Review: LAURA DICKINSON 17 Rocks the El Portal

On Tuesday, December 22 exciting singer Laura Dickinson brought her BIG BAND HOLIDAY to the El Portal Mainstage in NoHo. The house was SRO, and Dickinson, needless to say, accompanied by a 17-piece band, knocked it out of the park. When I reviewed her CD release party a year ago at Vitello's I noted, "She blew the roof off the joint with her dynamic delivery, oozing charm and warmth from every pore. Not only is she beautiful, but oh so terribly engaging as she grabs hold of you and won't let go. She's been called 'masterful'; I'll go a step further and add 'captivating and spellbinding'. She's a singer to be reckoned with!" A year later, she's even more appealing with a talent and drive that will not quit.

The evening was actually divided into two parts. Act I was a round of Christmas music, then a 20-minute intermission, followed by Act II, where Dickinson sang most of her CD One For My Baby, To Frank Sinatra With Love, to honor his 100th birthday. Two concerts for the price of one! Backed by the 17 expert musicians led by musical director Scott Healy, Dickinson rocked for over two hours, exuding joy and holiday cheer.

Highlights on tap in the Holiday section included: "Happy Holidays", "The Man with the Bag", "Marshmallow World", "Feliz Navidad", "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm", "Let It Snow", "Christmas Is Starting Now", "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" from White Christmas, "And The Melody Still Lingers On", "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town", "Joy to the World" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Dickinson performed solo and with four/five other great singers (Greg Whipple, Katharine Hoye, Jill Marie Burke, Eric Bradley and Robert Dietz) in a couple of deliciously melodious combos, and all the way through the set, showed her outstanding musicianship as she not only sang, but also conducted the band and moved and danced around the stage with infectious charm and passion. allowing the music to infuse her and lead her all the way.

In the second set, Dickinson sang "When You Wish Upon a Star", "Shining Star", and close to a dozen of the 15 songs from her album including: "Come Fly with Me", "Tender Trap", "The Best Is Yet to Come", "I'm Gonna Live 'Til I Die", "You Go To My Head", "I Only Have Eyes", "All the Way" and the title song "One for My Baby". Trombonist Alan Kaplan essayed a beautiful trombone solo of "Angel Eyes" while Dickinson made a costume change.

Keeping traditional music alive and trying to put a fresh spin on it, as you bring it on into the 21st century is not an easy task, but by means of her beautiful arrangements and sensational voice, Dickinson has indeed succeeded.

Other outstanding musicians who performed solos during the course of the evening were: Steve Trapani on bass, Alex Budman on sax, Jamie Hovorka on trumpet, Joel Alpers on drums, Scott Healy at the piano and Andrew Synowiec on guitar. Jim McMillen, also on trombone, is responsible for many of the outstanding arrangements heard in the concert as well as on the CD.

To buy the album, go to iTunes or Amazon.com. There is also a single of "Happy Holidays" available for $.99; this was newly recorded and from her second forthcoming Christmas album (to be released in 2016). Trombonist Alan Kaplan has a wonderful CD Lonely Town. To purchase, visit his website: http://www.alankaplan.org/

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