Music
Press
JazzTimes Magazine: http://jazztimes.com/articles/24640-velvet-lace-olga-osipova
Earshot: http://www.earshot-online.com/features/2009/May/olgaosipova.cfm
“Absolutely stunning album...This is a warm melodic and haunting sound that mesmerizes the listener. The album is moody and engaging subduing the listener into its spell binding style... A breathe of fresh air albeit a sexy sounding breathe of fresh air... More than Smooth Jazz and more than just a Jazz album, this is in a class of its own...” – Peter Meritt, Music Manager, PBS 106-7 FM Melbourne Australia
“Fantastic Album” – Alex Pijnen, BRTO Radio, Netherlands
“One of the best jazz albums I’ve heard recently, I’m impressed with the artistic sincerity, depth, and the perfect delivery of the material” – N. Kozlovsky, Radio Minsk, Belarus
“Very nice vocal album which you want to listen to over and over again” – Pascal Dorban, Radio ARA, Luxemburg
“I listened to it with great enthusiasm. The music is very good and the voice is so special” – Bruce Lundvall, CEO, Blue Note Records
“Imagine: a smoky lounge in prohibition-era New York, a raven-haired beauty, one hand rests on the Grand, her voice drifting like a silken ribbon around the room; a troop of soldiers tramps through the bombed streets of Cologne drinking disenfranchised wine straight from the bottle, thoughts of home on their minds, but trudging to the next unknown destination in what seems an endless war…
The story in each song is multi-layered. The story each instrument tells, the story the lyrics relate, the melody, the rhythm, and the overall texture of the song itself, are all the product of discipline and dedication. The composition reflects the lyrics, the melody reflects the words; the album as a whole is a carefully crafted composition rich with crisp, clear smoky tones, and masterful recording” - Dean Unger, BC Musician Magazine
“If you like smooth jazz with smoky, romantic lyrics- this is a delicate treat you can’t ignore... After her musical training in Germany, Osipova moved to Canada, which is our good fortune. She is not just interested in singing the cabaret style torch ballads of old Berlin, she writes the stuff too. She also produced V & L, giving each instrument room to breathe, and yet they work together as one... Turn the lights down, throw on a beret, light a French cigarette if you smoke, close your eyes, and let the sublime charm of Velvet & Lace sweep you off your feet” - John Kereiff, BC Musician Magazine
“A voice like melted chocolate being slowly poured into a teacup...” - Lori-Anne Charlton, Event! Magazine
“A beautiful peace of work” – Steve Dickson, PHD Canada
“Smoky, velvety alto accompanied by a stellar band” - Glenna Turnbull, Kelowna Capital News
- Quotes
Discography
Velvet & Lace, 2008
Photos
Bio
Things started happening fast for Olga Osipova after the launch of her all-original debut CD "Velvet & Lace". Not even a month after the Canadian release, the CD has already topped the smooth jazz charts in her native Russia, added to rotation on many radio stations in Canada and across the world, including USA, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, France, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Poland etc., Olga's music is receiving rave reviews on a number of TV stations and local papers; her picture appeared on the cover of BC Musician Magazine in August, she was featured in Madeleine Magazine in November , won the Best Jazz Artist of the Year at the BC Interior Music Awards, and most recently, Olga was announced Finalist in the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards.
Olga's story is quite unique; after living in two different countries and going through two immigrations, she has chosen Canada as her home and music as her career.
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Olga grew up in a musical family. Her uncle, a famous concert pianist, recognized her talent from an early age and made sure that Olga received classical piano lessons from the best instructors in the country. At fourteen, she was already an accomplished pianist, winning awards and performing complex arrangements well beyond her years.
As she became more fascinated with the art of composition, she began writing instrumental pieces, later adding lyrics to her compositions, as her skill improved.
As a passionate student, Olga felt like she needed to expand her writing beyond her first language and completed a Masters degree in Linguistics; now fluent in Russian, German and English, she moved to Germany and continued her performance career and musical training at Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg.
It was in Germany that Olga joined a popular jazz a-cappella group Point 7. With Point 7, she toured Germany and Switzerland, performing in front of crowds of 500+ people. At that time, Olga began to write in German; soon her original song "Wieder und Wieder" ("Again and Again") was receiving local radio play, with Olga's voice and musical style being compared to the late, smoky Marlene Dietrich.
From Germany Olga moved to Canada where she released her debut CD in July 2008. She performs regularly for the fans and music lovers world-wide and continues to enchant audiences from British Columbia to Russia, and many points in between.
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