"Lori Williams has a rich voice, able to take it to a wisp or get strong on this collection of thoughtful covers. She’s with a core team of Allyn Johnson/p-key, Carrol Dashiell, III/dr, Kris Funn/b and rotates around with Antonio Parker/sax, Stanley Cooper/g and Tracey Cutler/sax. She and Cutler’s alto team with a soulful keyboard take of “My Funny

"Lori Williams has a rich voice, able to take it to a wisp or get strong on this collection of thoughtful covers. She’s with a core team of Allyn Johnson/p-key, Carrol Dashiell, III/dr, Kris Funn/b and rotates around with Antonio Parker/sax, Stanley Cooper/g and Tracey Cutler/sax. She and Cutler’s alto team with a soulful keyboard take of “My Funny Valentine” while she gets folksy with Cooper and some strings on a wistful “Turn, Turn, Turn.” Most intriguing is a gospel drenched read of Duke Ellington’s “Come Sunday” that gets deep into some R&B for the climax, with a New Orleans vibe for a festive “Auld Lang Syne” not far behind. Most intimate is a recording of her and her (late) dad (Robert Williams) a church deacon, teaming together for a tender read of “The Best Is Yet To Come,” not the standard, but a personal original. This gal has some great ideas, and like “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” she can surprise you with changes of pulses, sounds and dynamics. Creative and alluring." - JazzWeekly.com

In the ever-crowded field of jazz vocalists, it is always such a pleasure to encounter an artist who stands out in the crowd, Willard Jenkins, DC Jazz Festival Artistic Director. Lori Williams is the real deal. She believes in her motto Words are powerful. Speak wisely and has found her voice in the music she passionately shares. Lori's third CD

In the ever-crowded field of jazz vocalists, it is always such a pleasure to encounter an artist who stands out in the crowd, Willard Jenkins, DC Jazz Festival Artistic Director. Lori Williams is the real deal. She believes in her motto Words are powerful. Speak wisely and has found her voice in the music she passionately shares. Lori's third CD Behind the Smiles is a romantic collection, embodying a seamless mix of Jazz, Inspiration and Soul music. Her choices of lyrical themes are those that touch the human soul, Phil Perry. Lori's creative process has been characterized as a 'Love Supreme', offering a relatable musical experience for everyone who hears her. She is a singer's singer with over 30 years on the professional scene. She also surrounds herself with the crème de la crème of musicians on every CD project. The listener is taken on a captivating musical journey. With songs from Stevie Wonder, Melvyn K. Prince, Nancy Wilson and others, her songs are inviting and directly respond to the album's title. Behind the Smiles is a wonderful compilation of 11 original and cover songs. Lori opens with the Isaac Hayes' classic Déjà Vu, popularized by Dionne Warwick. She ends with Song of Praise/It Is Well, a beautiful marriage of songs. One of her proudest moments is shared on Mixed Signals when her daughter, Lauren Highsmith sings background vocals with Lori and scats at the end. You'll want to hear the progressive sounds and creative prowess. Lori offers sultry deliveries on The Island (Ivan Lins) and Through Your Eyes/Iris (Wayne Shorter, Music/Lori Williams, Lyrics), which were videotaped during the recording. Lori...can seamlessly move from Jazz to R&B where the listener can feel at home with her in either genre, Terri Lyne Carrington, Grammy Award Winning Jazz Drummer/Producer/Composer. If you'd like to hear sensual tones encompassing beautiful colors and sublime phrasing...listen to Lori Williams, Maysa, Grammy Nominated International Singer.

"With "Eclipse of the Soul" Lori Williams has come out on the other side of that pathos, clear of mind, bursting with spirit, and delivering her music with a lovely smile. One comes away from "Eclipse of the Soul" rewarded by the obviously upward arc of Lori Williams artistic development, and mightily impressed at her programmatic skills as well.

"With "Eclipse of the Soul" Lori Williams has come out on the other side of that pathos, clear of mind, bursting with spirit, and delivering her music with a lovely smile. One comes away from "Eclipse of the Soul" rewarded by the obviously upward arc of Lori Williams artistic development, and mightily impressed at her programmatic skills as well. Here's a singer who is definitely on the rise."

"Lori A. Williams is a lot more than just a singer, songwriter, andperformer. If you were to judge her on these things alone, you would have to conclude you where dealing with oneof the finest artists of our era, an eventual legendand, I have no doubt, time will prove me right. I think musicaficionadoswho listen to this project will agree that

"Lori A. Williams is a lot more than just a singer, songwriter, and performer.  If you were to judge her on these things alone, you would have to conclude you where dealing with one of the finest artists of our era, an eventual legend and, I have no doubt, time will prove me right.  I think music aficionados who listen to this project will agree that these tracks step her toward this destiny.  Let me add a little fuel to this fire.  Lori's lead vocal recording is all original - no vocal overdubs, no re-tracking, and almost no vocal fixes (come  on... no one is perfect).  When we recorded the material, I had her record "scratch vocals" with the intent of throwing them out and recording the REAL lead vocals later (as is customary).  Well, that's NOT what happened... you are listening to the unaltered scratch vocal.  Now I don't mean to insult anyone's intelligence; but everything we listen to these days has been altered, fixed, produced, tracked, squeezed, tuned and composited TO DEATH!!  NOT this recording.  This is the real deal; and that makes this recording astounding because even if all the usual stuff was done, it would be a great CD.  The honesty of this recording moves it into the amazing column. Not only is the lead vocal honest, but so is the rest  of the recording.  In fact, it's only a hair away from being totally live.  Many songs are the first take.

Now remember, I said that Lori is more than a singer, songwriter, and performer, because as we approached the end of the project, I started to realize her tremendous gift as a producer.  Lori's lack of ego, and a willingness to recognize other peoples' abilities, and trust in both herself and those she works with, is a gift rarely seen.  Not only does she have a voice and performance talent similar to a Judy Garland, but if she keeps producing recordings, she might also be compared to Quincy Jones.  I could go on and on particularly concerning Lori's production capabilities, but lets just say that she is completely unaware of her ability... Like a duck to water, effortless and commanding.  These traits show up in the product.

After saying all this, I think the music says it better than I can; but the listeners need to know the circumstances behind this recording.   It makes it all the more awesome."

Brad Baerwald, Studio 51