Title: Fotografia
Artist: Crema, Laura
Label: CD Baby
Product Type: COMPACT DISCS
UPC: 778224297529
Genre: Jazz

FOTOGRAFIA Almost everything we come into contact with today is disposable. Things catch our eyes, tickle our fancies, and then we throw them away. When it seems as if nothing around us has been built to last, it can be very disorienting and make us reach for something timeless - something like Laura Crema's new CD, 'Fotografia'. Like the great vocalists of jazz's golden age, Crema's voice resonates from a place that is deeper than the words she sings to connect her listeners to the elusive feelings and unexpressed longings that her music suggests. Laura Crema has a rare interpretive gift that allows her to inhabit a song and dive deeply into the lyrics of an old standard to suggest new meanings, shades and inferences that have lain dormant until they were lit up by the sultry warmth of her voice. Opportunities to experience such deep and pure musical expression are rare, which makes the release of Laura Crema's 3rd studio album, 'Fotografia' cause for celebration. Like her 2007 release, 'Spring Is Here', 'Fotografia' was produced by Brad Turner, one of Canada's most accomplished bandleaders and trumpet players. It is easy to hear the chemistry in the studio as Crema and Turner tapped some of the country's greatest talents to contribute instrumental performances to augment her exceptional voice. Bill Coon's guitar playing shines on many tracks, especially the emotive versions of Kurt Weil's 'Lost In The Stars' and Duke Ellington's 'Azure.' Empathetic piano and bass support from Sharon Minemoto, Dave Restivo, Adam Thomas and Paul Rushka provide a warm and sultry backdrop for Crema's vocal explorations on 'Wild Is The Wind' and Antonio Carlos Jobim's 'Photograph' while Joe Poole and Andrew Miller's sympathetic drum and brush work keep everything moving ahead beautifully. The unexpectedly touching reading of John Lennon's 'Beautiful Boy' offers a perfect entry point for 'Seraphina' a love song to Crema's daughter that is one of 'Fotografia's' original tracks along with 'Love Be Kind' that was co-written by Sharon Minemoto. Laura Crema performs regularly, both as a singer and a multi-disciplinary artist and dancer in both her hometown of Vancouver and around the country. The depth and resonance of her voice as well as the singularity and discipline of Laura's artistic vision has opened many door for her. She has performed with Canada's finest vocalists at the 'Divas for Life' benefits in Vancouver, been featured on CBC radio's Studio One Jazz Series during The Vancouver Jazz Festival in 2002, 2004 and 2010 as well as appearing on 'Hot Air', 'North by Northwest' and several other influential radio programs. Her previous recordings, 2007's 'Spring Is Here' and 2002's 'Almost Blue' received airplay worldwide and positive notices in 'Downbeat', 'Coda' and other taste making journals. LAURA CREMA BIO: A native of Vancouver, vocalist Laura Crema possesses a lush, unique instrument with great depth and resonance, her influences are broad and diverse as she blends jazz with popular music, Bossa Nova, original compositions and improvisation. Laura Crema graduated from Simon Fraser University with a degree in Fine and Performing Arts, and Economics. She has studied at the Banff Centre for the Arts with legendary jazz vocalists Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton and in Washington State with Nancy King and Kurt Elling. She has trained in extended voice with master teacher Richard Armstrong and studied music at Vancouver Community College. Laura is an accomplished dancer, choreographer and interdisciplinary performer. She has received numerous awards and grants including an 'Emergence' Canada Council Grant for her work in the interdisciplinary arts. She has performed and worked with RADIX Theatre, the Karen Jamieson Dance Company, Touchstone Theatre, True North Performance, Olivia Thorvaldson, Grant Strate, Deborah