Jazz Vocalist Lauren Hooker to Perform at Watchung Arts Center

The Watchung Arts Center “JaZZ in the Gallery” series is proud to present “Lauren Hooker & Friends” in concert on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 8 PM. Lauren Hooker previously appeared at the Arts Center’s sold-out concert, “Three Jazz Divas”, in February, 2014. The performance will take place in the intimate Heinz W. Otto Gallery.
A dessert reception will follow the concert, providing an opportunity to meet the performers.
Ms. Hooker will sing selections from her recent CD, “All For You – My Heart and Soul”, and play piano and Native American flute. She will be joined by Dave Rimelis on violin and guitar; Mike Richmond on bass; Jonathan Luks, tap dance and percussion; and special guest Marty Eigen on woodwinds.
Lauren Hooker has been described by Jazz Improv NY as “…a skilled scatter, talented lyricist and songwriter…intriguing, impressive”. And Jazz Times states… “Hooker’s ability to add lyrics to instrumental classics is flat out masterful… as a craftswoman of original tunes she can hold her own against pretty much any singer-songwriter in the business”. Critics have embraced her as “…a musical renaissance woman and an artist for all seasons to watch for in the coming years” (Jazz Inside Monthly)
Originally from Plainfield, NJ, Lauren Hooker, a critically acclaimed and award-winning NYC-based recording and performing artist, helps to continue the tradition of innovative jazz performance. Awarded Honorable Mention as one of All About Jazz-NY’s selected Best Vocal CDs in ‘07 for her debut CD: “Right Where I Belong”, she is also included in Royal Stokes’ List of Best Jazz Vocal CDs of ‘10 for “Life of the Music” (Miles High Records), which includes mostly original material, in addition to winning a Jazz Twirlie Award in ‘11 for Jazz Vocals. Critics from across the nation and abroad have likened her favorably to Dianne Reeves, Nancy Wilson, Anita O’Day, Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington, but with a style uniquely her own and “a voice with its own distinctive character” (AllAboutJazzUK). Her third CD “All For You - My Heart and Soul” released this past September features mostly original compositions and was funded by her fans.
Ms. Hooker’s arrangements of jazz standards and original compositions include lyricist credits to instrumental standards by Thelonius Monk, Fats Waller, Charles Mingus, Mal Waldron (whom she recorded with in the early 90’s), Wayne Shorter and Vic Juris.
Lauren appears regularly as a solo pianist/vocalist, as well as a singer leading her own quartet. She has been featured on a number of television shows including NJN Public Television’s State of the Arts: “Abstractions in Music, Art and Theater” filmed live at the Cape May Jazz Festival and on BCAT “Brooklyn Sings, Brooklyn Swings Series” shown throughout Manhattan’s five boroughs. She has been featured on numerous radio stations across the country and abroad and was the guest artist on WBGO’s Singers Unlimited with Michael Bourne on Nov 30, 2014. She has performed and/or recorded with some of the best in the business including Rufus Reid, Allen Farnham, Mike Richmond, Vic Juris, Bucky Pizzarelli, Reggie Workman and Billy Holiday’s former pianist, Mal Waldron. She has appeared in many NYC venues including Smoke Jazz Club, Barry Harris’ Jazz Cultural Theatre, the International Women in Jazz Festival, Greenwich Village Jazz Festival, the 55 Bar, the West End Café, Sweetwaters and St. Peter’s Jazz Vespers. Besides the Cape May Jazz Festival in NJ, Ms. Hooker has performed at the Puffin Cultural Forum, the Barron Art Center, Trumpets Jazz Club, Montclair’s Women in Jazz Festival, the Jazz Series at Two River Theater and the Bickford Theatre, as well as numerous clubs and private affairs throughout the state.
Lauren also performs regularly via her Arts in Education Company she founded in 1993; Musical Legends, LLC: teaching cultures through the arts and arts through the cultures, which includes a Jazz 4 Kids Show featured twice in WBGO’s Children’s Concert Series. The Cathedral of St John the Divine in NYC recently commissioned Ms. Hooker to write and perform a theater piece based on the Phoenix in honor of their critically acclaimed “Phoenix Exhibit”. She currently teaches piano privately in her home studio and is in demand as a teaching artist for Arts Horizons and Arts for Kids, Inc.
Tickets prices are $16 in advance, $20 ($18 WAC members, $10 students) at door. Advanced tickets may be purchased online at watchungartscenter.eventbrite. com using a credit card, or by checks made payable to the Watchung Arts Center, 18 Stirling Road, Watchung, NJ 07069.
The Watchung Arts Center, located in Watchung on the Watchung Circle, is a multi-disciplinary arts facility serving Watchung, the surrounding communities and the Tri-State Area. To obtain more information about upcoming performances, classes and workshops or monthly art exhibitions please visit WatchungArts.org.