THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 28, 1996 TAG: 9607250184
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 28 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 62 lines
MANTEO-BASED singer Laura Martier will celebrate the release of her debut album, ``Laura Martier/Woody Beckner,'' with a listening party Thursday at Elizabeth's Cafe in Duck.
Martier will be backed by guitarist Beckner, and the three Hampton Roads musicians who played on the album. Eddie Williams, who frequently played at a Restaurant By George with his ``New Band'' in the late '80s, plays saxophone. Jimmy Masters is the bassist and Howard Curtis is the drummer.
Martier, 32, burst onto the Outer Banks music scene in 1989 with the eclectic rock band Rarely Heard. In the early '90s, Martier and her drummer/husband Dan broke new ground with the hip nightclub unit The B-Side.
The latter band featured Martier's ``somebody bring me some water'' vocals on Maria McKee, Bonnie Raitt and Aretha Franklin cover tunes, as well as smart, punchy versions of the songs you couldn't hear on radio. ``Kisses Like Sugar,'' by the Sugar Cubes and ``Blues Before and After'' by the Smithereens come to mind.
But in the last few years that Laura Martier has been replaced by a kinder, gentler version. On the new album, she glides effortlessly through jazz standards such as ``Second Time Around,'' ``My Romance,'' ``I Thought About You'' and ``I Should Care.''
Martier does the nearly impossible on her new record. Her nuanced readings make the 11 old songs say something new. Who would have guessed that the big-voiced vocalist could be brought down to size with such style?
I talked to the jazz singer during a break from her nightly gig, with Beckner, at Elizabeth's Cafe.
The album sounds real good. Tell me about the recording process.
Thanks. We worked incredibly fast. What you hear is us playing live, with just a few overdubs. I cleaned up a couple of places where I sang flat. The recording session (at Techsonics in Chesapeake) was six hours and the mix-down took about six hours. I'm very happy with the finished product. I really look at it as a demo. Several major record companies are listening to it.
Most Outer Banks visitors and locals know you as a rock singer. Won't they be surprised to hear this record?
Some will, but most people know or have heard me singing the blues and jazz the last few years.
Why the switch?
Jazz is my thing. It seems like an abrupt change, but I'm just evolving. With jazz, there is so much to learn. Also, rock was trashing my voice.
Who are some of your influences?
Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Carmen McRae are the big three. Of the newer singers, I like Dee Dee Bridgewater and Cassandra Wilson. On the album, I'm paying homage to these great singers.
Will there be another album?
Yes. The songs of this album are ones I was comfortable with.. . . Hopefully, my next album will be all originals.
Do you plan to tour?
We've already lined up some gigs in the East Village (New York City) . . . After that we hope to travel to Japan and Europe.
What about your family?
My husband Dan is excited. He's really been practicing his jazz drumming. We'll home-school our son Josh and daughter Lucy. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARY ELLEN RIDDLE
Singer Laura Martier of Manteo will mark the debut of the album,
``Laura Martier/Woody Beckner,'' with a listening party Thursday at
Elizabeth's Cafe in Duck. by CNB