Looking For The Answers

Aimee Nolte - Looking For The Answers
SELF RELEASE ***

Aimee Nolte’s voice is beautiful, sonorous and reflective on her latest album Looking For The Answers, The singer arranged and produced every track on the album, lending a consistent aesthetic and laid-back vibe to most of the cuts here. What separates Nolte from other vocalists and composers is the poetry and storytelling quality of her compositions, with lyrics reminescent of Joni Mitchell - just minus Mitchell playfulness. “Save Me One Last Time” speaks to the bandleadeader’s seriousness as a lyricists when the theme of lost love is addressed: “If I keep on falling, I’ll be lost forever/ Save me one last time.”
Nolte exhibits her jazz chops on “Bye Bye Blackbird”, when she pleasantly scats as John Clayton accopanies her on bass.
Desprite instrumentalists coming and going track to track, Looking is pretty even-keeled listen. Dough Webb and John Reilly on woodwinds round out “The Loveliest Girl” and “Save Me One Last Time,” respectively. And drummmer James Yoshizawa delivers throughout the recording with a soft, but steady, attention to mantaining the rhytm, making his performances incospicuos, until the listener realizes that his reliability helps drive the entire album. “For A While” closes things out with Nolte on piano, sans vocals, letting listeners take in the bandleader’s full abilities at the keyboard while she paints a chromatic ballad that’s sure to delight.
- Michele L. Simms-Burton

Aimee Nolte is a pianist, vocalist and composer whose skills and interests have made her popular on YouTube. “Looking for the Answers” is the performer’s third album. Since 2005, Nolte has been recording music. On this latest album, she sings lead and backup vocals, and extends her talents to piano, synth bass and organ. In addition, Nolte has done the arrangements and production for every song on the album.

Nolte’s basis in Los Angeles gives her access to some of the best musicians in Southern California. Among them are bassist Bruce Lett, guitarist Mike Scott, drummer James Yoshizawa, along with woodwind players John Reilly and Doug Webb. Legendary bass player John Clayton even appears on one song.

“Looking for the Answers” is 11 songs that address romantic and harrowing moments in a relatively gentle way. The instrumentation adds to the tone and helps Nolte make her point. As stellar as the musicianship is on the album (including Nolte’s), what stands out is Nolte’s voice. She has a singer-songwriter’s vocal instrument.

About Aimee Nolte - Nolte began playing piano at the tender age of three years old. Her instrument selection was all the more shocking to her parents when the toddler began to plink out the melody to “Silent Night.” That was only the beginning. Nolte’s technique was refined by 10 years of studying classical piano. In 1998, she graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in jazz piano.

In 2005, Nolte recorded her first album, “Up Till Now” and in 2010, released “Just Us.” In addition to recording, Nolte creates YouTube videos that have earned her 140,000 subscribers. She tackles the topics of harmony, arranging and jazz piano techniques.

“Looking for the Answers” by Aimee Nolte The songs on “Looking for the Answers” have a sensibility to them that might remind some listeners of pop music of Sixpence None the Richer. Nolte’s approach is so low-key that some would maybe overlook her ability to address a #MeToo moment from her youth. Not that Nolte calls it that. However, her song “You Should’ve” addresses exactly such an incident. She discusses not only her pain, but what the perpetrator did to himself as a result. While the issue has resolved in appropriate consequences for the teacher, the song is beautifully, with a crush of piano and Nolte’s clear vocals. Her voice is high, but not stratospherically. Surprisingly, Nolte’s tone is not one of bitterness, but of reason. Even as she scolds the perpetrator, the emotional quality never gets the best of her.

For jazz fans looking for a relatively new voice coupled with stellar piano skills, Nolte’s latest album is perfect.

