{Music Review} "Miss Smith To You!' by Lavay Smith

Lavay Smith is sadly a rarity today. You will be very hard pressed to find another singer of her caliber anywhere. She brings you back to the day of Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald, when clubs and concert halls where filled when a songstress, backed by a big band could take a song and real make it her own and make you feel it, make you want to get up and dance to it, be it slow of fast.

“Miss Smith To You!” is Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet-Lickers third album, and it matches if not surpasses previous the previous efforts with a great selection of songs, superb performances, and quality production. The songs range from slow ballads to medium tempo swings. Through it all Miss Smith is able to show off her voice and personality.

So in conclusion, if this is a style of music you enjoy (Big Band/Vocal Jazz), I do not think this album will disappoint you. It has a great selection of classic songs, the music of a talented group of musicians and the voice of one of the few who can really pull it off. To me this album really is a complete package, and I hope you can enjoy it as much as I have.

{Music Review} Here with Me by Holly Williams

Great Voice, Unimpressive songs.

The album “Here with Me” is my first exposure to the country music artist Holly Williams. I was surprised to find out she is the granddaughter of Hank Williams, daughter of Hank Williams Jr, and half sister of Hank III.

On first exposure it is clear she has a really great voice, very similar to Faith Hill, although not quite as bright, but with more depth. In terms of the musical style the album is comprised of typical light country, it could almost pass for pop in most cases if it weren’t for the slide/steel guitars in the background. The music could be similar to a Shania Twain album in that with a different backing band it could pass for regular old pop music.

The songs themselves were nothing special; the two songs that stand out have already been released as country music singles “Mama” and “Keep the Change”. On the whole the songs range from slow ballads to average mid-tempo songs, but nothing stood out to me or had a hook that impressed me and made me want to listen to a song again and again.

Holly Williams obviously has a great voice, an even better pedigree, a good backing band and nice production values, but this album failed to “Wow” or excite me in any way. I finished listening unimpressed, perhaps you will enjoy it more than me?

{Music Review} Danyew [EP] by Phil Danyew

Good not Great

There is no doubt in my mind that Phil Danyew is a very talented songwriter, instrumentalist and overall musician. But I listened to this EP several times and not once did my ears perk up. The musical style of the artist is similar to much of the over-produced audio effects laden music we heard during the late 90’s and early 00’s. For me it didn’t do anything. Now don’t get me wrong the quality of the production itself is great, but I start to listen to the music and shortly after it just blends into background music. I really don’t enjoy saying this, because even when I read the lyrics to the songs on the CD insert they come off as really great God centered poetry, but set to his music they don’t resonate with me. Now I realize that this is just my opinion, I respect that musical tastes are very subjective, but Danyew just kind of left me flat, perhaps you will enjoy it more than me?

Music Video: Laughing With by Regina Spektor

{Music Review} Ingrid Lucia, St. Valentine’s Day Massacre

Take Billie Holiday’s voice, add some New Orleans vocal charm, mix in a great collection of musical standards and finish with some great native New Orleans musicians and you have the latest from Ingrid Lucia, “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.” Most likely you have never heard of Ingrid before, which is a shame because she has a marvelously unique voice that she knows how to use very well. The story of her growing up, is alone an amazingly interesting tale for which I don’t have time to address her, but you can research yourself online. As far as her current album,
I can say that it is a true joy to listen to.


Interestingly this album was financed by her fans. Since you will be hard pressed to find a major music label that supports vocal jazz artists who retain dedication to jazz standards and pieces from the great American songbook, I suppose this is one of the few ways an album like this could get produced.


The “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” features fourteen songs, with “Le Vie en Rose” getting a double billing as a Latin style arrangement with her full band on track six, and then a ballad arrangement with piano accompaniment on track twelve. Other songs included are “We’ll Meet Again”, “I Cover the Waterfront” and others. Despite what I am sure was a tight budget, each recording comes to life with the crisp clear vocals Ingrid is known; and as far as the band goes, not enough could be said about the quality musicianship that backs her on every track. Suffice to say if you enjoy Vocal Jazz with a New Orleans flair, you would love this album.