Eloise Laws

"Nat King Cole & Me: A Musical Healing"...[starring] the luminary Eloise Laws.... ...Laws, who is such a rare and ethereal stage presence she seems to have channeled all the world's goodness inside one body. And it doesn't hurt that she is possessed of a voice that could move chimes on a windless night. . . .”



- Denver Post

In a city as hectic and eclectic as Los Angeles, it is something of a local mystery why the classic supper club culture so enviably nurtured in San Francisco, Chicago and New York, is all but snuffed out in the shadows of the very birth place of legendary venues such as Ciro’s, The Mocambo, The Trocadero and The Coconut Grove. With the closing of the Cinegrill last year and the L.A. jazz and cabaret calendars growing smaller each week, the supper club circuit is a fast drying riverbed in southern California. However, there remains one wellspring in the heart of Hollywood that has kept its doors open and cabaret marquee lined with various acts every week for twenty five years; The Gardenia on Santa Monica Boulevard. Most famous as the club that launched the career of Andrea Marcovicci, it has always been a favorite spot for ‘name’ vocalists of all genres to perform acoustic shows in an intimate and sophisticated setting. It also provides the rare opportunity to catch a show by Linda Hopkins, Merry Clayton or Thelma Jones (a few of the blues and soul stars who have headlined here recently) at relatively economic prices.


This summer, the great Eloise Laws indulged L.A. audiences over a two-night engagement in August. An artist who has known the heights of performing on Broadway and regularly plays to crowds of thousands across the famous stages around the world, the Gardenia engagement allowed for an especially rare evening to enjoy her vocal talents and stage presence close-up.

“I’m here because I want to be here,” Eloise spoke to the audience of her decision to play the Gardenia. “I want to drop a few pearls of wisdom through song tonight.” With the accompaniment of 3-time Grammy award winning producer/writer/arranger Andre Fischer (original member of Rufus), musical direction by Grammy winning pianist Will Barrow, guest vocals of sister Debra Laws, and an impromptu musical appearance by brother Hubert Laws, Eloise performed 12 songs and 1 encore in a show that encompassed works from her latest two CDs as well as standards from the Tony-nominated musical play “Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues,” which Eloise also starred in on Broadway.

Opening with the piano-driven “Tenderness,” from her latest CD, “Secrets,” the moment Eloise spoke-sang the first verse and sauntered down the aisle to center stage, it was apparent a true diva was opening her vocal chords like a rose unfolding its petals. With clear and decisive articulation over the lyrics, her voice grew in range and power as perfectly as on her CD recordings. What a thrill it is to hear an artist outdo the quality of their own recording as well as Eloise Laws does over her work. It happened to be true of each number that night at The Gardenia.

Statuesque and graceful, Laws carries herself with the elegance of a dancer and the instincts of an actress. With a down to earth approach to stage clothes, a little glitter placed strategically on her eye lashes, she is an uncommonly dramatic performer who vocally and physically conveys a unique combination of power, regality and soul that is authentically her own style. Feminine and bold, there is a seasoned security to her approach as a stage performer and vocalist. The intimate setting of The Gardenia (maximum seating capacity of 75) truly allowed the cinematic experience of simply watching a great lady perform.

“A little bit of the blues every now and then is good for the soul,” Eloise said, and, without the amplification of a microphone many times throughout the evening, in numbers such as “St. Louis Blues,” “Somebody Else Is Steppin’ In,” “Now I’m Gonna Be Bad,” and “Dangerous Blues,” she proved her point. Sparingly using the accompaniment of a guitar and occasionally a harmonica, Eloise kept time with the sharp snapping of her fingers and sang the blues. With a voice as distinct and a delivery as spellbinding, Eloise Laws sounded as authentic and moved as befittingly soulful the Hollywood illusion of a classic blues singer in a 1940s supper club. There aren’t too many nights in Los Angeles (and even fewer performers) that can conjure that kind of ambiance in a little room that is too often the best kept secret of venues in this town.

Her nimble phrasing and elegantly classic range were best demonstrated on songs that employed the full band. With sister Debra, she performed a haunting duet on “Listen to the Moonlight” trading harmonies and dancing side by side. On “The Last Days of Summer” and “I Fall So Deep,” Laws was at her most vocally confident.

A surprising inclusion was the Stephen Sondheim standard “Send In The Clowns” which truly showcased the sublimity of her Broadway training and musical diversity. It was a refreshingly distinct choice that Laws handled with an acute sense of articulation, clarity and passion. Not over the top, but definitely on top.

Closing her show with Brenda Russell’s “In The Thick Of It” allowed Eloise to improvise and let loos - David Ybarra

I first heard Laws on the Buell Theatre stage in the award-winning musical production of Nat King Cole and Me, which completed its world premier engagement in Denver last month.

When we met, I learned a well-kept secret - the talent of Eloise Laws. It turns out I grew up listening to the music of her brothers, jazz flutist Hubert and saxophone virtuoso brother Ronnie, whom I also met in Ghana a couple of years ago.

