Sunday, August 20, 2006

Unearthed Review


It's fun to find stuff about yourself you've never seen before, lol. Here's a review I never knew I got :-S, I'm pleased with it, what do you think?:

Erienne Romaine is an accomplished jazz singer for someone of her extreme youth: the Colorado-based singer was 14 when The Scenic Route was recorded. Unfortunately, the album has a sad and slightly exploitative back story that keeps it from being entirely enjoyed on its own merits: Romaine, the daughter of jazz drummer Paul Romaine, has undergone repeated surgeries for a rare and potentially fatal blockage of veins in her brain, and with the help of her father and several other local jazz musicians, she recorded this set of standards and originals, which was released in part to help defray her medical costs. It's a shame that the promotion for The Scenic Route has to focus so much on Romaine's tender years and frightening medical woes, because on its own merits, it's really a very good slice of small-combo vocal jazz. Romaine, whose rich voice is that of a woman at least twice her age, has a knack for subtle phrasing that she puts to particularly good use on standards like "Lush Life" and the Antonio Carlos Jobim chestnut "Agua de Beber," the familiar scat refrain of which she tackles with brassy verve far removed from Astrud Gilberto's more reserved rendition. The Scenic Route is a low-key effort that won't set the jazz world on its ear, but Erienne Romaine deserves to be more than an object of pity. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide

(http://www.answers.com/topic/the-scenic-route-jazz-album-1)

4 Comments:

Sandy said...

You know ... I read that review when it came out and was a little offended by the way Stewart Mason ended his piece with "but Erienne Romaine deserves to be more than an object of pity". I honestly don't think a single soul out here thought of you "as an object of pity", instead I think all of us viewed (and still do) you as an amazing young lady with a phenomenal talent taking your challenge head on. Of course, I do totally agree with the rest of his observations of The Scenic Route ... Have a great school year, can't wait for the Victory Concert.

10:21 AM  
Matt said...

Erienne, This is Matt Lopez from the Taza de Cafe coffee shop on Lowell. I am so glad that you are well and singing again. I hope to make your next concert, you are a true inspiration to any young person out there who wants to pursue a dream of singing their heart out. keep it up and give your parents my best.

7:32 PM  
Anonymous said...

Isn't it a good thing if a musician can pay the bills by making music?

1:26 PM  
DanDan said...

In a way, the blog was actually enlightening. It kind of put an image into my head of jazz singers all just helping you because they really care! That says a lot about unity to me. I think that the review was wrong using you as an "object of pity". That seemed like it was uncalled for because there really was no pity, just unity and caring. It pisses me off how it seems that others can actually write that. No one is truly an object of pity at all. I see your story and I actually want to cry because here I am sitting and reading about what actually happened to an old friend. I still want to listen to your CD, but I haven't atually gotten a chance yet. I'm definately going to try to go to your Victory Concert, though. Oh, this is Dan by the way. The guy from when we first started fencing with eachother...and you beat the crap out of me in sabre. Ha ha, I got pretty pissed that day XD. So yeah, keep up the work in your singing carreer!

7:06 AM  

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