Roots Rock – Laura Vecchione

The Dream – Single

October 5, 2017

Album Notes

Laura Vecchione is a Boston and New York based singer and songwriter who has written a song “Tell Them About the Dream,” that embodies a unifying spirit and articulates the historic purpose that we strive to achieve as a nation. Thousands of people have watched the video on YouTube and urged her to get this song and video out to wider media outlets.

The song and video from start to finish were made in only a week’s time in three different cities to inspire people before elections. Featured with Vecchione and responsible for the song’s unique acoustic jazz arrangement is New Orleans native and Julliard graduate, pianist Jonathan Batiste (Cassandra Wilson) along with his quintet, Joe Saylor (drums), Phil Kuehn (bass), Matt Marantz (tenor sax), Eddie Bartoash (alto sax). The Gospel background singers were recorded in Boston, at the direction of Patricia Dance, and the song was mixed by multi-Grammy winner, Jim Scott (Dixie Chicks, Tom Petty, John Fogerty) in LA.

“I was amazed to hear President Elect Obama mention every moment in history that we had put in the video at his acceptance speech in Chicago, from the bridge in Selma, to the Berlin Wall coming down!” said Laura about the “Tell Them About the Dream” video which was made by Ralph Modica of Phase 1 Digital in New York prior to the Obama victory to inspire with a message of hope and unity.

Vecchione was inspired to write the song by the story of Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson calling out to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Tell them about the dream, Martin!” forty-five years to the day that Obama gave his DNC acceptance speech.

The song was included in the Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute album and charitable website, the Dream On project.

Girl In The Band – Album

October 11, 2016

Album Notes

Girl in the Band is Vecchione’s triumphant sequel to her impressive debut album, Deeper Waters. Release on Vecchione’s indie imprint Selkie Records, Girl in the Band was recorded in Nashville and Boston with an all-star cast of seasoned session players including George Marinelli (Bonnie Raitt) on electric guitar.

Mixed primarily by multi-Grammy-Award winner Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Wilco, The Dixie Chicks) the album shines with Vecchione’s unique balance of pop-appeal and gravitas, and generated buzz and acclaim.

Deeper Waters – Album

October 10, 2016

Album Notes

Laura released her debut album, Deeper Waters in the fall of 2006. In its first week out, Deeper Waters ranked as a Top 5 Most Added on the AMA Chart and continued to climb – an impressive accomplishment for an independent, self-funded release. It reached 14 on the well-respected Roots Music Report. XM Radio was on board early, adding three tracks to its Americana programming loop and featuring the cover of Deeper Waters on its “What’s New On XM” page next to new releases by Keith Urban, Gnarles Barkley, and Lindsey Buckingham.

In the release of her debut album, Deeper Waters, The Boston Globe dubbed singer and songwriter, Laura Vecchione, “a bluesy songstress” and proudly proclaimed, “Vecchione is all ours.” Laura has recorded with multi-Grammy-award winning producers, opened for major label artists, and has had her songs featured on national radio and television. Over the course of the last year, Laura has traveled from her home in Boston, to record in Nashville, between teaching and playing.

Love Lead – Album

October 9, 2016

Reviews

“Laura Vecchione reveals immense talent on Love Lead album”
–By Bill Copeland on November 25, 2016

Welcome back, Laura Vecchione. Her new album, Love Lead,is her first in eight years but makes up for lost time. It’s a tasteful yet uncompromisingly honest view of love’s highs and lows, polished but real. Her voice has a theatrical flair (not surprising because she trained in theater), yet she also writes songs steeped in soul, country, melodic pop and Judy Collins-like art songs. Vecchione writes 10 of the 13 tracks here, often backed by Bonnie Raitt’s guitarist George Marinelli. They range from the passionate ballad “You’re the One” to the firmly self-reliant “Lone Wolf,” which suggest the R&B/jazz of Anita Baker. If you enjoy candid love songs with an adult flair, check this out.
-Steve Morse, instructor of Rock History for Berklee College of Music and former staff pop critic for the Boston Globe for 28 years.