Deborah E

That Blues Pentatonic Scale

by Deborah E on October 22, 2011

I am a classically trained piano player. I remember listening to people improv and desiring to be just like them, but for years was stuck inside the box called “playing-exactly-what-is-on-the-paper.” Oh, I would deviate a little when I would play a Bach piece and my teacher would tell me that I did not play the pianissimo at the right time, etc. etc. Of course, that sassy side of me would retort, “You know, teacher, this piece of music may have a pianissimo symbol right there, but it is probably just a visual representation of what they think Mr. Bach intended. I think Mr. Bach played more like me, with feeling!

Well, my “arguments” were not really winnable in the arena where I played the classical music. Alas, I am finally delving into the arena of Piano Blues. Oh, I have since learned how to improv. I have composed my own instrumentals. I have played Rock keyboards, but I want to truly understand the Blues. Does that me I am going to dissect the Blues and play it exactly the way it is written? Is it written? No! I am going to come out of my box of the heptatonic scale and learn, not only how to play the pentatonic scale, but how it sounds, and how to feel it. In that way, I think I will start to unlock another facet of my piano playing journey.

Here is the book I picked up (below). And the beauty of it is that I have it on my iPad, ready for action!

The Blues Cookbook: A comprehensive piano method for learning how to play the Blues for intermediate pianists. This is a book of etudes written in the blues form for the intermediate piano student. It is designed to help develop finger strength and rhythmic coordination when used in a daily regimen. It will also help the student get aquatinted with the blues form and its scales, chords and patterns.

Blues music is possibly America's oldest art form, evolving from the chants and songs sung by the slaves in the South before the Civil War. The slaves from Africa brought with them a rich heritage …
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Deborah E

Deborah E is a smooth and sultry summer night on Bourbon Street… Classy with a dash of sass… Proof that the jazz greats have not been sacrificed to processed pop. ladyD.info. For more information, including other blogs, visit her main site at deborah.info.

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The Glamorous Grit of Old Hollywood

by Deborah E on June 15, 2011

Greetings,

Mike Davis, of Bryan Farrish Radio Promotion, provided this wonderful unsolicited review of Albumette

Artist: Deborah E
Album: Albumette
Review by Mike Davis, Bryan Farrish Radio Promotion

Some time ago, a friend’s father spoke of his love for jazz and blues and the vibrant scene in Los Angeles of musicians and clubs that livened and delighted his nights off. When I listen to the Albumette EP from Deborah E, I get a sense as to what those nights must have felt like and the possibility still gleaming in the nooks and crannies of the city. The five-song effort wastes no moment setting a scene and tone for the listener to be enveloped in. It drips with notions of small corner stages in smoky, cocktail soaked lounges and the glamorous grit of old Hollywood, while maintaining an indefinable essence that imbues the songs with contemporary relevance and vivacity beyond mere nostalgia. Deborah E, or Lady D as referenced by admirers, possesses in her voice an instrument bound by no clear limits. It is sultry, dynamic, gripping, and above all else full of grace. Whether crooning to classics tackled by the likes of Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, and Roberta Flack, or bringing all new compositions to life, Lady D has a distinctive flair that draws you in to consider her offerings with only her rendition in mind. Albumette is a beautiful collection of jazz and blues colored songs that hits every note, melancholic and jubilant, with precision and elegance.

Track 1: Black Coffee – Penned in the 1940s, “Black Coffee” naturally sounds the most classic and evocative of some distant and beautiful time. However, Deborah E pumps newly oxygenated blood into its arteries and resuscitates its heart here and now the way Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, and many others did in their time. Her voice slinks along over the orchestration like indigo silk, making for a swooning and sexy interpretation.

Get YOUR copy of Albumette @ iTunes or Amazon.

Track 4: Perfectly Wonderful World – One of three new original songs exclusive to Albumette, “Perfectly Wonderful World” sounds like a standard that could have been a staple in any songstresses set in the 30s or 40s, yet Lady D makes it all her own. Her voice flows languid and delicate over sparkling piano sweeps and fine jazzy guitar lines. A song that sets a high bar for what will surely attract others in attempting to recapture its magic.

Albumette is a beautiful collection of jazz and blues colored songs that hits every note, melancholic and jubilant, with precision and elegance.

