Monday Magazine in Victoria BC Writes:
"If your tastes lean towards the easy-listening likes of Burt Bacharach, Dusty Springfield and early Chicago, be sure to track down Buttercup Bugle, the latest from Toronto-based jazz chanteuse Lori Cullen........ Cullen’s breathy voice is perfectly suited to this smooth style of music, which itself suits almost any mood. No question, Buttercup Bugle is an outstanding contribution to the recent Canadian jazz canon. If you’re a brass fan, it’s worth picking this one up for the horn arrangements alone, but Cullen’s vocal stylings will stay with you long after the last note has faded. Guaranteed repeat plays with this one."- Al Brooks
Poised to present herself both as an acoustic guitar playing singer songwriter and the leader of a jazz structured quintet, Lori enjoys unique opportunities for performance. Her skill as a songwriter and collaborator with renowned folk performers places her comfortably in venues and festivals with a singer songwriter focus. While her name can be heard in circles among the finest Jazz singers in Canada.
Lori has released five recordings. The most recent Buttercup Bugle was co-produced by Chris Dedrick –mastermind behind the legendary 60’s Sunshine Pop vocal group Free Design. His elaborate backing vocal sections and brass arrangements evoke a lost era of meticulous craft, adorning the songs with breathtaking ornamentation executed by the distinguished True North Brass ensemble."Calling For Rain" was released in January 2006 is full of other people’s songs. Covers by Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Bruce Cockburn, Harry Nilsson—A collection of mature songs that highlight the craft of song writing and the emotional power of a direct and intimate lyric. Calling for Rain also features two new original songs. “Tied Up In the Yard†displays Lori’s seemingly effortless knack for a catchy melody and a subtle but telling lyric. “Away So Long,†a sprightly, harmonically intriguing tune that won the third annual Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award, presented by the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals in October 2005. This newest recording was released in South Korea though Polyphone/UB Plan Recordings in September of 2006.
A vibrant presence on Toronto’s singer-songwriter scene, Lori’s been singing, writing and playing guitar for over 10 years. She released her first collection of self-penned, folk-oriented songs, called Garden Path, in the year 2000. Two years later she recorded So Much, a selection of jazz-based covers with The Ron Davis Trio. Uneven Hill, in 2004, revealed more of her adventurous, evolving songwriting and further established the diverse nature of her creativity.
Lori has received consistent critical raves, four-star reviews and a Canadian Independent Music Awards nomination. Lori appears as a vocalist on several recordings by Jory Nash, as well as Final Fantasy's (Owen Pallet) latest recording that won him the very first Polaris Music Prize.
Performance highlights include several three night runs at The Montreal Bistro in Toronto, Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival, Oshawa Jazz Festival, Ottawa Jazz Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival, Hillside Folk Festival, Collingwood Jazz Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival and Shelter Valley Folk Festival.
Buttercup Bugle, Calling For Rain and Uneven Hill are available in Canadian stores through Fontana North/Universal Distribution
Internationally available at www.cdbaby.com
Contact/Bookings: [email protected]
