LAUREL MASSÉ FAN CLUB

The Old Magic Tour!

2012-01-03T22:03:00.003Z

CANDY at OneTrueMedia.com

2011-11-30T22:38:00.001Z

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

MEMORABILIA

2011-11-30T21:15:00.000Z

Press

2011-11-30T21:13:00.002Z

PRESS

2011-11-30T21:12:00.001Z

PRESS

2011-11-30T20:57:00.004Z

Memorabilia

2011-11-30T20:50:00.002Z

Memorabilia

2011-11-30T19:39:00.002Z

JALALA - Tour 2012

2011-10-23T09:53:00.003+01:00

JALALA has a fantastic tour set up for Spring 2012. Here's hoping you reside in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Michigan or NYC! More details to come.

JALALA Confirms New Song

2011-10-23T09:40:00.007+01:00

Hey Everyone, the ladies of JaLaLa just finished writing a new signature song called JaLaLa Land. We can't wait to finish arranging it and record it!!! Love, Janis, Laurel and Lauren.

For Singer Laurel Massé, Success Was No Accident

2011-09-03T22:02:00.009+01:00

By the time she was in her 20s, singer Laurel Massé had it all.

She'd helped found the close-harmony, swing-jazz group The Manhattan Transfer, a quartet created with the humble notion they'd be "the best singing group ever." She had become the tall, slinky, red-haired soprano whose stratospheric voice could cling to a lyric and sing every bit of life into it.

She had toured with MT all over the world, recorded five albums, appeared on television specials, and heard over and over, "You're great, you're great, you're great, baby, and if you ever leave the group, just give me a call."

In short, Laurel Massé was a star.

Until one evening in 1979. Masse (pronounced Mas-say) fell asleep at the wheel of her car after a gig in Washington D.C., resulting in an accident that left her with injuries that included a broken jaw. After months of hospitalization, Massé was discharged with her mouth wired shut and the bleak news ringing in her ears that she'd never sing again.

Masse's success as a jazz vocalist who is in the process of producing a third album did not come easily or quickly. There was that little matter of the broken jaw. "I lost a lot of mobility in my jaw, so the technique I had learned for hitting those high notes -- you know, drop your jaw, the higher the note, the bigger the opening? I can't do that," she said. "But Marge Rivingston in New York, who had coached Linda Ronstadt and Maureen McGovern, helped me work that out."

"The musicians taught me what real life for musicians is like," she says. "It's not like it is in People magazine. It's not glamorous or effortless. I think people think stardom, in itself, means something. In some ways it does; but when you're alone, if you're a nice person, then you're a nice person, and if you're a jerk, you're a jerk. Being a star has nothing to do with anything."

Masse's first album, "Alone Together" was released in 1984, followed by "Easy Living" in 1986, both produced in Chicago. She combines a sweet clarity and 3-1/2-octave range with the languid phrasings of a jazz singer, one schooled in scat singing and the vocalese Eddie Jefferson originated and Lambert, Hendricks and Roth popularized.

"Scat is wordless syllables. We're talking what Ella (Fitzgerald) and Mel (Torme) do," Massé explained, "improvisation on the spot, as if they were a horn player. Vocalese is the setting of a lyric to a solo that someone else has improvised. If Ella or Mel sings, say, `Paper Moon,' they sing the song and then go into their solo chorus. When I sing `Paper Moon' and I get to the solo chorus, I sing (saxophonist) Lester Young's solo with Eddie Jefferson's words. So, it's kind of a classical approach."

"Jazz should be listened to and treasured and supported," she says, "and not analyzed too much. We need to claim it in the schools and claim it on the radio and claim it as our own throughout the world. Because it's good music. And big fun."

May 4, 1990

Medea

2011-08-25T13:43:00.001+01:00

Laurel Massé's The Road to Dreamland

2011-07-19T21:39:00.003+01:00

The International Cabaret Conference Returns to Yale

Who said cabaret was passé?!

We are led to wax rhapsodic by the Ninth Annual International Cabaret Conference at Yale University, which holds its public performances July 23-24 and 28-30 at Yale's Iseman Theater (1156 Chapel St.; 888-736-2663, thecabaretconferenceatyale.com). There are three double-feature concert nights: Tovah Feldshuh's Ageing is Optional and Amanda McBroom's Noir … Women and Sex on Saturday the 23rd, Sharon McNight's A Night With McKnight and Pamela Tate's Blues in the Night Thursday the 28th and, on Friday the 29th, Sally Mayes inConcert and Laurel Massé's The Road to Dreamland. Reminding us that this is a conference for passionate practitioners of the exacting cabaret profession, there's a Cabaret Stars in Concert: Our Fabulous Facultyrevue Sunday, July 24 featuring all of the above plus Carol Hall, Pamela Meyers and — gasp! — the iridescentJulie Wilson, along with a few gents: Tex Arnold, Erv Raible, Alex Rybeck and Paul Trueblood. On July 30, the students get a turn, with the annual Cabaret Stars of Tomorrow concert. No names listed, but they'll be famous soon enough. All shows are at 7:30 p.m. and cost $35 ($25 seniors, $15 students).

And we're not the only ones inspired to croon through the sheer anticipation of the ICCY.

Visit the conference's homepage (thecabaretconferenceatyale.com) to hear George Hall sing an original ditty about the conference, "It's Great to Be at Yale." The full-length, wordplay-laden song ends thus:

I'm always scrimping and saving to satisfy my craving to make my annual trip toNew Haven

To indulge in a pleasure that never seems to grow stale:

I refer to the Cabaret Conference here at Yale.

editor@newhavenadvocate.com

Ashokan 2011

2011-07-16T14:09:00.000+01:00

Laurel Massé, Sally Mayes, Julie Wilson et al. Set for International Cabaret Conference

2011-07-06T20:46:00.000+01:00

The performance schedule for The International Cabaret Conference at Yale University has been announced. Public concerts will be offered July 23-30 at the Iseman Theater at the Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theater.

Featured performers will include Amanda McBroom and Tovah Feldshuh (July 23); Julie Wilson and the Cabaret Conference at Yale University's faculty (July 24); Sharon McNight and Pamela Tate (July 28); and Sally Mayes and Laurel Massé (July 29).

A final concert on July 30 will feature students attending the conference.

For tickets and more information, click here.

“The Manhattan Connection” is NOW available on iTunes and Amazon

2011-06-13T18:03:00.000+01:00

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Connection-Songs-Jose-Mari/dp/B0051AOA46/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1307898985&sr=8-5

iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-manhattan-connection-the/id438266666

Finally! The new Album will be available for purchase and download before summer's end.

2011-06-11T22:24:00.005+01:00

JaLaLa at the Kennedy Center, May 19, 2011

2011-05-25T21:59:00.000+01:00

Three stars in Birdland!

2011-05-19T20:32:00.000+01:00

NEW JALALA FAN CLUB - JOIN NOW!

2011-05-19T20:28:00.001+01:00

http://www.facebook.com/pages/JALALA-FAN-CLUB/119894374760241?ref=ts

May 19 Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center Washington, DC

2011-05-14T21:21:00.005+01:00

http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/jazz/womeninjazz/

JALALA at Birdland!

2011-05-14T19:54:00.007+01:00

JaLaLa

Monday, May 16 7:00p

"The Manhattan Connection" in CD Baby!

2011-05-14T19:45:00.000+01:00

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/josemarichan1

The great Album "The Manhattan Connection" is released in Philippines

2011-04-15T13:10:00.000+01:00

MANILA, Philippines – Highly respected veteran singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan once again makes local music history by becoming the first Filipino artist to be honored by an all-American production with a tribute album, “The Manhattan Collection: The Songs of Jose Mari Chan.”

At the press launch of his album held on April 12, Chan recalled at length how the project came to be. It all started about four years ago when Renen de Guia, head of Ovation Productions, introduced Chan to the multi-Grammy winning jazz band Manhattan Transfer member, Janis Siegel.

“In the course of our conversation, she [Siegel] found out that I was a singer-songwriter. She was curious to hear my songs so I said, ‘Okay Janis. I’m going to send you back to the States a stack of my CDs'," Chan shared.

Soon enough, he thought of asking Siegel to rearrange one of his songs to give it "a fresh approach." He apparently gave Siegel songs from his albums “Golden Collection,” “Constant Change,” “Christmas in our Hearts,” “Thank You Love,” “Heart’s Journey,” and his collection of jingles, "Strictly Commercial."

A month later, Chan received an email from Siegel in the United States informing him that three of his songs caught her interest.

“She didn’t tell me which titles were these, and she said, ‘I want to arrange these,’ maybe [get] a local singer in New York to sing it. That’s an exciting prospect,” he said. The process went on until there was enough material for an album, thus giving birth to “The Manhattan Connection: The Songs of Jose Mari Chan.”

Looking at the album’s track list, one will be quick to notice that his more familiar hits didn’t make it to the cut—save for “Constant Change.”

Chan explained, “I completely gave her [Siegel] blanket authority, so she personally handpicked these songs," adding that their choices were "a matter of taste."

Reiterating numerous times that he did not have any say with the production, he revealed, “In the process of recording these songs, I never knew who the singers were [mostly either Grammy-winners or nominees] and I certainly did not hear the songs until they were finished."

But the result, he said, made him very happy and called it “a marvelous surprise.”

“It is like telling you that 10 of my children, [because] my songs are like my children, have now attained their master’s degree… That’s how it feels about my songs na hindi naging popular,” Chan shared.

