A Message From Laura...

"I grew up on a farm nestled between the nobility of Mt. Lassen and Mt. Shasta near the small community of Red Bluff, California, named for the color of terrain on the West Bank of the Sacramento River. Harvesting walnuts, collecting chicken eggs, stirring compost and feeling dirt between my toes was part of everyday life on our little piece of heaven.

In the center of our stone-block farmhouse lived an antiquated piano which was handed down through my family from my great-grandmother, Etta. My favorite thing to do was invent my own songs on this piano. The sounds of beetles, crickets and distant owls were my accompaniment and the unsettled spirits of Ishi and his Yahi-Yana tribe who once lived on our land were my inspirational backdrop.

Not much has changed about my favorite thing to do and where my heart is, musing with nature. I'm still inspired by open spaces, the last rays of orange and pale gold sunshine, smooth and tumbling waters, the lonely and longing of coyotes crying from foot-hills, and the midsummer goldfinches singing in the wind. These elements unite with touches of melodies from the mingling of my roots of Irish and Native peoples.

I create melodic and emotive piano music which can best be described as Contemporary Instrumental. My influences include the music of Will Ackerman, David Lanz, Liz Story and George Winston. To express my essence and deepest emotions through harmonious, peaceful music is my calling. I hope while listening you feel the serenity I do when I return home to Etta's worn ivories. "

Laura has contributed her music to the score of films including "9 1/2 Minutes Left", directed by celebrated Austrian artist and author, Guenther Thallinger, and "American Icons", directed by Eric Galindo of San Francisco. Laura scored her first feature film, "Emotions" directed by Gio Santana in 2003. "Emotions" debuted at the New York International Film and Video Festival. Laura performs live frequently and was recently heard at the Top of the Mark (San Francisco, CA), Squaw Valley Resort (Lake Tahoe, CA) and the Niebaum-Coppola Winery (Napa, CA). She can be heard on a weekly basis at the Nob Hill Restaurant (San Francisco, CA). She will be a featured artist in a new TV show in 2004 titled "Music Across America" with Executive Producer, Stanley Clarke.

Laura's album "Piano Solos" is available through her Independent Label, Sentient Spirit Records. Her new CD "Pianoscapes for the Trails of North America" will be released January 2004 through Delvian Records. Acclaimed artist, Chris Camozzi, is producing Laura's forthcoming album. It features original music by Laura with her melodic piano combined with guests on violin, cello and acoustic guitar. Producer Camozzi's extensive experience includes his work on albums with Michael Bolton, Whitney Houston, Barbara Streisand and many others, as well as his production work on New Age albums for distinguished labels. A portion of the proceeds of the new CD will benefit the National Arbor Day Foundation and tree seeds will be included within the jewel case of each CD. "Pianoscapes for the Trails of North America" will be available at your local Barnes & Noble retailer January, 2004. Laura's other releases in 2004 will include a song on a compilation CD with national distribution to benefit the philanthropic organization, Trickle Up.

Back to