Lorna Reid I will Tell Your Story Album Review 2nd March 2025
Lorna Reid has a new album out “I Will Tell Your Story” which has just been released (25th February 2025). This album contains 11 self-written/co-written songs by Lorna as listed at the end of this review.
Many followers of live music in Scotland (and further afield) will probably know Lorna Reid best as a vocalist, particularly a jazz vocalist who has always had the ability to attract some of the finest musicians around to be on stage with her. Over the last few years, Lorna has been introducing a lot of her own self-written songs into her live sets and this album is a continuation of that development both as a live performer and a songwriter.
This album is, for me, interesting on many levels, not least that this is Lorna Reid writing for her own vocals and phrasing as a singer, but also in many of the lyrics leaving clues and glimpses to the woman behind the words and the music, windows into her own life’s experiences, and that is always a brave thing for anyone to do.
There is only space on this review to cover a few of the songs on this album, but they all have something very different to say, and as a vocalist and a writer this is also an album which takes Lorna into different musical styles and genres, and often completely new creative paths too.
The opening song “Paris In '95” takes us into the reflective memories of a long gone relationship, but one which there is obvious trouble in still coming to terms with and maybe using an unexpected re-connection to possibly resolve some loose ends. A neat reminder to everyone that life often does not move forward in neatly tied up little moments.
“I Will Tell Your Story” takes the listener into a deep sultry soul song and also a vocal range that I hope Lorna develops further. This is one of my favourite songs on this album, fine lyrics, emotional vocals and some great performances by the musicians involved in this track.
“Sweet Baby Blues”, co-written with Darden Smith, has been one of my favourite Lorna Reid songs since the first time that I heard it performed live, and this studio production arrangement of this song brings out extra layers to an already very emotionally powerful song.
“There For You Again” takes Lorna’s voice into a very laid back soulful feeling groove and some really interesting and unusual word combinations. Vocally and lyrically the soulful sounds are opening up so many new possibilities for Lorna as an artist.
“Dappled Lightness” vocally is a fine track but, here, it is Lorna Reid the songwriter that interests me most as the use of unexpected lines and how they fit together are fine examples of how far this songwriter has developed over the years. “Sculpt my granite heart into weird and wonderful shapes” is just such an unusual use of words.
The last track on this album, “Tipping Point” is stylistically such an unusual one as here Lorna takes us away from sultry jazz and blues vocals into a far more up-tempo rock style sound and again another avenue that is just open for further musical and writing development as an artist.
As with live performances, Lorna has an impressive line-up of talent with her in the studio for this album, and this is obviously a production that has had a lot of care taken with it at every step of its creation. Produced by Boo Hewerdine, a fine songwriter in his own right, this album also features the always impressive talents of Neil Warden (playing electric and classical guitars plus a Weissenborn lap steel slide guitar). It is I think fair to say that Neil’s artistic imprint can be heard on so many of the songs on this album. Also in this line up are Konrad Wiszniewski (saxophones), Euan Stevenson (grand piano), Gustaf Ljunggren (horns, flute, electric lap steel, synth and percussion), Jim Drummond (drums and percussion), Kevin McGuire (electric and upright bassses), Angus Lyon (accordian, piano and organ) and on backing vocals on some of these songs, Louise Clare Marshall. Many of these names will be well known to many people who follow and support live music in Scotland.
It has been a while since the last Lorna Reid album, but the wait has been worth it.
Album Tracklist
1 Paris In '95
2 Pink Blossom
3 I Will Tell Your Story
4 Pale Blue Glance
5 Sweet Baby Blues
6 Souls For Sale
7 Smash Gamble
8 Where's The Fire?
9 There For You Again
10 Dappled Lightness
11 Tipping Point
Review by Tom King © 2025
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
Many followers of live music in Scotland (and further afield) will probably know Lorna Reid best as a vocalist, particularly a jazz vocalist who has always had the ability to attract some of the finest musicians around to be on stage with her. Over the last few years, Lorna has been introducing a lot of her own self-written songs into her live sets and this album is a continuation of that development both as a live performer and a songwriter.
This album is, for me, interesting on many levels, not least that this is Lorna Reid writing for her own vocals and phrasing as a singer, but also in many of the lyrics leaving clues and glimpses to the woman behind the words and the music, windows into her own life’s experiences, and that is always a brave thing for anyone to do.
There is only space on this review to cover a few of the songs on this album, but they all have something very different to say, and as a vocalist and a writer this is also an album which takes Lorna into different musical styles and genres, and often completely new creative paths too.
The opening song “Paris In '95” takes us into the reflective memories of a long gone relationship, but one which there is obvious trouble in still coming to terms with and maybe using an unexpected re-connection to possibly resolve some loose ends. A neat reminder to everyone that life often does not move forward in neatly tied up little moments.
“I Will Tell Your Story” takes the listener into a deep sultry soul song and also a vocal range that I hope Lorna develops further. This is one of my favourite songs on this album, fine lyrics, emotional vocals and some great performances by the musicians involved in this track.
“Sweet Baby Blues”, co-written with Darden Smith, has been one of my favourite Lorna Reid songs since the first time that I heard it performed live, and this studio production arrangement of this song brings out extra layers to an already very emotionally powerful song.
“There For You Again” takes Lorna’s voice into a very laid back soulful feeling groove and some really interesting and unusual word combinations. Vocally and lyrically the soulful sounds are opening up so many new possibilities for Lorna as an artist.
“Dappled Lightness” vocally is a fine track but, here, it is Lorna Reid the songwriter that interests me most as the use of unexpected lines and how they fit together are fine examples of how far this songwriter has developed over the years. “Sculpt my granite heart into weird and wonderful shapes” is just such an unusual use of words.
The last track on this album, “Tipping Point” is stylistically such an unusual one as here Lorna takes us away from sultry jazz and blues vocals into a far more up-tempo rock style sound and again another avenue that is just open for further musical and writing development as an artist.
As with live performances, Lorna has an impressive line-up of talent with her in the studio for this album, and this is obviously a production that has had a lot of care taken with it at every step of its creation. Produced by Boo Hewerdine, a fine songwriter in his own right, this album also features the always impressive talents of Neil Warden (playing electric and classical guitars plus a Weissenborn lap steel slide guitar). It is I think fair to say that Neil’s artistic imprint can be heard on so many of the songs on this album. Also in this line up are Konrad Wiszniewski (saxophones), Euan Stevenson (grand piano), Gustaf Ljunggren (horns, flute, electric lap steel, synth and percussion), Jim Drummond (drums and percussion), Kevin McGuire (electric and upright bassses), Angus Lyon (accordian, piano and organ) and on backing vocals on some of these songs, Louise Clare Marshall. Many of these names will be well known to many people who follow and support live music in Scotland.
It has been a while since the last Lorna Reid album, but the wait has been worth it.
Album Tracklist
1 Paris In '95
2 Pink Blossom
3 I Will Tell Your Story
4 Pale Blue Glance
5 Sweet Baby Blues
6 Souls For Sale
7 Smash Gamble
8 Where's The Fire?
9 There For You Again
10 Dappled Lightness
11 Tipping Point
Review by Tom King © 2025
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com