Apart from “Constant Change” (performed by Nic Bearde) the 12-track album includes “Like Night & Day” (Roger Treece and Lauren Kinhan), “Thank You, Love” (Julie Hardy), “I Have Found My World in You” (Kellylee Evans), “A Heart’s Journey” (Leo Sidran), “Stay, My Love” (Nic Bearde,) “Easier Said Than Done” (Kellylee Evans), “Love Lost” (Lisa Fischer), “Walking in the Moonlight” (Theo Bleckmann and Laurel Massé), “So I’ll Go” (Laurel Massé, Janis Siegel and Lauren Kinham), “Spellbound” (Miles Griffith) and a reprise of “Constant Change.”

Chan, who celebrates his 44th year in the recording industry this year, strikes another first as “The Manhattan Connection: The Songs of Jose Mari Chan” becomes the first album by a local artist to be marketed in Starbucks stores nationwide—which meant having the songs and the album approved by the coffee franchise’s head office in Seattle.

But Starbucks Philippines’ Chairman and President Eduardo Lopez Jr., said that the release of Chan’s album in their stores was made possible upon their “strong recommendation.”

“This is the first time we are doing this, only because we have the caliber of Mr. Chan,” he added.

Chan described tribute album as “a good shot in the arm for OPM” and a sort of wake-up call to local songwriters to produce world-class Filipino music.

Describing the local recording industry to be “in trouble” owing largely to piracy as “technology has overtaken itself,” Chan lamented that aside from the artists, the songwriters are among those suffering as well. As such, they aren't encouraged to write new songs anymore, unlike the days of prolific songwriters Ray Valera or the APO.

Chan also gave his opinion on current matters concerning the music industry, beginning with lowering the sales target for Gold, Platinum or Diamond status.

The veteran artist, whose “Constant Change” album was awarded Diamond (for 400,000 units sold) and "Christmas in Our Hearts” getting double Diamond honors, said that the lowering of standards happened “partly because the reality confronted us,” which, again, is piracy.

“I feel lang that it’s a little bit unfair to some of those artists in the past. For example, there’s a company that gets a Gold now for selling only 10,000 copies. In the past, there were artists that sold 400,000 copies. That’s considered a Diamond. But now, somebody would only get 200,000 and Diamond na siya."

“So it’s a little bit unfair to those people in the past kasi, why don’t you give them na lang [the award]? But no, they won’t do that because it doesn’t serve the purpose,” he said, adding that these awards “is a marketing tool to encourage music lovers” to buy records.

On the issue of suggested regulation for concerts of foreign acts, he opined, “You know, this is a free country. The Filipinos love music and there’s freedom to go to any show that they wanna watch… so we welcome these foreign artists.

“When these artists come, we get ideas from them. They challenge our creativity. I welcome these foreign artists coming to our shores. I do… But I also hope, sana, that our people will also support the local artists,” said he.

Aside from suggesting that local acts be employed to back foreign acts holding their concerts here as a show of support to local music industry, Chan brought up, “We have to export our songs.” He cited instances where our exports made waves abroad, such as when Freddie Aguilar’s “Anak,” the music of Victor Wood and Chan’s very own “Beautiful Girl” made it big in foreign shores many years ago.

“Recently, Christian Bautista revived the song and again became a hit. They’re gonna make it into a movie, so I’m waiting for my royalties,” he added, eliciting laughter from the press.

On contemporary music, which unfortunately “lost its sense of melody,” Chan commented that our local songwriters “patterned [them] after the hits that come from the US.”

“If you say that the songs are devoid of melody, blame it on the Americans,” he joked.

Prior to this, Chan shared, “I think kasi that a song is a personal message or a story. It may not be my story. It should be coherent, the words not only should rhyme, but it should deliver a message.”

On cover/revivals, Chan noted that “when [local artists] do cover versions of the songs, usually you follow the same arrangements… we call them clones.”

But he was quick to point out that he’s not demeaning cover versions in any way, “Because, I guess, they want to find the audience that… ‘this is the same song that you liked 20 years ago'.”

The successful hit maker said that he was simply “at the right place at the right time” when he began making a name for himself in the industry.

He added, “Siguro if ‘Beautiful Girl’ was released today, baka it would flop. Who knows?”

He also said that he, as a songwriter, was “constantly evolving” and that he’s “influenced by the music of the day.”

“But I’ve evolved in the sense that my lyrics are no longer of the genre… that, ‘Deep in my heart I love you/Deep in my heart I know that I know that we know’… I graduated from that,” he said, laughing.

Meanwhile, Chan declined to give his opinion on the latest Willie Revillame controversy to rock the entertainment industry, saying that he did not watch the particular episode with the “macho dancing” six-year old kid.

“You know, Willie have just been trying his very best… all I know is that Willie is a good showman and he tries his best, he works very hard at his craft. I think we need to have an open mind and look at the facts,” he stated.

As, it turned out, Chan is also thespian Lea Salonga’s godfather through marriage. Salonga got embroiled in the Revillame issue when she posted her thoughts on the incident on Twitter, which caught the ire of the TV host. Chan, however, opted to distance himself from it.

"This is not politics. The three of us are artists, and so we’ll talk about our art, our music. We don’t have to get involved in a bigger fight,” said he.

For now, there are no plans yet of releasing "The Manhattan Connection: The Songs of Jose Mari Chan” in the US; however, Chan is hoping for this possibility. He did disclose, however, his plans of releasing a new album before 2011 ends.

Last Interview! Laurel Massé a voice for a new age.

2011-04-12T21:53:00.000+01:00

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sandraleeschubert/2011/03/29/laurel-mass-a-voice-for-a-new-age

Vote and comment on all the musical works of Laurel! Help us to choose the best!

2011-04-12T16:03:00.000+01:00

http://laurelmasse2.moonfruit.com/

CABARET MONTH GALA

2011-02-25T18:06:00.003Z

Tickets are now on sale for the fourth annual CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE MARCH IS CABARET MONTH GALA on Friday, March 4th at 7:00 pm at THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATRE (407 West 42nd Street, NYC), produced by Tom Stajmiger. There are only 35 seats left. You are urged to act quickly to assure seating.

We're happy to announce that Karen Akers (Nightlife, MAC and Bistro Award Winner) has just been added to the cast for the show. Tracy Stark will serve as musical director for this year's show. Also in the cast are Johnny Rodgers (Nightlife, MAC and Bistro Award Winner); Julie Reyburn (Multi MAC, BISTRO, NIGHTLIFE Award winner); Sally Mayes (Broadway/cabaret star and Tony nominee); Laurel Massé (founding member of Manhattan Transfer, Bistro Award winner for Best Jazz Vocalist); Gabrielle Stravelli (Bistro Award Winner - Performer on the Rise); and Lucia Spina (Broadway: Legally Blonde, South Pacific, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Les Miserables) and Jim VanSlyke (Singer/Songwriter/ Voice Teacher). (As with all live entertainment events, performers are subject to change without notice.)

There is a $25 cover for members of CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE ($30 cover for non-members). A $15 food/drink minimum will be collected the night of the show - credit cards accepted. All tickets must be purchased online - no reservations will be taken by the club - no tickets will be available the day of the show or at the door.

diydancer.com

2011-02-01T16:15:00.003Z

http://www.diydancer.com/page/3/

JaLaLa @ Cornelia St. Café

2011-01-30T17:25:00.000Z

JALALA Sing in Manhattan! Review by Laurel Massé.

2011-01-20T21:26:00.036Z

It was a dark and stormy night, but only outdoors. Indoors was a glorious summer, and not just because the Cornelia Street Caféhas a good heating system (which I will say more about in a bit), but because the room was full of friends (some of whom I have not seen, and who have not heard me sing, in many years) and strangers-who-are-now-friends, and beloved family. And because it was JaLaLa's best performance so far. The ensemble numbers sparkled. The solos - well, somebody else will have to write about mine, but Janis and Lauren moved me to laughter - Janis singing Lorraine Feather's I Know the Way to Brooklyn - and tears - her interpretation of I Got Lost in His Arms, by Irving Berlin - and toe-tapping - Lauren's Do It the Hard Way. Lauren's performance of Gershwin's I Love You, Porgy was breathtaking: heartfelt, simple, exquisitely musical. I mean "breathtaking" quite literally - when she finished the first chorus, and Yaron began his piano solo, I gasped. That's when I realized I had been holding my breath.

I sang My Blue Heaven (which is on my upcoming solo CD) and Bach's Minuet, from his1st Suite for Unaccompanied Cello (which is on Feather and Bone). As you might infer from the title, I sing the Minuet without accompaniment... most of the time. At Cornelia Street on Tuesday evening, percussive elements were added - little touches at first, and then some great clangings - as the building's heating system got involved ever more enthusiastically. It made the piece merry, and made me giggle.By Laurel Massé

Read the complete article here:
lhttp://laurelmasse.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/01/the-power-of-three-jalala.html

JALALA Sing in Manhattan!

2011-01-13T17:54:00.009Z

Operator!

2011-01-10T19:48:00.000Z

Coming Out, recording session with Ringo Starr!

2011-01-07T22:42:00.006Z

Laurel Massé with Amanda McBroom

2010-12-17T18:25:00.007Z

wonderful concert in Ojai! Here’s a pic of Amanda and Laurel dueting on n encore of“Sentimental Journey”.
http://goodies.amcbroom.com/

CABARETSCENES

2010-11-24T20:08:00.004Z

Janis Siegel and Laurel Massé (both original members of Manhattan Transfer) and Lauren Kinhan (New York Voices), three vocal powerhouses, joined forces as JaLaLa, and stopped at Birdland to celebrate That Old Mercer Magic, their first CD together. However, Johnny Mercer was only one part of this equation, his tunes mixing in with vocalese, soul, funk, rock, gospel, blues, bebop, jazz, even Stephen Sondheim with Siegel’s rendition of “Sorry/Grateful” fromCompany. The fusion worked.