Dunn, Catherine Lee,.. Composers she has worked with include, Jeff Corness, Peter Hannan, Ron Samworth, Cam Wilson and George McFetridge. She has presented her own Choreography at 'Dancing on the Edge', 'Women in View' and the 'Single Solos Dance' Festivals. She was featured, along side five of Canada's finest jazz vocalists, at the 2001 DIVAS FOR LIFE concert benefit at the Vogue Theatre. Laura Crema was featured in CBC Radio's Studio One Jazz Series during the Vancouver International Jazz Festival 2002 and 2004 and 2010. She has also been showcased on CBC's 'Hotair', 'After Hours', 'Coastal Grooves', 'Richardson's Roundup', 'North by Northwest' and Alberta's CKUA. Laura has had the great honor to play many of Canada's prestiges Jazz venues including The Yardbird Suite, Cory Weeds' Cellar Jazz Club, Hermann's Jazz Club, The Trane Jazz Club, Vernon Jazz Club, Beat Niq Jazz Club, Jazz on the Wing, Yukon Jazz, Whitehorse. Laura's CD 'Almost Blue' was released under the Maximum Jazz record label/Universal Canada and received excellent reviews and radio airplay in Canada, the U.S., and Europe. 'Almost Blue' has been featured in Air Canada's Enroute magazine. Her 2007 recording "Spring is Here", was released by Maximum Jazz/EMI Canada and was named Vocal Jazz Recording of 2007 by Jazz Journalist James Hale (Downbeat, Coda) in the Village Voice. Annual Jazz Poll Ballots. Laura latest recording "Fotografia" released Dec 2013 is produced by one of Canada's extraordinary talents, Brad Turner. LAURA CREMA QUOTES: Laura Crema's CD Spring is Here released by Maximum Jazz/EMI Canada was named Vocal Jazz Recording of 2007 by Jazz Journalist James Hale (Downbeat, Coda) in the Village Voice Annual Jazz Poll Ballots. 'Crema makes low notes glow like coals' Marke Andrews, The Vancouver Sun "All great jazz singers have at least three qualities in common. The first is that unique timbre that sets their voice apart. The second is the material they choose to sing. And the third is the fresh ideas and insights they bring to those songs. Laura Crema has all three in spades." CBC Radio "Vancouver jazz vocalist Laura Crema and trumpeter/producer Brad Turner make for a powerful combination. Hers is a wonderfully deep, expressive voice and Turner has surrounded her with some great players and sounds. This is quite the inspired treat!" The Vancouver Province "An uplifting and atmospheric album, the most impressive offering yet from this accomplished West coast singer." The Edmonton Journal "Vancouver's Laura Crema has an ageless quality to her dry, dark voice." Downbeat Magazine "She has a knack for bringing out a tune's inherant emotional contours" Coda 'Vocalist Laura Crema is poised to take center-stage on the international jazz scene. Possessed of a powerful voice with great depth and resonance, she bring a warm and strongly emotive approach to classic torch songs.' Tom Keenliside, flutenotes 'Laura Crema's sultry vocals pulls you deep into the dark, smoky room of some 40's speakeasy where torch songs spoke volumes from the heart, unadulterated musical silk, and not to be missed.' Sue Braiden, CBC radio 3 'Crema's rich, vibrant voice held the audience spellbound with a set that ranged from Cole Porter to Elvis Costello' Paul Grant, Host of CBC Radio's Hotair 'Crema is a true artist,..she knows when to hold the note like a longing memory and when to let it go like a painful betrayal. ' Gregory J. Robb, All About Jazz 'A lush, unique instrument, with an affinity for ballads, such as the CD's ('Almost Blue') stunning title track' George Evans, Planet Jazz.

Tracks:
1.1 Seraphina
1.2 Brigas Nunca Mais
1.3 Beautiful Boy
1.4 Azure
1.5 Photograph
1.6 At Long Last Love
1.7 Wild Is the Wind
1.8 Waters of March
1.9 This Time the Dreams on Me
1.10 Love Be Kind
1.11 Lost in the Stars

Audio Sample:
All soundclips are provided by Tidal and are for illustrative purposes only. For some releases, the tracks listed may not accurately represent the tracks on the physical release.