Lauren White - Making It Up As We Go Along
Lauren White - Making It Up As We Go Along
Café Pacific Records, 2024
The West Coast is rich in jazz vocals. Left Coast habitue Lauren White has firmly established herself with five previously released recordings: Meant To Be (Lauren White, 2013); Equipment (Lauren White, 2015); Jazz and Noir (Café Pacific Records, 2016); Ever Since The World Ended (Café Pacific Records, 2021); and Life In The Modern World (Café Pacific Records, 2019). These recordings are characterized by an artist not content with the storied core of the Great American Songbook. It is at the fringes of the Songbook where White has excelled and continues to with Making It Up As We Go Along.
Produced by Barbara Brighton (Julie Kelly’s Freedom Jazz Dance (Lauralwood Records, 2024), Mark Winkler’s Late Bloomin’ Jazz Man (Cafe Pacific Records, 2022), and The Rules Don’t Apply (Café Pacific Records, 2023)), Making It Up is a grownup jazz recording made for grownups by a grownup. While upstarts like Samara Joy remake standards in their images (not a bad thing at all) White seeks material offering a challenge to her and her listeners. Directing the music end of the project is White’s longtime pianist Quinn Johnson, whose arrangments add an intense sparkle to the songs presented.
Donald Fagan’s “I’m Not The Same Without You” and Boustead-Cunliffe’s “Unlikely Valentine” are rendered incandescent by Johnson’s diamond-hard arrangements, providing White the juice to unleash. Her solid alto is most effective on these energy-infused pieces. Where White reaches the creative triple point is on the specialty pieces: Joshua Redman’s “Lowercase” with lyrics by Mark Winkler, Lorraine Feather and Edward Arkin’s title piece, and the Bill Evans/Gene Lee composition “Turn Out the Stars.” These are inspired repertoire choices.
The beautiful surprise on Making It Up As We Go Along is White’s duet with Paul Jost on “Vrohaula” where the two vocalists demonstrate different edges of the jazz vocal spectrum. Guitarist Larry Koonse helps propel the song, providing a piquant accompaniment. The singers enjoyed making this recording together. There is something in the water on the West Coast that promotes exceptional jazz singing. Lauren White has quaffed her fair share of it.