A Sneak Peek at the Incomparable Eloise Laws a Review by Risa Wheat
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A Sneak Peek at the Incomparable Eloise Laws A Review by Risa Wheat Does it seem to you that everywhere you look lately that you see beautiful, talented Eloise Laws there? That’s because she is everywhere. With a career span of over forty years, “El”, as she is affectionately known to her friends and family, can officially adopt the phrase, “been there and done that’. She is noted, critically acclaimed, appreciated, and applauded for her accomplishments in the entertainment industry as singer, songwriter, Broadway actress, and author. Born in Houston, Texas, Eloise Laws is a member of the multi- talented, legendary Laws family which includes flautist-saxophonist brother Hubert Laws, saxophonist brother Ronnie Laws, and vocalist sister, Debra Laws. The siblings have created musical magic many times together onstage as a family, but El’s powerful talent, varied interests, causes that she is passionate about, and hard work have earned her a successful solo career as well. Her unique vocals have blessed and provided her fans with more than five albums and CD’s, and have garnered her numerous awards around the world, including the prestigious Cherry Award at the Tokyo Music Festival. Perhaps best known for her powerful, harmonious jazz, interpretative inflections, and R&B vocals, Laws’ soulful voice resonates worldwide. With a stellar career that spans over four decades, she continues to be a popular and much sought after commodity as evidenced in her recent Jazz at Drew performance, a Los Angeles based, community wide outdoor event that draws thousands. Jazz at Drew started in 1991 started with a small audience of about 150 people, but over the years has expanded to several thousand. It was on hiatus for several years, but successfully re-emerged in 2016. Much of the funds raised by the Jazz at Drew Festival go towards scholarship awards and other services for the students enrolled at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. The university strives for excellence, and provides quality higher education to Watts-Willowbrook, an underserved medical community; and is responsible for many bright, young graduates who go on to become brilliant doctors and other healthcare providers. The Jazz at Drew Festival also provides a great opportunity to bring top musical talent to the Watts- Willowbrook community. An advocate for quality education at all levels, and recognizing the need for quality healthcare for everyone, Ms. Laws is always thrilled to lend her voice to such worthy causes. And she is very proud to claim her spot in the rich, musical, historical legacy of Jazz at Drew. Other veteran musical greats featured, in addition to the Incomparable Eloise Laws, were Earth, Wind, and Fire, and Sheila E, who closed the show that evening. Other memorable and very enjoyable musical acts rounding out the lineup for 2017 were the Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center Band, DW3, a contemporary powerhouse band, and West Coast Get Down, a collaborative group of musicians born and raised in Los Angeles, California. During her performance, Ms. Laws’ powerful vocals took her audience down a nostalgic journey of love and romance with crowd favorites of “Last Days of Summer” and “Moonlight”. She danced and twirled around gracefully as she sang. She engaged her audience and told us that the songs were getting “hotter” and invited us to snap our fingers as she made us remember with her warm nuances how we felt about that certain someone who gave us that certain “Fever’. Her impassioned “You’re Incredible” reminded us that we need to let that certain special person know how we feel about them. Laws advised the ladies in the audience, as she sang ”I Ask You Heart Whose Side are You On?‘’ that sometimes they need to take a look inside their heart and have a talk with it before it falls in love again and again. Giving props to Brenda Russell, she emoted a beautiful rendition of “In the Thick of It”, a song that seems to tell its listener that you’re in the thick of whatever is going on in your life, that you’d better get a grip on it, live it, and don’t let it get the best of you. All of the songs that Laws shared with her audience seemed to carry a message, but one of the songs that stood out the most was “Can’t Let Myself, Hurt Myself” a song she co-wrote with a friend. This song sends a message of empowerment that reminds its listener that it’s okay to stand up for yourself, to tap into your inner strength and reclaim your power as a person. How uncanny is it that Ms. Laws and her friend felt compelled to co-write this song? In light of all that has been going on lately regarding women being systemically mistreated and finally feeling empowered enough to bravely speak out, what a powerful and timely message this song imparts. If you are thinking that it is a mere coincidence that Laws chose to sing it during the month of October, a month designated for both Breast Cancer Awareness and Domestic Violence Awareness, think again. Eloise Laws is beautiful, smart, and always savvy about what’s going on, especially, musically. Her message to her audience as her set came to a close was that “yesterday’s music is the birthplace of today’s music”, that “yesterday’s songs were songs to dance by, songs to work by, songs to feel good by, and songs to protest by”. Then, the incomparable Eloise Laws and her terrific band, Land Richards on drums, Dmitry Gorodetsky on bass, Greg Moore on guitar and Chris Troy on keyboards, brought the set to a close with a rousing rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” one of the most powerful songs “to protest by” that’s ever been written. Even in 95 degree heat, Eloise Laws captured and held her audience. They absolutely loved her. The applause was resounding, and grew even more so as big brother Hubert stepped out of the shadows and surprised her onstage. Just a few days prior to the Jazz at Drew event, Ms. Laws was the headliner performer at the Breast and Whole Health Expo. It was an annual free to the public event sponsored by The Wellness Group that promotes Breast Cancer Awareness in the African American Community. A nine year cancer survivor herself, Laws needed no urging to lend her support to this important event. The Wellness Group founded by CEO and President, Michelle Moore Bell, multi partners with Supervisor Mark-Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles City Council President Herb J. Wesson, Jr., 10th District, Susan G. Komen, Los Angeles Affiliates, Councilman Curren D. Price, The New 9th District, Torrance Memorial Medical Center and Vermont Slauson Economic Development to put on this annual event. Ms. Bell is a passionate believer that everyone has a role to play in women’s health. The Breast and Whole Health Expo promotes awareness and the importance about finding a cure for breast cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer among African American Women, and for which, to date, there is no known cure. The purpose of the expo is to empower and educate the Los Angeles communities on breast cancer, and whole health issues. Eloise Laws, the featured speaker for the event for 2017 year spoke about her book The Healing Shower a Method for Overcoming Fears about Cancer. Eloise revealed that a Healing Shower was an idea that she conceived when she was given the devastating news that her biopsy revealed that she had breast cancer. She shared that people have many types of showers to celebrate important events in their lives like wedding showers, and baby showers, but that a Healing Shower is something that everyone should think about having when they or someone they love is suddenly facing a serious illness. Instead of guests arriving bringing gifts, they arrive with the promise of deeds and services that they will perform to help their loved one now stricken with illness. The deeds can vary from providing a meal a few times a week, or walking the dog, or taking the loved one to a doctor appointment. It’s a brilliant and unique concept that promotes positive energy and lets you know that you are not on your journey alone. Because this year’s theme for the Expo was Empowerment, Laws song “Can’t Let Myself, Hurt Myself” proved again to be the perfect song choice to convey the message. Her powerful and moving presentations were very well received and appreciated by the two hundred plus guests assembled. Loving music, loving to perform, loving her fans, and dedication to her craft allowed Laws to pursue and fulfill a lifelong dream of performing on Broadway. Several years ago Laws starred in and co–developed the musical, “It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues” which premiered at the Denver Center Theatre Company and opened on Broadway at the Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Her outstanding performance acknowledged four Tony nominations as well as a Drama Desk nomination for Best Actress in a Broadway musical. She was also awarded a Helen Hayes award nomination for her performance at the Kennedy Center. This year Ms. Laws has been featured in several musical productions including “North on Central Ave’, an award winning Jazz musical about the historical Club Alabam in South Central Los Angeles in the 1940’s. The club was next to the Dunbar Hotel, and was one of many nightclubs and theaters along Central Avenue that featured black entertainment to integrated audiences.