Siegel instigated the girl group idea, called up Laurel Massé, her original gal pal from Manhattan Transfer, and they added Lauren Kinhan of New York Voices. With individual strength and passion, they became “JaLaLa” — Janis, Laurel and Lauren. Sounds musical. After Massé’s traditional opening to "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby," Siegel and Kinhan hip-hopped in for a rhythmic take on the chorus, punctuated by Lew Soloff’s trumpet. Siegel gave her all to Mercer and Harry Warren’s “Jeepers Creepers,” and Massé beautifully delivered “Moon River,” leading into the trio’s upbeat “Moon Country” (Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael). With moments of girl group nostalgia, the sprightly “Spring, Spring, Spring” (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, music by Gene DePaul) suggested the “Sugartime” harmony of The McGuire Sisters.

Each vocalist selected her own solo, preceded by an anecdote. Siegel chose “Midnight Sun,” adding that Mercer wrote the lyrics as he drove down a California highway after hearing the Lionel Hampton melody on the car radio. Massé remembered her first cello teacher and vocalized, a capella, her interpretation of “Minuet” from Bach's 1st Cello Suite. Lauren Kinhan delivered some flavorful originals, including one she wrote for her daughter while she was performing in Uruguay, “Here Is My Avalon.”

Steve LaSpina on bass lent strong support in “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive” (Mercer/Harold Arlen), drummer Deric Dickens kept the beat and on the piano, versatile jazz pianist Yaron Gershovsky brought originality to every tune while supporting the vocalists.

Legendary bebop lyricist and singer Jon Hendricks came up from the audience to join the women in the hard-swinging vocalese of “It’s Sand, Man!”. JaLaLa’s encore, a smooth satin vocal blending of Johnny Mercer’s “Dream,” ended a show that was pure Birdland, as sentimental as Manhattan’s “Swing Street” and up-to-date as hip-hop.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
June 7, 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org

2010-11-24T20:05:00.008Z

New York News - Magazine 1975

2010-11-22T20:19:00.001Z

News!

2010-11-20T13:39:00.008Z

Greetings!

Thanksgiving is upon us! What better way could there be to celebrate the season than by attending a reading of Shakespeare's heartwarming family drama, King Lear?

I hope you will be able to join me at this performance by The Project Rushmore Theatre Company this coming Monday 11/22, at 7 PM in the Ellington Room of Manhattan Plaza, 400 W. 43rd St., NY, NY. You know me as a singer, but I have lately been inching my way into acting, and in this reading I am part of the cast, playing Cordelia.

The reading is open to the public. We have a "pay as you leave" policy that allows you to contribute whatever you feel you can afford to pay. Believe me, all contributions are very gratefully accepted.

Hope to see you there!

Blessings,
Laurel Massé

The Manhattan Transfer in concert.

2010-11-17T22:38:00.002Z

Photo by: Kathy Edmonston
Thank you Kathy for all these wonderful photos!

Memorabilia

2010-11-17T22:32:00.000Z

Cedida por: Kathy Edmonston

Memorabilia/People

2010-11-17T22:29:00.002Z

Heart's Desire

2010-11-17T22:19:00.002Z

Photo by: Kathy Edmonston

Guided Missiles

2010-11-17T22:17:00.006Z

Photo by: Kathy Edmonston

Scotch and soda

2010-11-17T22:14:00.001Z

Photo by: Kathy Edmonston
Thank you Kathy!

Robert Sirota Nov 6: Premiere of Sirotas' Cantata inspired by stained glass windows of Greenwich's St. Bede's November 06, 2010

2010-11-14T16:32:00.002Z

Palladium Musicum presents

Holy Women: Lives of the Women Saints in The Stained Glass Windows of St. Bede’s Chapel

Composed by Robert Sirota
Libretto by Victoria Sirota
Research by James Lemler

Greenwich, CT – Palladium Musicum, Inc., a non-profit Greenwich, CT organization is pleased to announce the world premiere of a new musical work it has commissioned, entitled Holy Women: Lives of the Women Saints in the Stained Glass Windows of St. Bede’s Chapel, composed and conducted by Dr. Robert Sirota with a libretto by the Reverend Canon Victoria Sirota. The premiere will take place on Saturday, November 6 at 7:30pm at the historic St. Bede’s Chapel, located on the campus of the Westchester Fairfield Hebrew Academy (the original Greenwich, CT campus of the former Rosemary Hall School for Girls). Holy Women is a Cantata for nine singers and chamber ensemble, which tells the stories of the nine women saints represented in St. Bede’s Chapel’s magnificent stained glass windows. The performance will take full advantage of the excellent acoustics of the landmark Chapel, a stunning 1909 architectural jewel designed by Theodore T. Blake, partner in the firm Carrère and Hastings. Palladium Musicum is leading a Greenwich community effort to revive St. Bede’s Chapel as a performance venue.

A year in preparation, the Cantata is a collaboration between Dr. Robert Sirota, President of the Manhattan School of Music, the composer, and his wife, the Reverend Canon Victoria Sirota, Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, the librettist. The Reverend Dr. James B. Lemler, Rector, Christ Church Greenwich, undertook research on the lives of the women saints as part of the project. The Cantata was expressly commissioned by Palladium Musicum, Inc. with support from local patrons of the arts to honor St. Bede’s Chapel.

The subjects of Holy Women are the nine women saints represented in the stained glass windows of the Chapel, where individual windows tell the story of each saint, whose figure is rendered resplendent with specific images and symbols emblematic of her life. Each woman was misunderstood in her own time, but despite the fact that their lives span sixteen centuries, they have much in common with each other, namely courage, faith and joy. This Cantata is a conversation with these holy women.

Saint Theresa of Avila provides the prologue, after which the saints appear in procession to a hymn. The women are arranged in three groups of three moving chronologically backwards. The first group, the Mystics (Saints Walburga, Catherine of Sienna and Theresa) sing a trio that points out the commonalities in their profound spiritualities and committed lives as religious. The second group, the Martyrs (Saints Ursula, Barbara and Agnes), each tell their courageous stories with the chorus of saints replying. The third group, the Mothers (Saints Anne, Elizabeth and Mary), return us to the beginnings of Christianity with the story of salvation as described in a duet between Saints Anne (Mary's mother) and Elizabeth (Mary’s cousin and the mother of John the Baptist), followed by the Magnificat sung by Mary, the mother of Jesus. The work ends with the hymn.

In St. Bede’s Chapel, the two main walls of stained glass windows containing the women saints – the north (e.g., chancel) wall and the south wall – were designed by two prominent London firms. The windows in the north wall were designed by the influential London artist, Christopher Whall and his daughter, Veronica, and reflect the influence of the arts and crafts movement in England at the time and were installed in 1915. The windows in the south wall were designed by the highly regarded London firm of James Powell & Sons and installed in 1921.

The work of Robert Sirota, composer of Holy Women, has been performed throughout the United States and Europe, at venues including Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Hall in New York, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Tanglewood Music Center, the Aspen Music Festival, the Yellow Barn Music Festival, Benaroya Hall in Seattle, and at The Juilliard School, the Shepherd School of Music, Peabody, Oberlin Conservatory, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore, Royal Conservatory in Toronto, and the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow. His commissions include works for the Empire Brass, American Guild of Organists, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, the Fischer Duo, the Peabody Trio, the Webster Trio, and the Chiara String Quartet. Of his music, The New York Times has reported, "Sirota’s compositional voice has a distinctive tartness and rhythmic bite. Thick, astringent chromatic harmonies come in tightly bound chords to create nervous sonorities. Yet the textures are always lucid; details come through."

Robert Sirota has received grants from the Guggenheim Foundation, the United States Information Agency, the National Endowment for the Arts, Meet The Composer, and the American Music Center. Among his awards are a First Prize in the Long Island Composers Alliance Competition and the Andrew White Medal from Loyola College in Baltimore. A native New Yorker, Mr. Sirota received his earliest compositional training at The Juilliard School, and received his bachelor’s degree in piano and composition from Oberlin Conservatory where he studied with Joseph Wood and Richard Hoffman. A Thomas J. Watson Fellowship allowed him to study and concertize in Paris, where his principal teacher was Nadia Boulanger. Returning to America, Mr. Sirota earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University, studying with Earl Kim and Leon Kirchner. In 2005, Mr. Sirota was appointed president of the Manhattan School of Music in New York, where he is also a member of the School’s composition faculty. For more information visit www.RobertSirota.com.

Victoria R. Sirota, librettist of Holy Women, Episcopal priest, musician, lecturer and author, is Canon Pastor and Vicar of the Congregation at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City. She holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Boston University and Harvard Divinity School, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Bunting Institute of Radcliffe College. Former Vicar of Church of the Holy Nativity in Baltimore, she has taught at Yale Divinity School, Yale Institute of Sacred Music, The Ecumenical Institute of Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and University, and Boston University. Awards include the Bishop’s Award for Outstanding Ordained Ministry, the Ecumenical Service Award from the Central Maryland Ecumenical Council, and the Newington-Cropsey Foundation Award for Excellence in the Arts. The author of hymn texts, articles and reviews, she is recorded on Northeastern and Gasparo Records. Her book Preaching to the Choir: Claiming the Role of Sacred Musician is available from Church Publishing. The Rev. Canon Sirota has been an Associate of the Society of Saint Margaret since 1996.
Reverend Dr. James B. Lemler, research contributor for Holy Women, Rector, Christ Church Greenwich, is a nationally known leader, educator, consultant, preacher and pastor. Prior to his appointment at Christ Church Greenwich he served as the Director of Mission for the Episcopal Church, USA and was the Dean and President of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, an internationally recognized institution of theological education and leadership. Additionally, his ministry has included service in a large and vital urban parish and Episcopal school, as a university chaplain and in two major cathedral churches.