Track 5: Only Temporary – Another original composed by Denny Martin & Jaimee Paul for Deborah E, “Only Temporary” is the sassy and blazing close to Albumette. It is a tenacious blues number laden with overdriven guitar licks, jiving B3 organ, and saxophone lines that sound like strained impulsive bolts from the throat of some possessed bluesman. A humorous ode to the passing anxieties and darkness of life fully lived.

Review by Mike Davis
Bryan Farrish Radio Promotion

Deborah E

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…Whatever Song She Chooses To Conquer…

by Deborah E on May 25, 2011

Good morning,

Ms. O’Neil describes the versatility of talent on Albumette, including the exceptional band mates and recording engineers! Read more, below:

Artist: Deborah E
Album: Albumette
Review by Kelly O’Neil

Lots of stereotypes surround redheads, including that they are sassy, snobby and will steal your boyfriend. Whether or not those trivialities hold true, what can be said about one particular Los Angeles-based redhead is that she commands attention. Deborah E possesses an incredible deep-throated voice that obeys whatever direction she tells it to go. Her singing style is captivating and mature without losing itself in a quandary of sentimental emotions

Heralding not only jazz but Broadway and soul influences, Lady D, as she is affectionately called, exhibits a wide array of equally enrapturing vocal styles.

Heralding not only jazz but Broadway and soul influences, Lady D, as she is affectionately called, exhibits a wide array of equally enrapturing vocal styles. She opens her EP Albumette with Paul Francis Webster and Sonny Burke’s standard “Black Coffee,” scantily crawling around in her lower register. Each syllable is as rich and dark as the title suggests. Every vocal turn is impeccably smooth, perfectly timed and expertly handled.

Deborah performs a credible cover of the unassuming masterpiece “Killing Me Softly,” first done by Roberta Flack and later by The Fugees. The tempo may be a hair too fast, but the well-known ballad plays out predictably. Deborah sings more upright and straight than in the jazz numbers where her voice is covered in a mysterious sultry shroud. The acoustic guitar player adds wonderful embellishments from the line “Strumming my pain with his fingers,” to the tasteful bridge solo over subtle strings. “Perfectly Wonderful World” opens with a nice piano and string duet. Deborah is singing at her highest and most crystalline yet in this happy ballad. The first half of the bridge loses energy with her soprano musings that are scarcely heard above the instruments. In the second half the piano comes to the fore with a droll tinkling solo with light drum and string accompaniment.

A dynamic aspect of Albumette is the recording quality. With a slight echo resounding from the vocals it sounds as if the album were recorded live and thus inviting a more intimate aural experience for the listener. “Just Say When” adds to this quality with its perky upbeat vibe. The song is in a higher vocal range resulting in clearer enunciation. Deborah has collaborated with a phenomenal group of musicians, notably the saxophonist in this tune. His tone is not obnoxiously bright, and not too mellow either, creating a nice blend with the vocals. The extended coda featuring a dialogue between the saxophone and the organ is a treat worth mentioning.

The big production number and grand finale to Albumette is “Only Temporary.” This rocking number has empowering vocal breaks between heavy downbeats as Deborah mockingly sings tongue-in-cheek about her cruddy job and crummy boyfriend but then positively belts out that both of these misfortunes are “only temporary.” The walking blues line in the bridge is the perfect backdrop for an awesome growling saxophone duet giving way to the thrilling electric guitar. The song remains surprisingly upbeat despite, “Sometimes this life may get a little scary / But it’s only temporary.” It is a fantastic sentiment coupled with an infectious groove. The saxophone leads into a formidable jam that begins in the same call and response as the opening. Then he cuts loose running up and down the full range of the horn, even jumping effortlessly into the altissimo range. The electric guitar joins in with a slight overdrive effect taking the song out.

Deborah has an awesome vocal range and easily wraps her voice around whatever song she chooses to conquer.

Lady D and her band mates are exceptionally talented musicians and have chosen a fantastic collection of songs to best showcase their gifts on Albumette. Deborah has an awesome vocal range and easily wraps her voice around whatever song she chooses to conquer.

Review by Kelly O’Neil

Deborah E

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Cyndi Lauper : Memphis Blues

by Deborah E on May 12, 2011

Good morning,

Today I am thinking about an album by Cyndi Lauper. No, it is not the traditional Cyndi Lauper, as in her album, “The Essential Cyndi Lauper.” Rather, it is the album, “Memphis Blues.”

