Halie Loren/ They Oughta Write A Song

So I seriously lucked up with the indie gods when I stumbled upon the enchanting Halie Loren.
She is a 24 year old Singer/Songwriter Jazz musician that is going places far beyond her current home in Eugene, Oregon. She might just be one of those best kept  secrets that is on the verge of become town gossip!.. In a good way, of course!  She is a delight to listen to. The first thing I noticed immediately
when I heard her title song of her 2008 CD" They Oughta Write A Song" was her huge talent. She has influences of Sarah McLaughlin, Norah Jones, Tori Amos Diana Krall  yet still has her own sound. Earthy, Sassy, Smokey  and  Beautiful are the few words that come to mind when you hear Halie Loren. She jazzes up several old  favorites and dips her honey vocals in songs  like " Fever"  which  has been done and done again by many  artist, but she made it her own with her fun and sassy style . Put her version next to any other artist and Ill choose hers every time!

With eager ears I listened to her rendition of Otis Reddings" (Sittin on )The Dock Of the Bay"--being a Macon ,Georgia native we take our notable recognition where we can  and Mr. Redding is dear to us. I feel  inclined to say that he would indeed approve of Ms. Loren's cover. It is infused with peppy piano solo rifts that make you want to get up and dance, her soulful vocals lift your spirits as she scats and be-bops about- you can tell she enjoyed singing it.
"Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" - I really enjoyed this song!  Ms Loren sings half this song in Spanish which  really authenticates its Spanish origin. Some people know the Cake version who made the song more mainstream but Doris Day sang it back in 1947 and the actual title is "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas" a song by Cuban songwriter Osvaldo Farres. Halie's version is fun, memorable and you might even crave tapas after hearing it.. hehe OK well, at least I did! ;)

 Slowing it down a bit ,Hallie croons to musical bliss in" How Should I Know"- one of the three Halie Loren originals she  co-wrote -"They Oughta Write a Song "and " I Don't Miss It That Much" are her others. What really captures my attention is her heart felt emotions that permeate her music and this song is no exception.  With a sense of warm longing, its easy to identify with the lyrics she so effortlessly sings.

Whiter Shade Of Pale, a hit back in 1967 for the British rock band Procol Harum, turns out to be a jazz song too! I was quite surprised to hear this song on a jazz album , but it actually sounds like it belongs and the fact that Halie pulled it off speaks to her talent! The song is not overdone but is more subtle in its approach echoing the sentiment of less is more. Well done.

If the former song was a surprise on the album these next two are songs one could expect to hear on a vocal jazz album and they are the ever popular " Blue Skies" and George Gershwin's " Summertime". Lorens interpretations  give both songs standard jazz appeal plus Halie's modern sass and pizazz ensure they will likely stick around in your mind long after the songs are played.

Song for song , this album will not disappoint, which is not an easy thing to do for any artist- especially for up and coming talents. Halie Loren has the right combination of vocal presence and her backing musicians on this album are simply amazing. It is the marriage of this music that gives this album wings. In 2009 They Oughta Write A Song won the award for Best Jazz Album at the annual Just Plain Folks Awards held in Nashville, TN, and currently is working on her first live album set to release in 2010.

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