He is widely called upon as a teacher, writer, conference leader, preacher, and consultant in areas of congregational development, leadership development, education, spirituality, and mission. Nationally recognized as a presenter and educator in congregational development, he helped to launch the 20/20 Vision for domestic mission and congregational life in the Episcopal Church, a movement which works towards embracing fully the stated mission of the Church and is a goal that General Convention adopted in July 2000 to contribute to the growth and vitality of the Church and its congregations.

Rev. Lemler has published various articles and essays, study guides for the Episcopal Media Center, trustee education materials, Vestry Papers contributions, and journals. His publications include, Serving Those In Need, 20/20: A Vision for the Church, God and Money, Groundwork: Resources for Congregational Growth and Transformation, Moving Ahead in Mission, and Groundwork II (Year B): Resources for Congregational Growth and Transformation. Additionally, he is the editor of the Transformation Series (2008) from Church Publishing Group and the author of the third book in that series, Transforming Congregations.

The principals in the production include nine vocalists: sopranos: Maeve Hoglund, Amy Justman, Michelle Repella, and Katarina Saporsantos; mezzo sopranos: Abigail Fischer, Laurel Masse, Margaret Peterson, Katya Powder; and contralto: Lisa Chavez. Members of the chamber ensemble include Christopher James, flute; Lauren Blackerby, oboe; Kathryn Brooks, bassoon; Jordan Dodson, guitar; Victoria Sirota, organ; Nicholas Mann, violin; and David Geber, cello.

Tickets are priced at two levels: $50 for general admission and $100 for patron which includes a champagne reception post-event at the adjacent Greenwich Field Club. Reservations are advised, given seating limitations of 150 people in the chapel. Contact Palladium Musicum, Inc. at 203-661-6856 orwww.palladiummusicum.org for ticket information and reservations.

Palladium Musicum, Inc., a non-profit organization, is devoted to celebrating classical music internationally as an expression of culture, the arts and the sacred, experienced in an intimate setting.

Billboard Magazine

2010-11-07T11:11:00.002Z

Memorabilia/Billboard

2010-10-31T19:26:00.008Z

Unfortunately her recovery lasted two years, but the doctors said to her that she might not return to singing.

Technicolor

2010-10-30T19:36:00.002+01:00

http://laurelmasse2.moonfruit.com/#/photos/4528143011

LAUREL WITH MANHATTAN TRANSFER

2010-10-17T12:06:00.001+01:00

Unofficial Web Site

2010-10-10T23:06:00.006+01:00

   Laurel Massé Unofficial Web Site
   Enjoy it!
   http://laurelmasse2.moonfruit.com/

Feather and Bone – A Celebration of Song and Spirit

2010-09-25T23:05:00.006+01:00

On September 25^that 7:30 pm Amanda McBroom will present to Ojai the talented Ms. Laurel Massé. Ms. Massé is the one of the founding members of Manhattan Transfer and she will be performing an evening of unaccompanied songs that are sure to delight her guests. Learn more about this rare talent from her website www.laurelmasse.com. Concert details forthcoming.

Amanda McBroom showcased her wonderful Chanson CD at last year’s concert and the CD’s sold out at the concert. If you missed that chance to own a Chanson CD you can buy Amanda McBroom’s Chanson CD and others at www.amcbroom.com.

This year’s concert will take place again at Ojai’s Historic Presbyterian Church located at 304 N Foothill Rd in Ojai, CA 93023. Save the date and if you do not receive emails from the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy and want to make sure to get the ticket sales announcement, email darcy@ovlc.org with your contact information.

Manhattan Transfer

2010-09-06T21:43:00.001+01:00

Manhattan Transfer

Date 1 Apr 1976
Location: London England
Photo by Chris Walter

Memorabilia

2010-09-05T14:03:00.000+01:00

For four weeks in the summer of 1975, The Manhattan Transfer had their own summer replacement television show on CBS. The show was shown on Sunday evenings from 7:30 - 8:30 P.M. from August 10 through August 31. The show was a variety show with a potpourri of songs and humor. Archie Hahn was the only series regular who was not a member of the group. His principal contribution was as the character Doughie Duck in various comedy spots.

LAUREL MASSÉ - NEW ALBUM / COMING SOON!! First new album since 2002!!

2010-08-21T15:07:00.011+01:00

Just Before the Battle

2010-08-08T13:20:00.003+01:00

Just Before the Battle
Songs of Courage and Loss in Wartime

Just Before the Battle was born on Veterans Day, November 11th 2007 by a challenge. The challenge came from pastor Galen Guengerich of All Souls Unitarian Church during his sermon: "You each have a talent," he said, "something you can do to help our world."

As the sermon continued, I began thinking how so many people in this vast country, myself included, have no idea of the personal cost of war. Not since the Civil War has a battle been fought on our mainland. Few of us in this generation have served in the military or have had to see a loved-one go off to fight. I thought of the ease with which people turn conversation away from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, how unreachable we make ourselves to empathy for service men and women, and for their families.

Familiar and poignant tunes of wartime began to play in the background of my thinking. During the ensuing months, I spent my spare time in the Lincoln Center music library, looking for songs that would touch people at a subliminal, personal level. I wanted the songs to make the hearer think, "This could be me," "That could be my son."

The most compelling songs came from various musical genres. From Stephen Foster, whose beautiful lyrics cut to the heart of personal sacrifice and suffering during the Civil War, the upbeat ditties of George M. Cohan during World War I, the poignant love songs of the Big Band greats, to the magnificent settings of immortal war poems by Charles Ives and Kurt Weil - this disparate batch of great music needed to come together in one program.

Thanks to my eclectic interest and experience in different music styles (my mother was a classical pianist, my father a cornet player in the Big Bands), I began talking with a few friends whose musical talent and opinions I highly respected. My first conversation was with Eric Frey, bassist with the Red Stick Ramblers. He loved the idea of weaving various musical styles into one fabric, and said yes before I really knew what the whole fabric would be! Next I talked with the great jazz singer Laurel Massé, then master teacher and cabaret artist Elizabeth Parrish. My friends were enthusiastic, and eagerly signed on to the project. Finally I asked for a consultation with Paul Trueblood, whose vast experience is legendary. I was grateful he agreed to see me, but never expected him to offer to be the pianist and music director. I was amazed.

The reservoir of creativity each artist brought to the project made work sessions exciting and organic. As the program continues to evolve, and new performers join our group, we have learned to adapt the arc of the show, the length of the program and the number of performers to venues of varying sizes. Every performance is new and profoundly rewarding, and the show has matured into a tightly woven, moving and entertaining experience for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

One audience member, a 25-year veteran performer at the Metropolitan Opera wrote: "For me, it was a paradigm-shifting event, one of most moving performances I have ever seen. Never before had I expected to be drawn to songs about war. But these performers humanized for me an individual person's experience during wartime."

http://warsongs.org/background.html

Julie Wilson, Laurel Massé at Yale Cabaret Conference

2010-07-03T13:23:00.001+01:00

It calls itself "the other cabaret" at Yale.

That's to differentiate the International Cabaret Conference at Yale from the Yale Summer Cabaret, I suppose. (And when did it become international?)

It could also separate it from the Cabaret and Performance Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford where many of the folks involved with the Yale Cabaret Conference were affiliated in the '90s.

Whatever it is called, it sounds swell and it runs July 23 to 31.

The first show is in July 24 at 7:30 p.m. and features Julie Wilson and Tovah Feldshuh each performing their acts.

On July 25, the conference's faculty gives a joint show featuring Faith Prince, Sally Mayes, Jason Graae, Pamela Myers, Carol Hall, Mark Burnell, Laurel Massé, Shelly Markham, Sharon McNight, Paul Trueblood, Alex Rybeck, Tex Arnold, George Hall, Erv Raible, Wilson and Feldshuh.

On July 29, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way!" features Graae and McNight.

On July 30, "Fabulous Broadway Babies" features Mayes and Prince.

On July 31, the students of the conference perform.

All shows are at 7:30 p.m. at the Iseman Theater on Chapel Street in New Haven. Tickets are $35 general, $25 seniors and $15 students.

Info: 203-432-1234 and http://www.thecabaretconferenceatyale.com.

Thoughts?

And be the first to know by following me on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/ShowRiz.

