Lorraine Gervais

“Lorraine Gervais possesses that mysterious ability to sing lyrics and make them sound as if she’s just thought of them and is sharing in a conversation. Her diction is impeccable, her mid-range voice full of resonance, and she draws on a variety of jazz, pop and folk influences. There are echos of Diana Krall, Laura Nyro, and Norah Jones in her singing and songwriting, and she has an erotic way of placng herself inside mostly mid-tempo instrumental cushions. Lorraine can take a word like “forget” and give it three notes, a subtle trill that is beautifully fluid. Although she includes excellent versions of songs associated with Bonnie Raitt (“The Glow”), Aretha Franklin (“Until You Come Back To Me”), Joni Mitchell (“Edith & The Kingpin” and the Carpenters (“A Song For You”), her own compositions hold their own. The opening original “As You”, includes an outstanding vibes solo from Bob Villwock and work from guitarists Tom Bethky and Alan Kuehne, and “Cool Water” showcases Lorraine’s sensual lyric images; she likes to write about how her skin feels and what whispers sound like.

In “Are You Real” she sings “Are you real/Can I count on you for anything that might come along/You make me feel/There’s a value in my emotions right or wrong”, and brings the listener fully into a troubled love song. A World Apart is a very accomplished piece of work all the way through.”

Mark Leviton, Reviewer, DJ, Writer
http://www.kvmr.org/personalities/m_leviton.html
- KVMR Listeners' Guide

Music In The Mountains Spring Fest Concert—Grass Valley, CA —Saturday March 31st, 2007
Paul Perry, Artistic Director/Conductor
++++++++++++++
"...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..." - MIM Concert Review Quarterly

Savanna's Jazz Club Sunday Jazz Series—Sacramento, CA —Sunday March 11th, 2007
Vivian Lee
++++++++++++++

"Lorraine Gervais has a uniqe sound reminiscent of Randy Crawford singing with the Crusaders in the 80's or Cassandra Wilson, but one that is totally her own. She made a little trip down the hill from Nevada City with Bob Villwock - piano, Joe Dollister - bass and Lew Langworthy - drums, to hang out in our neck of the woods, gathering new fans along the way. This lady takes songs from Aretha to Crosby Stills Nash and Young, from Jimi Hendrix and Joni Mitchell to jazz standards such as Foggy Day and then on to Sting. 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. Think the Beatles' Come Together with a bass line of "Footprints" underneath, or a latin tinge on Ray Charles' "Unchain My Heart". 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. By the end of her take on Woodstock, it was pretty obvious that this lady could take a nursery rhyme and turn it into a soulful hit. During the evening I sat with a couple of people in the audience and the discussions about her voice and her style were everywhere throughout the room.

Remember that reference to Randy Crawford, well she closed the evening with the Crusaders' Street Life" and sent us humming back out to the street to start a new week and wait for the next jazz recharge next week." - Savannas "Vivians Jazz Club Word"

"Lorraine Gervais is one of jazz's great voices. Her silky highs and warmly resonant midrange is her's alone. Her magnificent voice and interpretation marks her as a jazz singer for all occasions."
- Jazz Chronicles

“Congratulations. I really think it all came together for you on this one. Alan did a great job and all the players are very tasty. Your originals are fantastic! I was happy to see my
old friends Roger Smith and Steve Boutte involved. That's great.... Again, congrats on such a beautiful record. I bet it opens some new doors for performance. Peace to you
Lorraine.” - Charlie Peacock, Sr. A&R Consultant-Sony/ATV

Lorraine Gervais - A World Apart

A local singer/songwriter, this new CD showcases her soulful vocals and eclectic songwriting chops with production and playing that is simply top notch, a lush heartfelt record with something for any fan of great female jazz singers.

Mikail Graham, KVMR DJ
The Other Side
- KVMR Listeners' Guide Dec 07/Jan 08