about Laura Ainsworth
Laura Ainsworth is a second-generation musical prodigy. Her late father, Bill Ainsworth, was a renowned sax/clarinet player and arranger who was backing Frank Sinatra at just 17. As a young girl, Laura watched enraptured as her dad accompanied such idols as Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme and Marilyn McCoo. Laura grew up worshiping the great jazz, big band and club singers like Ella, Keely Smith, Doris Day, Margaret Whiting and Rosemary Clooney, as well as comedienne/singers Madeline Kahn, Carol Burnett and Mary Tyler Moore. As co-owner of her own radio service, the Comedy Wire, she has created humorous songs heard on top radio shows worldwide, but her critically-acclaimed debut CD, "Keep It To Yourself," finally introduces her talent and name to the world at large. A music historian, she loves to bring fresh new twists to old songs, both standards and obscurities.
"Keep It To Yourself," produced and arranged by jazz piano genius Brian Piper, spotlights Laura's lush, warm, nearly three-octave voice, surrounded by some of the greatest jazz musicians in Texas in a delightful genre- and era-skipping collection of songs from the 1920s to today. The hilariously seductive title tune is already being played on radio stations worldwide, and striking a chord with women as the perfect female revenge fantasy in this era of famous cheating men. Guest artists include violinist Milo Deering of the hot jazz/bluegrass fusion group Beatlegras, adding a Stephane Grappelli-like touch to a swinging "La Vie En Rose;" and jazz guiltarist Chris Derose, a favorite accompanist of Michael Feinstein and Willie Nelson, dueting with Laura on a stripped-down, recorded live-in-one-take version of the Hoagy Carmichael/Johnny Mercer classic "Skylark."
The album is receiving multi-track radio play worldwide and has appeared on JazzWeek's Top Radio Airplay chart and been spotlighted on AllAboutJazz.com, BluesJazzRadio.com and Public Radio Exchange's "The Blues & Beyond." Critics have hailed it as "sublime," "transcendent," "spectacular," "a unique gem," and "the very portrait of West Coast cool." Jazz Inside magazine raved that you can keep all those pop divas like Beyonce and Mariah, "the only one for me is Laura Ainsworth." And jazz historian Jim Compton-Schmidt of KFSR-FM, Fresno, declared, "She has the best voice for singing Irving Berlin that I've ever heard, at least in this century." Fans who join her email list at www.lauraainsworth.com can decide for themselves: they receive a free MP3 of Berlin's "You'd Be Surprised," a non-CD bonus track, just for signing up.
"Keep It To Yourself" is available at CDBaby.com, iTunes and other download sites. It can also be ordered by any brick-and-mortar store. Links are at http://www.lauraainsworth.com
Laura also creates and performs her own fully-realized, live musical shows that have become known for her gorgeous voice, her unique sense of humor and her trademark elbow-length satin gloves and beaded gowns that would fill Julie London with envy. She ushers audiences into her own enchanting world, a cocktail mix that recreates the elegant retro style of nightclub shows of the ‘30s and ‘40s, but with a sophisticated modern musical sheen and just a twist of flirtatiously naughty humor. It’s an intoxicating blend that has attracted some of the top jazz players in Texas to her side, including longtime partner Brian Piper, one of the most sought-after pianists/producers in the Southwest.
Laura lives with her husband and 16 rescued parrots in a personally-restored Fabulous Fifties house that in a twist of fate was once her childhood home, where she used to watch her dad rehearse and write intricate big band arrangements on the kitchen table.
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Hi Laura... We're new to the site...just looking around and doing some listening. Just listened to "Keep It To Yourself"...sweet cut! We really enjoyed our listen. Smooth Jazz and Jazz Vocals are high on our list of music we enjoiy listening to to...and you do a real nice job! All the best... Al & Di
June 15th at 9:06amThanks to the wonderful singer/actor Robert Davi for mentioning me on Mike Huckabee's radio show Friday! Check out his new CD, "Davi Sings Sinatra: On The Road to Romance." And if you ever want to salute Frank's "Duets" period, please give me a call. Also, my guest shot on Nostalgia Radio Time is now archived and can be downloaded or played online. We played my music, a favorite Bing Crosby cut, and a classic Burns & Allen radio show. You can find it here: http://www.1420thebreeze.com/mp3/NRT05-05-12.mp3
May 20th at 7:18pmWhile the Music Plays On. Enjoyed the cross talk between you and the sax man. The well schooled piano chords and arrangement leave the rock n rollers in the dust. Hope to here something new soon . I'll check back Miss Laura. Sincerly Glen
April 15th at 9:03pmThanks for joining Laura
March 28th at 2:58pmDear Glen, Thank you for the sweet words. From your mouth to Tony Bennett's ears! No, I wish I'd written KEEP IT TO YOURSELF (I've written a LOT of parody song lyrics for radio, etc.), but that one is by Bill DeMain and a wonderful singer/songwriter I'm proud to count among my friends, Amy Rigby. She has written many catchy and hilarious songs, but most are in a more rock/folk style. When I first heard this one, I started doing it live as an encore number in a lounge/jazz style, and I knew I had to record it someday. It took several years, but at long last I did it. And after knocking around a lot of possible album titles, I decided that I loved the humorous irony of a debut CD that hopefully introduces me to the world being called KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. Also, it has a teasing double meaning when it's combined with the flirty cover photo (I wanted a classic Julie London look, which was captured by a wonderful photographer named Shoshanna Portnoy, who specializes in retro burlesque stars and '40s-'50s pinup-style photos). BTW, I hope this appears in the right place. I just set up an account on JulboxAlive, and this is the first time I've tried to answer a comment. I'm still trying to figure out how this all works. Plus, I've been very sick the past week and am just starting to feel better. If anyone else leaves a comment, and I don't get back to you right away, please bear with me. Thanks, XOX Laura A.
March 10th at 10:07amPlease tell me you wrote the lyrics to KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. So great. I grew up on Jazz but you might not be able to tell with all the styles I write and perform. Tony Bennet is my hero. I've seen him perform two dozen times. I could see you singing a duet with him. Love your voice, look and style..I have to have this album . So classy classic clever and fresh.. Glenny G
March 9th at 6:59pm