Laurel Massé in concert

2010-06-27T19:34:00.002+01:00

WRTC Jazz - Top 50 For 2009

2010-06-23T22:57:00.001+01:00

Yearly Top 50WRTC Jazz - Top 50 For 2009

1 Eliane Elias Bossa Nova Stories Blue Note
2 Rippingtons Modern Art Peak
3 Brian Bromberg It Is What It Is Artistry
4 Jalala That Old Mercer Magic Dare
5 Chris Botti In Boston Columbia
6 Swing Masters Vol. 2: Benny…King Of Swing Dare
7 Rob Zappulla You Ought To Be Havin’ Fun RZ
8 Hailey Niswanger Confeddie HN
9 Arbors All Stars Pizzarelli Party Arbors
10 Gary Burton Quartet Quartet Live Concord
11 Jeremy Davenport We’ll Dance ‘Til Dawn Basin Street
12 Jimmy Greene Mission Statement Razdaz
13 Roberta Gambarini So In Love Groovin’ High
14 Ann Hampton Callaway At Last Telarc
14 Benny Golson New Time New Tet Concord
16 Michael Wolff Joes Strut Wrong
17 Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet Bien Bien Patois
18 Bernie Williams Moving Forward Reform Records
18 David “Fathead” Newman The Blessing Highnote
20 Jessy J Tequila Moon Peak
21 Towner Galaher Courageous Hearts Self-Released
22 Spyro Gyra The Wire Heads Up
23 Manhattan Transfer The Chick Corea Songbook Four Quarters
24 Poncho Sanchez Psychedelic Blues Concord
24 Eldar Virtue Sony Masterworks
26 Swing Masters Vol 3: Gene Krupa Dare
27 Spenser Day Vagabound Concord
28 Diana Krall Quiet Nights Verve
28 Jack Dejohnette Music We Are Golden Beams
30 Tony Desare Radio Show Telarc
30 Miles Davis Kind Of Blue Legacy
30 Roy Hargrove Big Band Emergence Groovin’ High
33 Eric Alexander Revival Of The Fittest Highnote
34 Freddie Hubbard Without A Song Blue Note
34 Tower Of Power Great American Soulbook TOP
36 Joel Frahm And Bruce Katz Project A Anzic
36 Kermit Ruffins Livin The Treme Life Basin St
38 Blue Note 7 Mosaic Blue Note
39 Randy Crawford & Joe Sample No Regrets PRA
39 Mike Rinta Eponymous
41 Jeff Kashiwa Back in The Day Shanachie
41 Anna Estrada Obsession Feral Flight
43 Peter White Good Day Peak
43 Tessa Souter Obsession Motema Music
45 Hilary Kole Haunted Heart Justin Time
45 Bill Henderson Beautiful Memory Ahuh
47 Mary Talbot Fee Midwinter Nights Dream
47 Dave Brubeck Time Out- Legacy Columbia-Sony
47 Rochelle House Water House
50 John Scofield Piety Street Emarcy

http://www.wrtcfm.com/?page_id=127

Once Upon A Time...

2010-06-10T22:32:00.009+01:00

......And all were happy

Photo by Stephen Sorokoff

JaLaLa @ The Egg, 6/5/10

2010-06-10T13:43:00.003+01:00

The name JaLaLa is a clever use of the first two letters of the first names of the three internationally acclaimed songbirds fronting the fabulous trio.

Janis Siegel, Laurel Massé and Lauren Kinhan are certainly no strangers to the jazz community. Their considerable vocal talents have long been an integral part of such world-renowned ensembles as Manhattan Transfer (Siegel & Massé) and the New York Voices (Kinhan).

Last Saturday night, vocal sparks ignited the pyrotechnic vocal-fun at The Egg in Albany when these three distinct voices joined forces to sing, swing and scat their way through an uninterrupted set of originals, American jazz, Broadway standards and the classic Johnny Mercer songbook. (JaLaLa’s debut album is a tribute titled, “That Old Mercer Magic!”)

Backing the three chanteuses was a crack rhythm section featuring bassist Steve LaSpina, drummer Deric Dickens and long-time Manhattan Transfer music director/pianist Yaron Gershovsky.

There was no question that these three acclaimed ladies-of-song loved and respected each other. They gelled vocally from beginning to end. And they seemed to amaze each other almost as much as they amazed the audience, who couldn’t get enough of them individually or collectively.

Review and photographs by Andrzej Pilarczyk

JALALA SET LIST
Crazy People
Spring, Spring, Spring
You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby
Jeepers Creepers (Janis)
Have You Got Any Castles? (Laurel)
Riding on the Moon (Lauren)
Honeymoon Suite
Moon River/Moon Country
Ac-cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive
Move Over Sunshine
Killer Queen
Bach’s The Minuet (Laurel, a cappella)
My Ship (Janis)
Avalon
It’s Sand Man
ENCORE
Dream

JaLaLa: Janis,Lauren and Laurel

JALALA AT BIRDLAND!

2010-06-10T00:05:00.011+01:00

The River Reporter

2010-05-13T20:25:00.002+01:00

Laurel Massé in concert

NARROWSBURG, NY — Laurel Massé will bring her effortless style and broad range of musical tastes to the Tusten Theatre at 210 Bridge Street on Saturday, May 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Very few artists can claim to have started their career in music at the top, but as a founding member of the acclaimed Manhattan Transfer, that is exactly what Laurel Massé did. With her lush, expressive voice, absolute pitch and flawless diction, the statuesque redhead left her indelible mark on the group.

Don Heckman of the Los Angeles Times wrote, “How can you not fall in love with someone who brings such life and joy to every note that passes through her lips, who transforms even the most familiar songs into stunning new dramatic entities?”

Tickets cost $18 (DVAA members receive a $2 discount on advanced sales). For more information visit ArtsAllianceSite.org or call 845/252-7272.
http://www.riverreporter.com/issues/10-05-13/arts3-masse.html

Manhattan Transfer - live in Poland/1977

2010-05-09T13:32:00.005+01:00

Jalala: Janis Siegel, Laurel Massé and Lauren Kinhan To Perform At The Egg

2010-05-09T12:27:00.004+01:00

JaLaLa featuring Janis Siegel, Laurel Massé, & Lauren Kinhan will perform at The Egg as part of the American Roots & Branches concert series.

Janis Siegel and Laurel Massé, founding members of The Manhattan Transfer join forces with Lauren Kinhan of New York Voices for an evening of standards, featuring the music of Johnny Mercer from their new recording, and other jazz classics.

Over the past thirty five years, Janis Siegel has been an undeniable force in the music industry. Throughout her illustrious career she has garnered nine Grammy’s and has been nominated seventeen times. In the mid-1970’s, Ms. Siegel joined forces with Tim Hauser, Laurel Massé, and Alan Paul to form The Manhattan Transfer. The group’s self-titled debut album in 1975 ushered in a renaissance of vocal-based music and marked the beginning of the foursome’s successful career.

In addition to her work with the Manhattan Transfer with whom she continues to tour internationally, Ms. Siegel launched her solo career in 1982 with the release of Experiment in White. Her next release, At Home, earned her a Grammy nomination in 1987 for Best Female Jazz Vocal. In 1989, the New York Music Awards named her Best Female Jazz Singer. Ms. Siegel has also appeared on a number of motion picture soundtracks including, Swing Kids, A League of Their Own, Dick Tracy, and others.

Ms. Siegel’s most recent solo effort is the Latin-flavored A Thousand Beautiful Things which was released in 2006.

Laurel Massé toured with the Manhattan Transfer for seven years and recorded four albums with the group before a near-fatal automobile accident cut her tenure short with the band. Ms. Massé returned two years later to embark on a solo career - her first two solo records, Alone Together and Easy Living both made the Billboard Jazz Charts, and her third release, Again, was a People magazine pick.

As a studio singer Ms. Massé has appeared on CDs of many genres by artists that include Tony Trischka, Barry Manilow, and percussionist Layne Redmore. Ms. Masse also was the creator and host of The Laurel Massé Jazz Show which ran for two years on WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Ms. Massé also spends her time as a teacher participating in master classes and private coaching in the New York area. In 2004, she joined the faculty of The Cabaret Conference at Yale as a master instructor of jazz and cabaret. That same year she received, along with the other three founding members of the Manhattan Transfer, the MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabaret and Clubs) Lifetime Achievement Award.

For the past eighteen years, Lauren Kinhan has been known as a member of the New York Voices. In 2000, she was signed by the legendary Phil Ramone. He put together a crack-shot team of producers to help Ms. Kinhan launch her original solo CD entitled Hardly Blinking. Her most recent release, Avalon highlights her supple voice and prose while leaving room for great instrumental moments.

Ms. Kinhan also co-founded the group Moss and released their self-titled debut album in 2008. In 2010, it was included in DownBeat’s Best CDs of the 2000s. Ms. Kinhan has been serving as a Board of Governor for the Recording Academy since 2008 and sits on their sub committees for Education, Jazz and Grammy Career Day.

The trio known as JaLaLa was formed as a result of the trio’s particular fondness for the music of Johnny Mercer. Their recording features classics such as “You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby,“ “Jeepers Creepers,” and “Accentuate The Positive.”

Tickets to the concert are $24 and are available at The Egg Box Office at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, by phone at 518-473-1845 or on-line at www.theegg.org . The American Roots and Branches series is sponsored by Time Warner Cable.