Memphis Blues 2010 album from the Pop diva, a traditional Memphis Blues album featuring guest appearances from Jonny Lang, B.B. King and others. After more than 20 sterling years and global record sales in excess of 25 million, Cyndi Lauper has proven that she has the heart and soul to keep her legion of fans compelled by her every creative move. With her first album She's So Unusual, Cyndi won a Grammy award for Best New Artist and became the first female artist in history to have five Top 10 singles from a …
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I have to admit, at first, I was not impressed. (Sorry, Cyndi.) I did not feel she had “the feel” for blues. I thought, yeah, another crossover… But, then, as I listened more and more, I grew to be more and more fond of the music. When I got to a point that I “craved” another listen to her album I realized that maybe I had misjudged it.

What is the definition of “feel” and who am I to determine who has it and who does not have it?

The instrumentation on this album is wonderful. I hear a Billie Holiday influence throughout the album. On “How Blue Can You Get?” I can hear Cyndi’s vocal stylings, as she interprets the Blues. Can’t help but groove to the classic “Early In the Morning.” “Crossroads” shows how Cyndi can stretch that interpretation, and yet keep with the Cyndi musical expression blended into this new genre.

Ok, maybe I still really enjoy Cyndi in true “Cyndi Lauper style,” but this album? Well, I’m up for another spin. Take a listen, for yourself:

Deborah E

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Albumette… Leaving them wanting more…

by Deborah E on April 26, 2011

Good morning,

Mr. Warnock describes Albumette as an EP that spans different genres, something of interest to all audiences. Read more, below.

Artist: Deborah E
Album: Albumette
Review by Matthew Warnock

Becoming a great jazz or blues singer takes long hours in smoky clubs, years listening and learning from the greats, and a hefty dose of natural talent to build from. Vocalist Deborah E is an artist that has all of the above and more, all of which shine through on her EP Albumette. Floating between jazz and blues, taking the best of both worlds and blending them in a unique and highly personalized way, the talented singer gives a world class performance on this 5 song record, giving listeners a taste of her musical palette and leaving them wanting more after the final notes have drifted away. Albumette is exactly what an EP should be. It provides a diverse glimpse of what the artist can do without giving too much away, and intriguing the audience enough to check out more material. On both fronts Deborah and the album are successful.

As a vocalist, Deborah possesses a strong instrument, but even more importantly, she is able to inject her personality into each note and phrase. It’s never enough to just be able to sing in tune to be successful and Deborah knows this. She knows when to growl and when to soar, when to get quiet and when to peak the faders, just when one thinks they know what is coming next, she brings a new vocal timbre to the mix, increasing the intensity and audience engagement at the same time. In a day and age when many singers are manufactured in board rooms and get signed without ever having sung on a gig, Deborah is a breath of fresh air. Her sultry vocal style, coupled with a high level of musicianship, leave the impression that she has honed her craft by hitting the bandstand night after night. She sings from the heart, and immediately connects with the audience on a deep level, two reasons that the EP comes across as well as it does.

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Floating between jazz and blues, taking the best of both worlds and blending them in a unique and highly personalized way, the talented singer gives a world class performance on this 5 song record, giving listeners a taste of her musical palette and leaving them wanting more after the final notes have drifted away.
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The arrangements and backing band are also very strong throughout. From the jazzy piano and guitar on top of string pads on “Perfectly Wonderful World” to the groovin’, bluesy sax lines on “Just Say When,” the band is in fine form and compliment Deborah’s vocals on each track, never becoming overbearing or too busy as they weave in between the singer’s phrases and lyrics. It is obvious that these guys can really play, and it would have been very easy for them to try and show off their skilled chops when given the chance. Each player prefers to focus on the emotional quality of their licks in situations where others might have gone straight to blistering chops instead. By doing so, they not only accentuate their musicianship, but they provide a solid backing for the vocals that comes across and an accompaniment and not competition for the limelight, as is too often the case.

Deborah E really brings her A game to Albumette, and the result is an EP that leaves listener’s ears satisfied and wanting more from the talented performer. With a little bit of everything, from jazz to blues to pop, on the record, fans of any or all of these genres will find something to enjoy, something that is hard to do with any recording. Though it is only 5 songs long, and even if it provokes anticipation of what is to come from Deborah and her group, this EP is definitely worth checking out as it stands out on its own as a work of artistic merit.

Review by Matthew Warnock

Deborah E