Miracle of Life

Her sixth release – Miracle of Life – is singer/songwriter, Jean Laughlin's fifth collaboration with gifted arranger and co-producer Jim Martin. There is a wonderful group dynamic between Jim and Jean and co-producer/sound engineer Freddie Breitberg which helped create an album full of warmth and love. Adding to the mix, Jean is backed by a full orchestra, including top notch Chicago jazz musicians whose tasteful and inventive improvised solos enrich each piece. A masterful string section completes the orchestra which, with Jim's superb charts, help make Jean's music come to life. Her ballads, which range in genre from jazz to Broadway musical to cabaret, touch on the everyday challenges of our lives. In her big band jazz tunes, she shows us her sense of humor and optimism. Review: Miracle of Life Jean Laughlin, who started singing music from an early age, discovered her skill as a songwriter in the 1990s. Miracle Of Life is her sixth recording as a leader and features her in prime form, both as a vocalist and as a composer. If this were a different time period, say the late 1950s, Jean Laughlin would be a cinch to be signed to the Capitol label, both as a recording artist and as a staff writer. But since the music world is much different today, she is an independent artist who should be much more widely heard. Miracle Of Life finds her singing 11 of her originals, and several deserve to become standards. Ms. Laughlin’s lyrics are often philosophical and filled with worthy messages. Her melodies, which can work in both jazz and cabaret settings, are often memorable. And her voice is quite expressive, whether on swingers or ballads. Her confident delivery and wide range allow her to easily make interval jumps and her voice is so clear and attractive that one never has difficulty understanding the words that she sings. Miracle Of Life, which features the singer in several different settings with a rhythm section led by pianist Frank Caruso, up to seven horns (with tenor-saxophonist Mark Colby and trombonist Tom Garling taking solos), and a string section on six of the songs, is full of variety. The opener, “What’s Wrong With Being Lazy,” which is about the joy of relaxing, is a highpoint but every selection is worth hearing. Other highlights include the pretty ballad “Blue,” the upbeat “Fly Away With Me” (which has the singer overdubbing in spots to form two harmonized voices), “Brave” (a ballad worthy of Barbra Streisand), the celebratory “Smile,” “Here And Now” (about the importance of letting go of the past and making every moment count) and the swinging “”Work In Progress.” Throughout the set, the inventive arrangements of Jim Martin are a major plus. Fans of high-quality singers, swinging numbers and heartfelt ballads will definitely want to discover Jean Laughlin and will certainly find Miracle Of Life to be quite enjoyable. Scott Yanow, author of ten books including The Jazz Singers, Swing, Jazz On Record 1917-76 and Jazz On Film