Date and Time: Friday, June 5th at 8 PM

Location:
The Egg Center For The Performing Arts
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12210.

http://www.americantowns.com/ny/albany/news/jalala-janis-siegel-laurel-masse-and-lauren-kinhan-to-perform-at-the-egg-297112

THE 2010 MAC AWARDS

2010-05-09T12:24:00.002+01:00

THE 2010 MAC AWARDS
Tuesday, May 4th @ 7:30PM
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
237 West 42nd Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue)
Doors open at 6:00PM

HONORING
LESLIE UGGAMS - Lifetime Achievement (Presented by Brian Stokes Mitchell)
PETER LEAVY - Board of Directors Award
PLAYBILL.COM - Board of Directors Award

The Hanson Award will be presented to ANGELA SHULTZ
The Time Out New York Award will be presented to BRANDON CUTRELL

with performances by: Mark Nadler, Laurel Massé, Sean Harkness, Diana Templeton, Lucie Arnaz, Tony DeSare, The Les Paul Trio, Mario Cantone, Billy Stritch, KT Sullivan, Klea Blackhurst, Julie Reyburn, Terese Genecco, Lina Koutrakos, Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano, Baby Jane Dexter, Karen Mason, Chuck Sweeney as “Miss Peggy Lee,” and more. Directed by Lennie Watts. Produced by Julie Miller. Musical direction by Tracy Stark.

featuring the pre-show Red Carpet with Leon Hall - live on stage beginning at 6:30PM
The MAC Awards are presented annually to honor achievements in Cabaret, Comedy, and Jazz. The Awards encompass more that two dozen categories such as: vocalists and vocal groups, piano bar and jazz performers, comedy and musical performers, writers of songs and special material, directors, musical directors, recordings, and more. In addition, through special awards, MAC salutes outstanding contributions to the field of live entertainment.
http://www.macnyc.com/2010-mac-awards.html

Java Jive / Live in Poland

2010-05-04T00:13:00.004+01:00

Guided Missiles / Live in Poland

2010-05-04T00:11:00.008+01:00

Jalala Bilgi / http://mavinota.com/jalala.html

2010-05-02T16:35:00.003+01:00

http://mavinota.com/jalala.html

Review by Ron W / http://inabluemood.blogspot.com/

2010-05-02T16:19:00.005+01:00

Fresh impressions can be misleading and when I first heard the CD by JaLaLa several months ago, it did not leave a strong impression. Turning back to it after several months, I react quite differently as it was truly one of the musical delights of 2009

JaLaLa is a female vocal trio of Janis Siegel, Laurel Massé, and Lauren Kinham. Siegel is a long-time member of Manhattan Transfer while Masse was a founding member of that celebrated vocal group. Kinham is a member of the New York Voices. The three got together to do a celebration of the music of Johnny Mercer, The Old Mercer Magic (Dare Records) which opens with the lively “Spring, Spring, Spring,” followed by a marvelous reworking of “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby,” which starts as if it was an Aretha Franklin alternate of “Chain of Fools,” before the trio tear into it as the band shifts to a New Orleans street funk groove with a terrific Lee Soloff trumpet solo.

“Jeepers Creepers” features some dazzling vocalese from Siegel as well as a nifty guitar solo from Frank Vignola, while, Kinham delivers a buoyant “My Shining Hour,” transformed into a bossa nova. “Accentuate the Positive” playfully opens with a klezmer clarinet and a bit of as revival meeting before the three launch into their melodious harmony with a bouncy backing, lovely clarinet, keen steel guitar and some downhome fiddling, giving it a slight country tinge. “Dream” conjures up a World War II vocal trio such as the Andrew Sisters with simple guitar chord accompaniment.

“I’m Old Fashioned” is a marvelous feature for Massé backed solely by bassist David Finck, while Kinham scats her way on “Riding on the Moon,” with pianist Yaron Gershovsky standing out as well as trumpeter Soloff playing with a mute. There is a playfulness throughout as well as an obvious love of Johnny Mercer. Also splendid is the medley of “Moon River” and “Moon Country,” which opens with Vignola’s guitar laying out the soft rhythm for Massé’s lovely vocal, before Siegel and Kinham join for “Moon Country,” with some steel guitar embellishments added, again displaying some original touches that they have brought to this marvelous tribute to one of the grand masters of American song. It should be readily available at various online stores (amazon, itunes, etc.) and better stores.
http://inabluemood.blogspot.com/

Manhattan Transfer singer at Tusten Theatre

2010-05-02T13:47:00.003+01:00

NARROWSBURG, N.Y. — Laurel Massé brings her effortless style and broad range of musical tastes to the Tusten Theatre at 210 Bridge Street in Narrowbsurg, N.Y. on Saturday, May 15, at 8 p.m.

Very few artists can claim to have started their career in music at the top, but as a founding member of the acclaimed Manhattan Transfer, that is exactly what Laurel Massé did. With her lush, expressive voice, absolute pitch, and flawless diction, the statuesque redhead left her indelible mark on the group.

Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times wrote “How can you not fall in love with someone who brings such life and joy to every note that passes through her lips who transforms even the most familiar songs into stunning new dramatic entities?”

As a studio singer, Massé has appeared on CDs by artists including Tony Trischka, Barry Manilow, and percussionist Layne Redmond.

Tickets are $18 (DVAA members receive a $2 discount on advanced sales) Call the box office at 845-252-7272 or visit www.ArtsAllianceSite.org.

The season continues Saturday, May 29 with stellar string players Tony Trischka (banjo) and Frank Vignola (guitar). The 80-year old art deco-style Tusten Theatre features an eight-month schedule of cultural programming including jazz, opera, performance art, folk music, and theatre.

If you go
WHAT: Laurel Massé in Concert
WHEN: Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Tusten Theatre, 210 Bridge St, Narrowsburg, NY 12764
COST: $18 (DVAA members receive $2 discount on advanced sales)

http://www.strausnews.com/articles/2010/04/29/pennsylvania/arts_and_entertainment/8.txt

2010-04-25T13:11:00.001+01:00

Mary Lou Williams To Be Commemorated On 100th Birthday With A NYC Concert 5/8

2010-04-07T12:45:00.001+01:00

The newly restored Church of St. Francis Xavier and the Mary Lou Williams Foundation will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the First Lady of Jazz with a concert to benefit Xavier Mission outreach programs including the homeless shelter and soup kitchen. WBGO Jazz 88.3FM radio host Rob Crocker will emcee the celebration taking place on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 7:30pm. The concert will serve as the first of many events marking the church's recent restoration. The lineup will include: renowned jazz accompanist Aaron Diehl with his trio, including special guest Victor Goines on saxophone and clarinet Yasushi Nakamura on bass and Marion Felder on drums; Laurel Massé, founding member of the vocal group Manhattan Transfer and a 40-voice choir directed by John Uehlein, Music Director at the Church of St. Francis Xavier. Mr. Diehl was hailed by The New York Times as a "revelation" and by the Chicago Tribune as "the most promising discovery that [Wynton] Marsalis has made since Eric Reed."

Advance tickets ($40 Premium, $20 General, $10 Student with ID) may be purchased at a reduced rate online at www.sfxavier.org. Tickets will also be available at the door that evening ($50 Premium, $30 General, $15 Student with ID).

About Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams (1910-1981) was a jazz pianist, composer and arranger who worked with music greats Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and Cecil Taylor and collaborated with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk, among others. In 1957, she converted to Catholicism and began composing many spiritual works including "Music for Peace," "Black Christ of the Andes" and "Praise the Lord." "Mary Lou took her religious instructions at St. Francis Xavier, so it's a special place for her to be commemorated," said former manager and current Executive Director of her foundation, Rev. Peter O'Brien, S.J.

In March 1969, Msgr. Joseph Gremillion, secretary of the Pontifical Commission on Justice and Peace, commissioned Williams to write a Mass using approved liturgical texts for the Votive Mass for Peace. She called this "Music for Peace." Williams wrote two choral pieces in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. after his assassination, which were recorded at The Vatican Radio. The entire composition was later adapted for Alvin Ailey's full-length ballet and simply called "Mary Lou's Mass." Newsweek called the piece "an encyclopedia of black music, richly represented from spirituals to bop to rock."

About Xavier Mission
The event will benefit Xavier Mission, the community outreach program of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. The Mission has provided vital assistance to New York City's neediest for more than a quarter of a century serving more than 1 million meals at its Welcome Table soup kitchen. It also provides guests with multiple services, including free chiropractic adjustments; HIV/AIDS screening; assistance with entitlement benefits; 15 beds for homeless men every night of the week; a food pantry; a clothing room; and the Life-Skills Training & Empowerment program for the homeless.

About St. Francis Xavier
St. Francis Xavier has been the spiritual home for musicians and composers in New York for nearly 130 years. The history of the church is one rich in spiritual, cultural and historical significance. Enrico Caruso delighted with his soaring tenor voice; Pietro Yon, the Church's early music director, created the well known Christmas hymn "Gesu Bambino;" Louis Tiffany and Thomas Merton worshipped; and royalty paid their respects at the church.

The Church of St. Francis Xavier is located at 46 West 16th Street near 6th Avenue and is wheelchair accessible at 55 West 15th Street. For more information visit www.sfxavier.org.

Laurel Massé & Rich DeRosa

2010-04-02T21:20:00.001+01:00

April 7th JAZZ NIGHTS @ Sayville High School

2010-04-02T21:15:00.003+01:00

DON’T MISS THE ONE CONCERT EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT FOR WEEKS! In Concert with Laurel Masse (the Manhattan Transfer), Rich DeRosa (International Jazz Musician),and the Sayville High School Jazz Choir & Jazz Ensemble
IN THE SAYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM TICKETS: $10.00 ADULTS - $5.00 STUDENTS SENOIRS FREE WITH A GOLD CARD

Call 244-6634 for more information
http://www.sayville.k12.ny.us/news.cfm?story=409

The Manhattan Connection...A great album

2010-03-31T22:45:00.001+01:00

LAUREL MASSÉ

2010-03-31T22:31:00.001+01:00

Photo Session

2010-03-31T22:17:00.000+01:00

Laurel Massé in concert

2010-03-31T22:09:00.000+01:00

Clipping

2010-03-31T21:59:00.000+01:00

Laurel Massé - Special Guest

2010-02-16T21:45:00.006Z

Wendy Lane Bailey
At
the Metropolitan Room
With
Michele Brourman – Music Director
Laurel Massé – Special Guest
February 26th at 9:45 PM
February 27th at 7:30 PM
$20.00 Cover / 2 Drink Minimum

The Metropolitan Room
34 West 22nd Street
New York, NY
Reservations: (212)206-0440

No themes, no gimmicks. Just great songs, sung well. Wendy Lane Bailey and arranger/composer Michele Brourman have combined their musical sensibilities in a program of the best in lyric-driven contemporary song with a strong feminine point of view. Joining them as special guest will be singer Laurel Massé, founding member of Grammy award-winning vocal group The Manhattan Transfer.
The Metropolitan Room dates are a continuation of a partnership that began in the spring of 2009. Brourman, who is best known as the composer of songs like “My Favorite Year” and for her work with Amanda McBroom, and Bailey had been talking about working together for several years. “When we finally got together, we had about ninety songs to look at, and we had a wonderful time narrowing the list down to the ones we eventually put in the set. It’s wonderful working with someone who has flawless musical taste, even better when they write great songs too!” says Bailey. In addition to songs by Brourman and McBroom, songs by Joni Mitchell, June Carter Cash, Gretchen Peters, Cole Porter and Marshall Barer are part of the set. Familiar tunes are given new settings, and obscure tunes feel like old friends.

