The first album comprised entirely of Lori’s compositions, Mystery (Amazon, iTunes), was released August 1, 2000 on the Albany Records label, and features singers Phyllis Bryn-Julson, Lauren Wagner, and William Sharp; cellist Thomas Kraines; pianists Seth Knopp and Lori Laitman; and saxophonist Gary Louie.
“Composer Lori Laitman knows how to let the voice soar and explore…Laitman lets the texts inform her music, spinning lyrical neo-romantic vocal lines over shifting post- modern sonorities. It’s a treat to hear contemporary art songs that showcase the voice as flatteringly as these, and which retain individuality and surprise without sacrificing accessibility.” (Joanne Sydney Lessner, Opera News, March 2001).
“In a sure sign that the art song is far from dead, composers like Lori Laitman are devoting themselves to the genre with some attractive results. Laitman is particularly adept at suiting rhythm to text, and devising accompaniments that carry their weight.” (Heidi Waleson, Schwann Inside Jazz and Classical Magazine, December 2000)
