Laurie Lewis....Why didn't y'all tell me?

[ShaneJ]

I stumbled across Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum this evening. Man, why didn't somebody tell me about her music sooner? VERY good stuff. She's a great singer & songwriter (judging by all the music samples I've found on her website (https://one.crihosting.com/%7Elauriele/laurielewis/index.html) and Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/artist/glance/-/120753/102-2291435-6459365).

Buy direct from her though, if you can.

I thought she might have been from Texas, just listening to her, but she's a Californian. Definitely got a Western flavor to her music, but with bluegrass instruments. Kinda like Bob Wills and George Strait meet Bill Monroe and Rhonda Vincent.

Dang it! Now I have a bunch more CDs I have to buy. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Coy Wylie]

I like the cut "Sleepy-eyed John/Tom and Jerry."

[swampstomper]

Well, she's been mentioned a few times in this board, but since she's not a mandolinist, not extensively. There was a long (positive) thread on Tom Rozum a few months back. Laurie puts on a great show and is a good songwriter to boot. Her harmonies with Kathy Kallick (on the "Together" CD and elsewhere) are really nice. None of this wispy oh-poor-me stuff we get from AKUS!! you're right, she has a "cowboy" attitude. Have you heard her belt out "Diamond Joe" or "When the Cactus is in Bloom"?? Mon and Wilma Lee and Rose would be proud!

[Martin Jonas]

There's an amazing ten free mp3s of Laurie's music available at Amazon downloads here (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/ref=br_ss_hs/104-0912011-4893525?platform=gurupa&url=index%3Dmusic-dd&field-keywords=laurie+lewis). That's basically a free album, and it'll give you a decent idea of what she's about. I really like her "Bluegrass Pals" album. The lead-off track "Tall Pines" is one of the Amazon downloads, and it's just amazing. I'm not so keen on the only other album of hers I have, "Seeing Things". There's also a live show of hers as free video download on Woodsongs (with lots of mandolin).

Martin

[Don]

Laurie Lewis has been around for a lot of years.She's right up there with the best of them.Her and Tom Rozum have been together for a good while.They put on a great show.Tom has a solo album "Jubilee".Laurie has a bunch of albums.Laurie was also with the Good Ol' Persons and Grant Street String Band years ago.She put out a songbook of her songs a couple years ago.

Don.

[Coy Wylie]

There's an amazing ten free mp3s of Laurie's music available at Amazon downloads here (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/ref=br_ss_hs/104-0912011-4893525?platform=gurupa&url=index%3Dmusic-dd&field-keywords=laurie+lewis). #
Thanks Martin! Good stuff and free! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Michael H Geimer]

I think of Laurie Lewis the way I think of Gillian Welch ... as a duo team. The men-folk are an inseparatable part of each of those 'bands'.

Tom Rozum's playing (and singing) is just soooooooo tasty!

- Benig ... who is starting up itunes right now so he can listen to thier 'Guest House' album.

[pickinNgrinnin]

Check out True Stories and the Oak and Laurel. Excellent CD's She and Tom do great live shows. Can't go wrong with Laurie Lewis!!

[TonyP]

Laurie Lewis and Grantsteet is why I learned to love bluegrass. I was a jazz guitar guy, discovered the Dawg and mando, but was not much into singing, and especially bluegrass singing until I happened to see Laurie and Granstreet back in '82 in a little place in Fresno called the Olympic Tavern. Almost nobody there outside our group of 8, but that didn't stop them from putting on a heck of a show. I like all the old Grantstreet albums, and still one of my favorites when she went solo was her first, which the name escapes me right now. She like Rhonda Vincent was wooed by the country mainstream and lucky for us, she came back. An incredibly prolific songwriter and performer and add Tom, great stuff. Their last album is right up there with me too, the one with the painted trailer on it.

[PaulD]

Check out True Stories and the Oak and Laurel. Excellent CD's She and Tom do great live shows. Can't go wrong with Laurie Lewis!!
Here's a vote for Guest House; a great set of tunes that my relatively new wife turned me on to including a tune called Alaska written by Kate MacLeod; the fiddler at our wedding.

I have yet to hear a "bad" album by Laurie Lewis, though, and has been mentioned here and in Sunburst's thread (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=12;t=30110;hl=rozum), Tom Rozum is one of the most tasteful mando players you'll find and he and Laurie compliment each other flawlessly.

Paul Doubek

[ShaneJ]

I've got The Oak And The Laurel coming to me. Thanks for the free download tip, martinjonas. I didn't see those on Amazon before.

[SternART]

Last time I saw Laurie & Tom they had David Grier & Todd Phillips in the band.
Always a fine show no matter who is playing with them. Laurie gives a great
performance every time out.

[ShaneJ]

Just got The Oak And The Laurel CD. Great stuff! Can't wait to get some more of their music.

[harwilli55]

Check out Laurie Lewis in her all girl group(Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer) "Blue Rose" album. Fantastic, one of my favorites for years.

[johnwalser]

Living in California, I've seen Laurie several times and she's to be at Huck Finn again in June. Listen for her GREAT banjo player, Craig Smith. A banjo player with taste and class....What a Concept!!
John