From the Metropolitan Room, Bailey heads down to Washington, DC for an appearance at Blues Alley. Next, she and Brourman will head into the recording studio to lay down tracks for a CD scheduled for release later this summer. Her website is .

http://www.makinmusicny.com/events/wendy-lane-bailey-at-1

JAZZ ON THE VINE SPECIAL PREVIEW Concert with JaLaLa, Feb 6!

2010-02-05T20:11:00.002Z

JAZZ ON THE VINE has scheduled a special preview event for Saturday, February 6 at 3 p.m., at the gorgeous Steinway Series' Raphael Winery. It will feature the incredible group JaLaLa, the leaders of which are three female vocalists who are/were with Grammy-Award winning, world-famous vocalist-led jazz groups: Lauren Kinhan with New York Voices, and Janis Siegel and Laurel Masse with Manhattan Transfer. The JaLaLa group is, as you would expect, backed by top-notch piano, bass, drums and horn players. Their sound is a contemporary and equally talented version of the legendary Andrews Sisters. Until recently the opera world had its 3 Tenors ... and now the jazz world has JaLaLa.

http://www.liwinterfest.com/liwinterfest/?src=liwinterfest.com

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs064/1101910326477/archive/1102984811485.html

JaLaLa Sings!

2010-02-04T17:36:00.006Z

Lauren Kinhan, Laurel Massé, Janis Siegel

Thursday, February 4th 7:00 PM

Gerald Veasley's Jazz Base

Reading, PA (610)777-2310

Information and reservations

Saturday, February 6th, 3 PM

Jazz on the Vine Long Island Winterfest

Peconic, Long Island, NY

(631)765-1100

Information / reservations

Sunday, February 7th 2:30 PM

The Towne Crier Café

130 Route 22 Pawling, NY

(845)855-1300

Information / reservations

"Blue Skies" Song of the Day on NPR! Share comments!

2010-02-04T17:27:00.003Z

February 2, 2010 - A ukulele's plucky strum kicks off a buoyant new version of the 1926 classic "Blue Skies." The musician is Killian Mansfield, whose innate optimism didn't fade when he began fighting cancer at age 11. Five years later, he died of the disease — on Aug. 20, 2009 — but the gifted string musician lived long enough and stayed strong enough to fulfill a dream: recording a CD whose proceeds would benefit the integrative therapies he embraced, from acupuncture to aroma therapy. The album, Somewhere Else, came out 16 days before Mansfield's death, and has built a following slowly ever since.

Mansfield took up the ukulele in 2007, after his cancer made it too difficult for him to play the violin. He appreciated the instrument's light weight and ease of play, and was drawn to its percussive quality: A ukulele can set the beat, and that's what it does in "Blue Skies." Mansfield's mom was originally scheduled to sing the song, as she had done many times with her son while he was entertaining fellow patients at the National Institute of Health. But Mansfield and his friends had many music-business connections. So the vocalist is Manhattan Transfer's Laurel Masse, whose luscious chops are complemented by a jaunty clarinet and mellow, slightly melancholy bass line, all part of an arrangement that Mansfield himself cooked up. But, really, his ukulele is what propels the song; it's the insistent sound of a young man who, as his mother remembers, loved playing music for people and believed that as long as you're alive, you might as well look on the bright side.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123268337

The Swan Song Of A Teenage Ukulele Master

2010-01-18T14:35:00.002Z

Mr. KILLIAN MANSFIELD (Singer): (Singing) You don't have to be beautiful to turn me on.

RAZ: A young, ukulele-playing prodigy by the name of Killian Mansfield is the voice you're hearing. He's singing the classic Prince song, "Kiss." It's off his debut record called "Somewhere Else," and sadly, it was Killian Mansfield's last album, as well.

Last August, at age 16, Killian Mansfield succumbed to a rare form of cancer he'd been battling since the age of 11. But about six months beforehand, he decided to fulfill one final wish: to record an album with his musical heroes. And the result is an eclectic collection of folk blues and rock songs performed by musicians like John Sebastian, from the Lovin' Spoonful; Dr. John and the B-52's Kate Pierson.

Killian's mom, Barbara Mansfield, helped wrangle many of those artists, including Laurel Masse, one of the founders of the Manhattan Transfer. She met Killian a few years earlier when he attended a music camp in the Catskills. I spoke with the two women a few days ago about the project, and Barbara began by describing the kind of kid Killian was.

Ms. BARBARA MANSFIELD: He was a funny guy and a very artistic person and someone who was mortified that he would ever be defined by the disease that so preoccupied everyone else about him for the last five years of his life.

RAZ: Laurel Masse, how did you come across Killian and his mother, Barbara Mansfield, the Mansfield family?

Ms. MASSE: I'm one of the instructors at Jay Ungar and Molly Mason's Swing Music Camp. And Killian first showed up three years ago. I mean, he was clearly already ill, and he was not stopped by that at all. And because he was not stopped by that at all, the people around him were not stopped by that at all.

RAZ: Tell me about where the idea for this record, "Somewhere Else," came from. How did it come about?

Ms. MANSFIELD: Killian had spent a horrendous hospitalization, during which time we thought that he would not be coming home from the hospital.

RAZ: This is back in 2008.

Ms. MANSFIELD: Yeah - October of 2008. And during that hospitalization, I clearly remember him playing his ukulele for a lot of patients there and having a little bit more fun than I think he was supposed to after he recovered.
Unfortunately, after that, he went right into hospice. So somewhere between recovering and knowing that he was going into hospice, he was doing a lot of music around the hospital, and he said, I want to do it. I'm just going to play the cancer card here. I want to do an album. I want to get a lot of famous people. I want it to benefit the integrative therapies that have so helped me, and I just - I want to do it fast.

RAZ: You've talked about this term - and you use this term, the cancer card. And he actually would use this in a sort of a tongue-in-cheek way.

Ms. MANSFIELD: Mm-hmm. And sometimes he would even go...
(Soundbite of coughing)
(Soundbite of laughter)

Ms. MASSE: Poor Killian. Poor Killian.

Ms. MANSFIELD: He was very naughty.

RAZ: When you look at the liner notes to this record, it describes how all these songs relate to different parts of Killian's life.

Ms. MANSFIELD: Well, more specifically, in his plan, it was all about weaving it into integrative medicine. The field of integrative medicine is about incorporating things like acupuncture, massage therapy, nutrition, into the whole care.
So, for instance, he has his song that he picked out, "Fishin' Blues," and we didn't even know at the time that John Sebastian did a version of that - had done so a long time ago with the Lovin' Spoonful - and his idea was to use that as an explanation for what it feels like to get acupuncture. It kind of feels like an electrical impulse in the muscles when it begins to work, and he said he always thought that felt like going fishing.
(Soundbite of song, "Fishin' Blues")

Mr. JOHN SEBASTIAN (Singer): (Singing) Come on, baby, come on down. I'm goin' fishin', yes I'm goin' fishin', and you can come fishin' too.

RAZ: Laurel Masse, I want to talk about the song that you recorded with Killian on the album, Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies."
(Soundbite of song, "Blue Skies")

Ms. MASSE: (Singing) Blue skies smiling at me, nothing but blue skies do I see.

RAZ: And of course, that's Killian's ukulele in the background. Laurel Masse, what do you remember about the recording sessions with Killian?

Ms. MASSE: The session? It was just easy. I'd already known him for a little while so I felt really comfortable with him at all times. It was a remarkable quality that he had.

RAZ: Barbara Mansfield, I can only imagine how sort of difficult it must have been emotionally during those recording sessions, I mean, the sort of the highs and lows of that period of time. What was the - sort of the mood and the atmosphere during that period?

Ms. MANSFIELD: Well, Killian set a really high bar. And it was a bar that was clearly defined by determination. And one of the later - the last recording session was Levon Helm's studio. That was a difficult day because Killian was so excited, and Levon was so warm and wonderful.
But Killian was in a lot of pain, and he barely got through playing the ukulele. There was a lot of weighing in my mind of how much morphine to administer so that he could still be present for the experience but to mitigate the pain, and that was hard.
(Soundbite of song, "Fire in My Pocket")
Unidentified Man #1 (Singer): (Singing) If I had money in my pocket.
Unidentified People: (Singing) Oh, yeah.
Unidentified Man #1: (Singing) Some money in pocket.
Unidentified People: Oh, yeah.
Unidentified Man #1: (Singing) If I had money in my pocket, money in my pocket, I could buy her love tonight.

RAZ: And that's "Fire In My Pocket" on the record. At that point, you all knew that he might not make it. I mean, there was a kind of a sense of urgency in getting this finished.

