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When someone shows me something/or someone new, especially in the arts, the first thing that goes through my mind is a line is a classic Clapton tune, “Don’t show me anything new….I’ve seen it all before”. And admittedly, I spend a good amount of time in that jaded spot; but at least I know it. In some ways that’s good. It keeps me from “liking everything in the arts” or thinking I did, which was my philosophy 28 years ago when I started working in the arts and letters. When I first heard about Lael, all I knew of her was a short bio I’d read. She was born and raised in NYC. That was nice, but wouldn’t seal the deal that I’d even like her music. I’d lived in the Grammercy Park District for 5 years and worked and starved learning acting and comedy. Though many believe all the best musicians derive from NYC (and in many cases it’s true), this is not always the case. But it is in Lael Summer's case. But reading further into Lael’s biography, she shares a bit deeper. She allows us a door that so many keep closed, (even though I don’t know a soul in the world who has not at one time or another felt this way). That is, she adds, “She experienced the highs and lows of growing up in the heart of “the city that never sleeps.” It had a profound effect on the young singer who confesses, “there is nothing quite like the feeling of being unbelievably lost and alone while surrounded by millions of people. You grow up fast.” I was going to wait until tomorrow to review her work, but the more I read, the more her information perked my own creative quest. Who is this woman whose debut album “Burden To Bear”, and very young, has a voice that purveys a wisdom that could even rival Billie Holiday, or Barbara Streisand. I mention those two names because those are two of the various influences I felt sure I heard. And I don’t mean “a cheap imitation”. I mean she does what they have done (and Barbara does), but goes a step further. More tones, more range and the ability to twist her voice into a pleasant event, that you hope doesn't end. What a surprise to be knocked out of my jaded “armchair journalism” and truly want to listen to an entire album. And I did, twice. One of the most surprising elements of Lael’s music is no two songs are alike. Though some are close, most are very different with very different sounds. In her Billie Holiday-ish “Do What You Wanna Do”, I could hear the very roots of my having grown up near New Orleans, though far from the “jazzy jazz” New Orleans “fun jazz”. Lael has some serious messages about the positive aspects of relationships, and though she sings one that has a Linda Rodstandt feel to it about a man that is also “No good”, she also redeems love in her classic “Unconditionally” in which her electronic keyboards match her pure even voice perfectly and tells the story of what can happen when love is good. And though Lael has extremely high-level training, certainly on par with Julliard (or better), I get the feeling from her range, tone, control, and her ability to invite you in with both prolific lyrics and tremendous composition, a lot of her amazing qualities fall far more than the training only (though training of that level cannot hurt), but this young singer has lived life. A bit about her training: In Fall 2012, while attending the University of Southern California’s elite Popular Music Program, Summer signed to the True Groove Label and released a 4-song EP. Her full-length debut release, Burden to Bear, was produced by Global Soul pioneer Tomás Doncker who provides a streamlined palette for Lael’s sensual, soul flavored sound. The best news of all is that I’m guessing Lael is in her low to mid-twenties (just a guess). With a voice like that, and the motivation to sing, perform and record, as she has, we, the audience are in for some tremendous treats. Musicians like this are hardly a dime a dozen; in fact they are as we used to say in the deep south growing up, “As rare as hen’s teeth”. Watch for Lael Summer. I promise you are going to hear more very good things about this incredible artist. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rick London considers Lael Summer the best musical artist he has heard this year. He gives her an easy A++++++ and encourages all to take a listen. London is best known for his Google #1 ranked offbeat cartoons Londons Times or LTCartoons.com.
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