: 1888 Media

Record release show set for July 15 at Dizzy’s in San Diego, CA. On July 14, 2017, virtuoso flutist, composer/arranger, and educator, Lori Bell will release blue(s) , a 9-song excursion showcasing straight-ahead blues, and the word “blue” (which appears in each song title), highlighting its rich color, lingering mood and resplendent hue. Now in the third decade of her acclaimed career, blue(s) is Bell's 10th album overall, and the follow-up to her critically-acclaimed release, Brooklyn Dreaming, which won a ...

6

Festival

Acclaimed Lori Bell Quartet To Showcase At 23rd Annual Jazz In The Pines Festival

Acclaimed Lori Bell Quartet To Showcase At 23rd Annual Jazz In The Pines Festival

Source: 1888 Media

Presented by Idyllwild Arts Foundation, 2-Day Festival Takes Place in Idyllwild, CA, Located in the San Jacinto Mountains Lori Bell Quartet Includes Virtuoso Flutist Lori Bell, Pianist Bill Cunliffe, Bassist Katie Thiroux & Drummer Matt Witek Scheduled for 90-minute Main Stage Performance on Sunday August 21 (2:30-4:00pm) Other Fest Performers Include Diane Schuur, Ernie Watts, Graham Dechter, Casey Abrams & Haley Reinhart Recognized at the 2016 Global Music Awards for 'Outstanding Achievement' in arrangement, composition and improvisation, virtuoso flutist Lori ...

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Recording

Virtuoso Flutist Lori Bell Returns With 9th Studio Album On January 15, 2016

Virtuoso Flutist Lori Bell Returns With 9th Studio Album On January 15, 2016

Source: 1888 Media

Brooklyn Dreaming Is An Homage To Brooklyn/New York City Renditions of Classics By Monk, Mingus and Earle Hagen Quartet Includes Pianist Tamir Hendelman, Bassist Katie Thiroux and Drummer Matt Witek A flutist and composer of admirable depth and broad musical sympathies, Brooklyn native Lori Bell has contributed to the development of higher standards of performance while earning acclaim from both peers and critics for her artistry on stage and in recordings. Now in the third decade of her acclaimed career, ...

"Bell's playing on C flute and the lower, darker-sounding alto flute is gorgeous, filled with light and air on ballads. Briskly inventive on her bop tinged improvisations". - Los Angeles Times "One of the finest flute virtuoso's of our time". - Latin Network "It's hard to imagine a more synergistic gathering of virtuosity, freedom and the sheer joy of musical conversation". - Bird Magazine

"Brooklyn Dreaming" is going to be recognised as the standard for a flute-led album." - Raul da Gama

Primary Instrument

Flute

Location

San Diego

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Lori Bell is an Instructor of Flute at San Diego State University in Classical Technique and Jazz Improvisation. She is currently accepting students privately and through San Diego State University.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Ms. Bell has over 20 years of worldwide teaching experience and concentrates on classical technique, jazz improvisation, theory & harmony. She specializes in imagery concepts - a technique that can help free the flutist of technical difficulties in tone production, projection and color-to more fully develop expression while overcoming common interpretive constraints and obstacles

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Eric Dolphy
woodwinds
Hubert Laws
woodwinds
Dave Liebman
saxophone, soprano

Photos

Concerts

Apr 20 Sat
Apr 28 Sun
May 23 Thu
Jul 6 Sat

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Recorda Me:...

Self Produced
2024

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Isn't It Romantic

Arden House Music
2023

buy

Close Your Eyes:...

Tacet Records
2020

buy

blue(s)

Self Produced
2017

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Brooklyn Dreaming

Self Produced
2015

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The Music Of Djavan

Resonance Records
2008

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Isotope

From: Recorda Me: Remembering Joe...
By Lori Bell

Bell's Blues

From: blue(s)
By Lori Bell

All Blues

From: blue(s)
By Lori Bell

A Dog on Coney

From: Brooklyn Dreaming
By Lori Bell

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