Nancy LaMott

Excerpts from Playbill On-line Articles by Andrew Gans

Featured Stories: Nancy LaMott's Farewell January 31, 1998

FOR THE RECORD -- December 1996

AS IF WE NEVER SAID GOODBYE: Before her untimely death last year, singer Nancy LaMott was about to catapult from local cabaret fame to superstardom, finally gaining recognition as one of the country's foremost interpreters of classic songs.

LaMott had known her share of hardships financial problems and a battle with Crohn's disease had plagued most of her adult life. The chanteuse with the throbbing voice, however, possessed a sunny disposition and a great sense of humor that when combined with these problems and one of the must luscious voices around, made her a superb singer.

She left behind five musical gems on the Midder Music label, and composer David Friedman and manager Scott Barnes had enough unreleased material for additional CDs. The first posthumous recording, Nancy LaMott: What's Good About Goodbye, is another example of LaMott's exquisite musicianship. Many of the tracks were initially recorded as presents for WQEW's Jonathan Schwartz, a long-time LaMott admirer and one of the people largely responsible for her increasing popularity. These "gift" selections were luckily recorded on two separate tracks one for piano and one for voice, which enabled the Angeles String Quartet to further enhance the recordings. The majority of the orchestrations are by the legendary Peter Matz, based on musical director Christopher Marlowe's original work.

Some of the songs on the recording include LaMott's wonderful version of the pop hit "Downtown," Rodgers and Hammerstein's "If I Loved You" and a bittersweet "Too Late Now" by the Gershwins. Newer composers are also represented: David Friedman's "We Live On Borrowed Time," and "Your Love" are standouts. The 12-track recording, available in stores or by calling 212-665-0699, is the perfect holiday present, a beautiful reminder of LaMott's enduring legacy.

Diva Talk - 'Tis the Season for Divas February 1, 1998

My all-time favorite Christmas recording would have to be Just in Time for Christmas, which was released in 1994 by the late Nancy LaMott. LaMott had such a beautiful voice that when combined with these holiday classics--both old and new--it produced a beguiling, must-have recording. The New York Times's music critic, Stephen Holden, had this to say about her Xmas CD: "[The CD] is a model of unaffected sweetness, projecting the same aura of cleancut nostalgia as Nancy LaMott's live performances." It's hard to pick favorite tracks, but ones that standout include a simple, heartfelt version of "Some Children See Him," a wonderful pairing of "I Saw Three Ships" and "Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella" and what I think is my favorite Xmas tune, the title track, "Just in Time for a Christmas," a song by David Friedman and David Zippel that celebrates the true meaning of the holidays. LaMott also duets with singer Michael Feinstein on the Frank Loesser standard "Baby It's Cold Outside." Nancy LaMott's six solo recordings are all available through Midder Music Records, Inc. and may be ordered by phone (212) 665-0699, fax (212) 222-6579 or e-mail (MIDDER2000@aol.com).

Tracks for Just in Time for Christmas
"Some Children See Him"
"I Saw Three Ships/Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella"
"Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town"
"I'll Be Home for Christmas"
"(Christmas) Stay With Me"
"Earth and Sky"
"All Those Christmas Cliches"
"What Child Is This?/I Wonder As I Wander"
"A Child Is Born"
"Just in Time for Christmas"
"Baby, It's Cold Outside"
"A Song for Christmas"
"The Christmas Song"

Diva Talk: REMEMBERING NANCY LaMOTT February 1, 1998

I spent a good deal of this past Sunday listening to the recordings of the late Nancy LaMott. Every time I listen to LaMott sing, I am struck not only by the beauty of her voice but also by the honesty of her interpretations. If you've never heard Nancy LaMott sing, do yourself a favor and get one of her six recordings--each of them is a gem, but I would particularly suggest either Listen to My Heart or Come Rain or Come Shine: The Songs of Johnny Mercer for a first purchase. I would be surprised if any diva lover out there is not completely enthralled by her singing.

LaMott's death nearly two years ago was a true loss to the entertainment world, and that tragedy is explored in greater depth in the premiere issue of MAMM Magazine, a new bi-monthly magazine for those who have been impacted by breast and reproductive cancers. LaMott, who died at age 43 of uterine cancer, is the subject of an insightful article by Amy Pagnozzi, which is entitled "What's Good About Goodbye," also the title of the first of a line of posthumous albums of Nancy's being released by Midder Music.

Entire text contents Copyright © 1996, 1997, 1998 Playbill Online. All Rights Reserved.

Reprinted at www.NancyLaMottFanClub.com with permission from Mr. Andrew Gans, THANK YOU!!
Thanks to Team Nancy member - Stefano Nuzzo - for alerting us about the articles.

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