NEW.YORK'S.DIVAS
Laurie Krauz: "I bring to the table a unique blend of musicality and improvisation with a complete dedication to the lyric."
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Q-The best idea you ever came up with? Laurie Krauz: After a number of years performing in Musical Theatre, I was cast in a four-part harmony swing ensemble (before I ever studied jazz). We having new arrangements made for some Ellington tunes and I asked the arranger to leave “space” for me to move around musically while I sang. I actually didn’t even know what I was asking but some instinct told me that I wanted to improvise. Well, when I got my teeth into that arrangement and started to play around musically I discovered the thrill of improvisation and that sent me on a professional path that continues to thrill and challenge me. I love it! Q-What makes Laurie Krauz so different from other sparkling.stars? Laurie Krauz: I would like to think that what I bring to the table is a unique blend of musicality and improvisation with a complete dedication to the lyric. User friendly jazz, if you will. I love to play around musically but I’m always aware that there is a lyrical story and that I’m trying to communicate this story with my audience. I’m also enormously passionate as a singer and not afraid to bring a very wide range of emotion to my music. It’s kind of like crossing over between jazz and theatre and I think that’s rather uncommon. I also LOVE live performance and, although I love a studio, I’m most at home in front of a live audience. 25,000 people or 25 people – I don’t care. Just give me human beings to communicate with. Q-What is the most pleasant sound to your ears? Laurie Krauz: A stream tripping over stones. I love sounds of nature and moving water most specifically. Q-And the most beautiful site to your eyes? Laurie Krauz: Mountains. Growing up, I didn’t get to see a mountain range until I was much older. It was my first season of summer stock and I often tell people that I cried my way through that summer – I was overwhelmed by the beauty. Q-What do you fear most in life? Laurie Krauz: The loss of people I love.
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Q-What do you cherish most? Laurie Krauz: My family. I’m a very lucky woman. I was borne into an amazing group of people. I also want to say that no interview would be complete without me mentioning my long-time collaborator, pianist and arranger Daryl Kojak. We have worked together for 15 glorious years and we continue to inspire each other. It’s a rare musical partnership and I cannot believe how lucky I’ve been. Q-If you had to write your memoirs or biography, what title would you give to your.book? Laurie Krauz: A Song In My Heart. Q-What goes in your mind, right before you appear on stage and facing your audience? Laurie Krauz: I plan my sets as a musical/emotional journey for the audience and I worry before I go on that I’ll be able to give them a good ride. All I want to do is entertain and move them. I want them to leave sated – hopefully they’ve laughed and they’ve cried. Q-And upon leaving the stage? Laurie Krauz: I’m usually exhilarated and pretty pumped up by that ride that we all just went through. Generally, I feel great. Q-What do you notice first about a person you meet for the first time? Laurie Krauz: I think their eyes and smile. Q-And what people notice first about Laurie Krauz ? Laurie Krauz: Interesting question. Assuming we mean off state, well, I’m told quite a bit my smile. I guess I’ll go with that. Q-Stage is an elixir of illusion. Do you bring your life to stage, meaning Laurie Krauz, the human being, or the Diva in you? Laurie Krauz: I would have to say both. I’m pretty natural on stage but, in a sense, a larger than life version of myself. It freaks my brother out a bit because he knows me as his annoying little sister and on stage my presence carries with it somewhat more of the illusion that goes along with performing. The Diva in me definitely has her day but I believe that she emanates from a very genuine place. Q-What are the virtues of a real singer? Laurie Krauz: Well I’m sure 25 different artists would give 25 different answers but, for me, a real singer is one who is able to express both the music and the lyric with tremendous artistry that is uniquely his or her own. Continues on page 7 |
