Heart First

I ran across some sample songs of hers in Amazon. From some random samples I picked, I like them all. I then bought Stages, Heart First, and After Dark. I found her voice Very nice, unique, playful but not overdone at all, melodious. A few days later, I found in Wiki that Heart First is her fifth album and actually won "Jazz Critique Magazine's Golden (top) prize in the vocal album section of Jazz Audio Disc Awards 2011", no wonder! As of Dec. 1, 2011, it was the No. 1 pre-ordered vocal jazz album from HMV Japan. Her other albums also won variety awards from "Best Jazz Awards" to "Top Selling Albums". Better late that never, I thought, to own her albums. Listening to those three albums of hers, each albums has own characteristics, but each song in each albums is so unique that I do not feel boring at all. In Heart First, I like the instruments especially the piano, bass, guitars, drums, harmonica, and the cello, they all play just like in the stage set up, so relaxing. She could sing "All Of me" so different that it brings a different nuance, "A Woman's Way" was sung relax I imagine strolling in a downtown, "C'est Si Bon" arrangement is so superb, a good communication between the the instruments and the voice. I feel that she sings "Waiting in Vain" so casually, just like to talk to us about "waiting in vain", nice. I plan to get two of her other albums, "They Oughta Write a Song" and "Full Circle". I am also considering her Holiday album.

classic songs, she has a great voice. Pretty good cd to play occasionally

I just love Halie Loren's smooth & sultry voice. Mostly classic standards performed and beautifully recorded Recorded At – White Moon Studios, Mastered At – Silvertone Mastering. Audiophiles shoudln't miss out!Accordion [Button] – Seigei Teleshev (tracks: 13) Bass – Mark Schneider (6) Cello – Dale Bradley (tracks: 12) Design, Drums – Brian West (2) Engineer – Larry Smith Flugelhorn – Rob Birdwell (2) (tracks: 4,11)Guitar – William Seiji Harmonica – Hank Shreve (tracks: 7) Piano [Rhodes], Piano – Matt Treder Producer, Engineer – Halie Loren, Matt TrederTrumpet – Rob Birdwell (2) (tracks: 2) Vocals, Piano – Halie Loren (tracks: 12)

Halie is a major talent without question. Her voice is gorgeous. Even when she is singing a pop-rock thing, her delivery is jazzy. For people who are jazz aficianados, she will be unlikely to appeal. She is versatile, and polished, and she has a flair for language. For people who like good music, are not too concerned with category, and recognize a beautiful voice when they hear it, buy this album.

I have been listening to a lot of female Jazz vocalists, and a friend at work recommended that I listen to Halie Loren. I have since bought several of her CD's, and although "Heart First" is not my favorite, it is still good and worth listening to.

Wow. This lady is an amazing interpreter. What soul and sultriness combined. Probably more sultry than my all time fav Jane Monheit (if that is possible!), and I think Jane had a stronger vocal instrument. But I can't stop listening to Loren. She has little surprise for you in each standard and her originals are very listenable. Glad I found her and will try to see her live at some point.

Heart First is a decent record, but it is neither particularly innovative - no new ground is broken on any of the oft-recorded songs - nor inspiring. Her voice is fine, relly very pleasant. But listeners looking for jazz or new sounds might be better off with recordings such as "Don't Look Back" by Mary Stallings or Kat Edmondson's "Way Down Low" or "Take to the Sky." The sounds are so much more interesting...

Loved this album the first time I heard in playing in the background at an art gallery. I asked for the name of the artist and bought it immediately. Makes me want to dance around my house and make a candlelight dinner for someone special.