Biography
With a contralto voice that's described as soulful, strong and sweet...
Lorraine Gervais is a gifted singer/songwriter and performer with a way of taking her audiences on heartfelt journeys - from serious to lighthearted, sultry to playful - with a unique style all her own.
Live performances with Lorraine's band, whether in a club or concert venue are a mixture of originals and innovative reworkings of classic pop/rock/folk /jazz tunes ranging from Jim Hendrix to Joni Mitchell, Blondie to Sting, Ella to Aretha. Taking flavors of old world Celtic into contemporary jazz, Latin into Ray Charles, hardcore torchsongs to Soundgarden, ... each gig is an adventure with both the band's originals and covers. Some tunes are "smashups" of one genre over another. Think Led Zepplin meets Porgy and Bess, Steely Dan lurking underneath the Beatles. Accomplished jazz players seriously into having fun and exploring new boundaries.
The basics: born and raised on the west coast of Ca., she started singing at public events when she was 5 along with her mother, a classically trained singer, and then moved on to follow in the footsteps of her blues singing grandmother at the age of 15, singing in nightclubs, festivals, commercials and soundtracks. Lorraine's had a steady career spanning everything from pop to rock to R&B and jazz. She’s opened for, and shared stages with bands including the Pointer Sisters, Etta James, the Charlie Hunter Band, Pete Escavedo and John Hammond. Based out of Nevada City, Ca., widely known as the cultural center of the arts in the Northern Sierra Nevada, she regularly performs in clubs and concerts venues with her band.
"Lorraine Gervais is one of jazz's great voices. Her silky highs and warmly resonant midrange is her's alone. ..” Jazz Chronicles
“Lorraine Gervais has a unique sound reminiscent of Randy Crawford singing with the Crusaders in the 80's or Cassandra Wilson, but one that is totally her own. ..... . With a deep contralto voice that is full of soul and heart, she took us on a wild ride of some
familiar lyrics with a new twist on the melody - 60's rock and folk with a big infusion of jazz. ..... Lorraine is also a composer and she brought us a couple of her original tunes, one of them, Cool Water, was absolutely wonderful, the lyrics inspired by Lake
Tahoe. .... it was pretty obvious that this lady could take a nursery rhyme and turn it into a soulful hit. ...” Vivian Lee, Savanna’s
Jazz Series, Sacramento, Ca.
"...Lorraine Gervais IS the Chanteuse of Jazz in Nevada City/Grass Valley...her concert before a packed house at Music in the Mountains spring fest gave proof of her exalted status among jazz lovers...her velvet smooth voice, accompanied so ably by the jazz trio of Bob Villwock, piano, Joe Dolister, bass and Lew Langworthy, drums, delivered a delicious mix of original material and
arrangements of standards to a delighted and responsive audience...kudos to all for an attention grabbing and exciting evening
of song..." Paul Perry - Artistic Director - Music In The Mountains, Grass Valley Ca
Instrumentation
Lorraine Gervais - vocals
Bob Villwock - keyboards
Joe Dolister - upright bass / Alan Kuehne - electric bass
Lew Langworthy - drums
Rob Holland - Percussion
Discography
'A World Apart' - released in June 07. An eclectic mixture of Lorraine's originals and covers from diverse artists ranging from Joni Mitchell to Aretha, Leon Russell, Bonnie Raitt to traditional Celtic....
Players include: Tom Bethky - guitar, Roger Smith (Tower of Power) - organ, piano, Bob Villwock - piano, Tony Unger - guitar, Alan Kuehne - bass, Steve Boutte - drums, Lew Langworthy - drums, Dave Meyler - percussion, Brielle Morgan - bckgrnd vocals
Radio Airplay:
KVMR (Nevada City, CA) - 'Without Your Love', 'Cool Water', 'If I Were A Blackbird', 'Are You Real'.
WWOZ (New Orleans) - 'Before I'm Gone', A Song For You
KLCC (Eugene, OR) - 'Edith and the Kingpin'
KJTS (Online) - 'Before I'm Gone'
smoothjazz.com - 'Before I'm Gone'. 'The Glow'
Newspaper Feature: 'The Bee' Sacaramento, Ca. Sunday Single: ""Sunday Single" takes a second trip in a row to Nevada City's music scene. But this time, we feature the smooth R&B vocal sounds of "Without Your Love" by Lorraine Gervais. The tune also features Roger Smith, keyboardist for Tower of Power and smooth-jazz star from Sacramento. To hear the song, surf over to www.SacTicket.com/sundaysingle"
CD Available on iTunes, cdbaby.com. Streaming on directradio.com, indyradio.com, digradio.com
"Diva's Diversion" CD - Released 2000
Links
| http://www.lorrainegervais.com |