reviews
Luciana Souza@The Blue Whale 12.29.11
By George W. Harris
She dropped out of the concert scene for 3 years to get married and
raise up a family, but vocalist Luciana Souza showed that domestic
tranquility can add as much, if not more, to an artist’s depth than
any self destructive lush life.
Teamed up with A-list artists Larry Koonse/g and David Piltz/b, Ms.
Souza delivered an hour and half lesson in vocal variety, presenting
music ranging from traditional Brazilian folk to interpretations of
modern poetry. Accompanying herself on tamborine, triangle or brushes
and drums, Souza used her crystal clear delivery on a suave reading of
“Sorriu Para Mim” as well as a bell chiming reading of “Fire and Wood.”
On guitar, Koonse had the flexibility and alacrity of a short order
cook on “Circus Life” while Piltz’s bass created a hypnotic mood on
“Corcovado.” Her linguistic dexterity on the bubbly “O Patu” made the
tune bounce back and forth like a Chinese Ping Pong match
She was able to delve into an American folk mood with a moving medley
of Leonard Cohen and Paul Simon tunes. She pleaded with stark agony on
“The Goal” and “The Split” while her wordless vocals on “Amulet” were
mysteriously yearning. She touched into her inner Sinatra with a fluid
take of “The Very Thought Of You” that floated like a paper airlplane,
whle “You Go To My Head” was mournful enough to make you want to stay
away from sharp objects. By the time she closed with a glistening
“Waters of March,” and reflecting her unique mxture of variety,
technique, range and clarity, I couldn’t help but realize how much I’ve
missed her. Few artists have that ability.
On a side note, this was my first visit to the relatively new jazz club
The Blue Whale. Located downtown, parking was amazingly easy and cheap,
and the place itself, on the 3rd floor of a mall filled with delicious
looking Japanese restaurants, is as hip as you can get. They have a
small bar, and then a fairly bohemian styled lounge with chairs and
mini sofas for taking in the music. Intimate, yet the acoustics are
unbelievably excellent. They’ve got some great local talent like Josh
Nelson and Vardan Ovsepian playing there in January, so you’ll want to
check them out at www.bluewhalemusic.com.
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Jazz review: Chris Dingman Quartet at the Blue Whale | January 4, 2012
Chris Barton [Los Angeles Times Culture Monster]
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