Ms. MANSFIELD: Oh, yeah.

RAZ: Were you ever worried that you wouldn't actually finish it in time?

Ms. MANSFIELD: Yeah. I thought that there was a good chance that it wouldn't be finished. And it was actually sort of miraculous that he got to hear and touch the album before he died.

RAZ: Barbara Mansfield, why did Killian call this record "Somewhere Else"?

Ms. MANSFIELD: He wanted to have a group of songs that were transporting to anyone who listened and were not about being in a bad place or not expressing what it was like to be in a bad place but about, you know, being somewhere else.
When that came about, I immediately had an idea about the title song, and I asked him if he would let me write one. And he said, as long as it's one of your blues songs, because I don't like the other ones.
(Soundbite of song, "Somewhere Else")
Unidentified Woman #1 (Singer): (Singing) I'm going fishing on Jupiter. The air is ever so clean and clear. I love the way that the morning (unintelligible). I am somewhere else.

Ms. MANSFIELD: The lyrics, I'm going fishing on Jupiter, was a story that he and I liked a lot. There was a film star, Lash La Rue, and when Lash was, I think fading in his final years, somebody asked him: what do you want to do, Lash? And he said: I want to go fishing on Jupiter.

RAZ: The last track on the record is the other track where Killian sang lead vocals, and he originally didn't want his voice on this.
(Soundbite of laughter)

Ms. MANSFIELD: No. He was such a pain in the ass about that.
(Soundbite of laughter)

Ms. MASSE: Can we say that on the radio?

Ms. MANSFIELD: He sort of just had gotten over the point where his voice was changing. And I think he was a little self-conscious about the way his voice sounded.

RAZ: It was changing because of the tumors in his throat.

Ms. MANSFIELD: Well, there was that, but he just got over puberty.

RAZ: Oh, yeah.

Ms. MANSFIELD: So, you know, there was the changes that happen to every young man. And there was substantial obstacles in terms of the growth of the tumors in his mouth and his throat, and that made it, you know, difficult. But I think it was his perception of his voice that he struggled with.
(Soundbite of song, "If I Can Dream")

Mr. MANSFIELD: (Singing) If I can dream of a better land where all my brothers walk hand in hand, why, oh why, oh why can't my dreams come true.

RAZ: It's a song that was written by Walter Earl Brown but made famous, of course, by Elvis Presley. And it's probably appropriate that we're going to end the show today with this song because it's inspired by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King. Can you tell us about how Killian became a fan of this song, "If I Can Dream"?

Ms. MANSFIELD: He was playing this when he was told he was told he was going to be entering hospice care during that terrible hospitalization in October of 2008. And he was screaming this song at the top of his lungs. And when we talked about it, he was attracted because he said, Elvis sounds so wrecked and barely there in it, and yet it's such a strong song.
(Soundbite of song, "If I Can Dream")

RAZ: That's Barbara Mansfield and Laurel Masse, speaking about the record "Somewhere Else," a project put together by musician Killian Mansfield, who died last August.
Barbara Mansfield, Laurel Masse, thank you so much.

Ms. MANSFIELD: Thank you.

Ms. MASSE: And thank you.
(Soundbite of song, "If I Can Dream")

Mr. MANSFIELD: (Singing) But as long as a man has the faith to dream, he can receive his soul and can fly.

RAZ: You can hear full versions of several songs off the album and learn more about the Killian Mansfield Foundation at nprmusic.org.

(Soundbite of song, "If I Can Dream")

Mr. MANSFIELD: (Singing) Still I am sure that the answer, answer's gonna come somehow. Out there in the dark there's a beckoning candle, yeah. And while I can think...

RAZ: And for Sunday, that's ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Guy Raz. Thanks for listening and have a great week.

COMING OUT!

2009-12-30T22:38:00.000Z

In Concert

2009-12-28T15:36:00.003Z

Laurel with The Manhattan Transfer,at the beginning

2009-12-28T15:28:00.002Z

Jeannette d'Armand / Stage Road

2009-12-05T23:24:00.002Z

The daughter of two classical singers and the granddaughter of a Broadway star, Jeannette has been immersed in music as long as she can remember. Formerly soloist for Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère in Las Vegas, she is known to Seattle audiences as a cabaret singer and member of 5th Avenue Theatre’s popular women's trio, The Daffodils. She recorded Stage Road in New York and co-produced it with Manhattan Transfer founder Laurel Massé and arranger/pianist Hubert “Tex” Arnold. The recording includes songs by Bob Dorough, Alec Wilder, Jackie Gleason, Stephen Sondheim, Rupert Holmes, and Joni Mitchell.

SECOND CD Release Party! December 2, 2009, 7:00p.m.
Come celebrate the release of Jeannette d’Armand’s debut CD, Stage Road, a collection of lesser-known jazz works, with back-up vocals by Manhattan Transfer’s Laurel Massé and Janis Siegel. Composers include Bob Dorough, Alec Wilder, Jackie Gleason, Stephen Sondheim, Rupert Holmes, and Joni Mitchell.

http://www.jeannettedarmand.com/bio.html

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/JeannettedArmand

JALALA

2009-12-05T12:23:00.001Z

Unofficial Website New Face!

2009-12-05T12:10:00.005Z

http://laurelmasse2.moonfruit.com/

JazzWeek Radio Chart —November 25, 2009

2009-11-25T13:35:00.000Z

Clippings / Just click over the photo in order to read the article

2009-11-25T00:04:00.002Z

Clipping / The Washington Post

2009-11-24T23:59:00.002Z

In a Mellow Tone

2009-11-24T22:58:00.001Z

CANDY...

2009-11-24T22:55:00.000Z

Clippings / Just click over the photo in order to read the article

2009-11-11T20:21:00.001Z

Clippings / Just click over the photo in order to read the article

2009-11-11T20:19:00.004Z

Clippings / Just click over the photo in order to read the article

2009-11-11T20:18:00.001Z

Clippings / Just click over the photo in order to read the article

2009-11-11T20:16:00.003Z

Clippings / Just click over the photo in order to read the article

2009-11-11T20:14:00.002Z

LAUREL MASSÉ FAN CLUB

The Old Magic Tour!

CANDY at OneTrueMedia.com

MEMORABILIA

Press

PRESS

PRESS

Memorabilia

Memorabilia

JALALA - Tour 2012

JALALA Confirms New Song

Hey Everyone, the ladies of JaLaLa just finished writing a new signature song called JaLaLa Land. We can't wait to finish arranging it and record it!!! Love, Janis, Laurel and Lauren.

For Singer Laurel Massé, Success Was No Accident

Medea

Laurel Massé's The Road to Dreamland

The International Cabaret Conference Returns to Yale

Ashokan 2011

Laurel Massé, Sally Mayes, Julie Wilson et al. Set for International Cabaret Conference

“The Manhattan Connection” is NOW available on iTunes and Amazon

Finally! The new Album will be available for purchase and download before summer's end.

JaLaLa at the Kennedy Center, May 19, 2011

Three stars in Birdland!

NEW JALALA FAN CLUB - JOIN NOW!

May 19 Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Terrace Theater, Kennedy Center Washington, DC

JALALA at Birdland!

JaLaLa

"The Manhattan Connection" in CD Baby!

The great Album "The Manhattan Connection" is released in Philippines

Last Interview! Laurel Massé a voice for a new age.

Vote and comment on all the musical works of Laurel! Help us to choose the best!

CABARET MONTH GALA

diydancer.com

JaLaLa @ Cornelia St. Café

JALALA Sing in Manhattan! Review by Laurel Massé.

JALALA Sing in Manhattan!

Operator!

Coming Out, recording session with Ringo Starr!

Laurel Massé with Amanda McBroom

CABARETSCENES

New York News - Magazine 1975

News!

The Manhattan Transfer in concert.

Memorabilia

Memorabilia/People

Heart's Desire

Guided Missiles

Scotch and soda

Robert Sirota Nov 6: Premiere of Sirotas' Cantata inspired by stained glass windows of Greenwich's St. Bede's November 06, 2010

Palladium Musicum presentsHoly Women: Lives of the Women Saints in The Stained Glass Windows of St. Bede’s Chapel

Billboard Magazine

Memorabilia/Billboard

Technicolor

LAUREL WITH MANHATTAN TRANSFER

Unofficial Web Site

Feather and Bone – A Celebration of Song and Spirit

Manhattan Transfer

Memorabilia

LAUREL MASSÉ - NEW ALBUM / COMING SOON!! First new album since 2002!!

Just Before the Battle

Julie Wilson, Laurel Massé at Yale Cabaret Conference

Laurel Massé in concert

WRTC Jazz - Top 50 For 2009

Once Upon A Time...

JaLaLa @ The Egg, 6/5/10

JALALA AT BIRDLAND!

The River Reporter

Manhattan Transfer - live in Poland/1977

Jalala: Janis Siegel, Laurel Massé and Lauren Kinhan To Perform At The Egg

THE 2010 MAC AWARDS

Java Jive / Live in Poland

Guided Missiles / Live in Poland

Jalala Bilgi / http://mavinota.com/jalala.html

Review by Ron W / http://inabluemood.blogspot.com/

Manhattan Transfer singer at Tusten Theatre

Mary Lou Williams To Be Commemorated On 100th Birthday With A NYC Concert 5/8

Laurel Massé & Rich DeRosa

April 7th JAZZ NIGHTS @ Sayville High School

The Manhattan Connection...A great album

LAUREL MASSÉ

Photo Session

Palladium Musicum presents

Holy Women: Lives of the Women Saints in The Stained Glass Windows of St. Bede’s Chapel