Laws is one of eight siblings. In addition to Hubert, Ronnie, and Eloise, another sibling, Deborah, is a music vocalist. Laws chuckled when she said her mother, who lives in Houston, wasn't satisfied with just her first four children - Blanche, Hubert, Johnnie, and Eloise - so she had four more: Ronnie, Charlotte, Deborah, and Donna. Secrets is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Charlotte, who lost her life in a car accident due to a drunk driver two years ago.

Laws' vocal stylings have been recorded on the Capital, Liberty, and ABC labels. Her CDs have been produced by brother Ronnie Laws, Holland, Dozier, Linda Creed, and, most recently, Andre Fisher (Secrets). Laws continues to perform at several music festivals, including the Playboy Jazz Festival, the Long Beach Jazz Festival, and the Drew Music Festival. After perusing the June issue of the Urban Spectrum and seeing the advertisements for the Aspen Jazz Festival, the Winter Park Jazz Festival and the Jazz Jubilee, she excitedly said she wanted to return to Denver soon and perform with members of her family at some of Colorado's notable summer festivals.

When Laws rejoined the Denver Center Theatre Company in It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues, Colorado warmly welcomed her triumphant return. Although a few years had passed since she had graced their stage with her critically acclaimed performance as the jovial Bloody Mary in South Pacific, she had not been forgotten.

It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues opened on Broadway at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre. The show garnered four Tony nominations and a Drama Desk nomination for Laws for "Best Actress in a Musical." After opening at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, Laws was honored with a coveted Helen Hayes nomination for "Best Actress in a Musical." She followed with a successful run of the play at the Geffen Theatre in Los Angeles.

She recently completed a cross-country tour of It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues, which was seen by audiences in several cities, including Tucson, Kansas City, and Seattle.

Laws also recently completed Bet Runner, an independent festival film, directed by Vincent Spano, which is slated for release later this year. In recognition of her singing talent, she also received the prestigious Cherry Blossom Award from the Tokyo Music Festival.

With Secrets, Laws reaffirms her legendary status with an exemplary follow-up to her previous recording: The Key (Scepterstein Records). Laws believes Secrets represents her most creative work to date, and she is eager to perform selections from her new CD in front of live audiences later this year.

Secrets includes songs to work to, songs to travel to, songs to clean house to, and songs to make love to. A Man Like That has all the elements of a new anthem for women who want to fulfill their needs and dreams. Secrets integrates Laws' personal and profession experiences. "If you can feel it, I can feel it," she said.

Whether in film, concert, theater or on television, Laws commands the stage, mesmerizing her audiences. Her favorite venue is the theater. "When you're on stage, you just have to learn your part and do your thing. You don't have to worry about musicians," Laws said with a smile. She also shared another secret with me: an ambition to add sitcom star to her list of accomplishments.

Secrets is now part of my regular music collection in my car's six-changer CD player. As I ride around the city, I only have to push number three to reminiscence about the elegance of Eloise Laws who has a voice like an angel - and who who is no longer a secret to US.


- Luciana - Urban Spectrum

In grand affair, 94.7 The Wave and the Queen Mary put on a successful season finale concert at Jazz By the Bay on Thursday, September 23, 2004. This awesome final performance was headlined by Eloise Laws with special guests Hubert Laws, Ronnie Laws and Debra Laws featuring Wayne Henderson of the Jazz Crusaders and Rufus. The enthralled audience was treated to one of the most exciting shows of the year.

This group of outstanding artists gave a flawless performance, which effortlessly transitioned through smooth jazz, blues, R&B and mainstream jazz.

Ms. Laws began the evening with a touching rendition of “Tenderness” from her latest CD, Secrets . Ms. Laws brilliantly concluded her three-song introduction with a rousing and gritty performance of “Steppin’ Out Steppin’ In,” a song taken her hit Broadway musical “It Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues.”

Eloise Laws was joined by her sister Debra Laws with a duet of “Hold On,” which was followed by Debra’s beautiful signature duet “Very Special” with brother Ronnie Laws. The show segued to world-renowned flutist Hubert Laws who mesmerized the audience with “What A Night” and “My Ship”. The entire group joined together to perform an apropos song for the evening entitled “Family,” written by Hubert Laws.

The legendary Wayne Henderson of the Jazz Crusaders, rocked the house with Jazz Crusaders’ classics “Keep That Same Old Feelin’” and “Stomp and Buck Dance”. The smooth sounds of Ronnie Laws closed out the evening with his sensational jazz hit, “Always There.”

As the evening came to an end, it was clear to everyone that they had been treated to a rare experience by a phenomenal group of performers. The curtain was drawn to the sounds of the record-breaking, sold-out audience applauding and begging for more.

Eloise Laws directed an incredibly inspirational, cohesive performance of an all-star musical cast. It was a performance that should be seen by everyone who appreciates the art of great music.


- Los Angeles Sentinel