AIMEE NOLTE, Looking for the Answers - April 1, 2019 - Jonathan Widran In an age where great artistry and musicianship goes hand in hand with tech savviness, Aimee Nolte sets a high bar in a multitude of arenas. The veteran jazz singer, pianist and teacher’s multi-facted YouTube page, featuring music and educational videos on topics like harmony, arranging and advanced jazz piano technique, has over 142,000 subscribers. She’s also a brilliant, multi-faceted artist who started recording in 2005 and transcends all previous releases with her latest collection Looking for the Answers. The cover art finds a playful cartoon image of the singer in a spacesuit on barren planet, shovel in hand, presumably digging for answers. But don’t let that quirkiness steer you away from her quite serious, multi-faceted approach to jazz expression, all centered around a voice as gossamer and soul caressing as that of Norah Jones. The opening track “The Loveliest Girl” – which hit the Top Ten on the iTunes jazz chart – offers a premier example of her stylistically eclectic depth. Her vocals breeze along over a haunting woodwind orchestral arrangement before the song takes a sharp turn into delicate folk territory. Though the most emotionally compelling tracks are those like “Falling Snow” that feature minimal accompaniment, others display Nolte’s passion for swing, both lightly arranged (the title track) and brisk and bouncy (as on the Latin explosion “I Gotta Get”). Another can’t miss highlight is and expansive arrangement of “Bye Bye Blackbird,” a plucky duet with bass legend John Clayton (whom she met through her YouTube channel) featuring his subtle groove behind her lead vocals and euphoric scat energy.

AIMEE NOLTE/Looking for the Answers: Kind of like a jazzbo Todd Rundgren, Nolte is a cat that can do it all herself, even though she knows how to reach out to some fellow aces when she thinks it's prudent.
With as much singer/songwriter as jazzbo in her kit, her latest is a fully realized set that can get highly personal while still being universal.
They should have included Nolte in Joni Mitchell 75th birthday celebrations.
Check it out.

Pianist and vocalist Aimee Nolte delivers soft and gentle tones as she mixes and matches with a team including John Clayton/b, Bruce Lett/b, James Yoshizawa/dr, Mike Scott/g and Doug Webb/wwinds.

She delivers a gorgeous solo piano rendition of her own “For A While” as well as a delicate piano and vocal “You Should’ve” likewise flexibly dueting with the legendary bassist Clayton on a cooing “Bye Bye Blackbird.”

Her chords are Debussyesque for a reflective “This One Hurts” while in a quartet formation she bops in a folksy way on “Looking For Answers” and gets a bit saucy on a Latin and fun “I Gotta Get.”

The overall mood is one of plaintive atmospheres, with breezy sways or lilting pulses as Nolte’s lyrics draw you into her reflective world of observations.

Wonderful multi talent vocalist Aimee Nolte – Looking For The Answer

Aimee is a new vocalist for me, and an absolutely wonderful multi-talent vocalist… she introduces the album to you in a very personal way in the trailer she created for it…
…she’s a prolific artist, to be sure, so be sure you SUBSCRIBE to her YouTube channel, where you’ll find MANY more wonderful well-crafted videos to watch.

Aimee has multiple players on the album, too many to itemize here, so visit her PAGE for the album, & click on each track, where you’ll find the player list as well as the lyrics… a VERY WELL organized page, and in this day of YouTube & the like, she really stands out as understanding how to use the web to bring the listener/viewer a “total musical experience”… that’s high (& well-merited) praise coming from an “old web dude” like me, too!

The title track alone, “Looking for the Answers“, makes the album well worth purchasing… Aimee’s piano is super-sensitive, and “paced” better than many similar artists… I’ve always been inclined more towards vocalists who can also play, and I’ll tell you that I believe you’ll be hearing this album in MAJOR rotations on stations ’round the globe – yes, it’s that good.

Aimee’s rendition of the classic “Bye Bye Blackbird” is totally unique, and features some of the best jazz bass you’ll ever listen to from John Clayton… just SUPERB work!

It only took me two listens through this splendid sonic wonderment to choose my personal favorite of the eleven enchanting tunes Aimee offers up for your jazz listening enjoyment… “Falling Snow” is an original from Aimee, and she just SHINES on it… I wouldn’t be (at all) surprised to see this one nominated for (and WINNING) awards.

I give Aimee & all her players a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.99 for this tasty album. Get more information on Aimee’s website.

By Dick Metcalf, editor, Contemporary Fusion Reviews - April 23, 2019

Aimee Nolte (vocals, piano, organ, synth bass); John Clayton (bass track 7); Bruce Lett (bass 1, 2 3, 5, 10); James Yoshizawa (drums); Mike Scott (guitar 2,3,5,10); Jason Neubauer (guitar1); Doug Webb (woodwinds 1); John Reilly (woodwinds 6)
(Review by Ann Alex).

Ms Nolte, based in Los Angeles, has been successful on YouTube with over 140,000 subscribers, where she does both music and educational videos. This has led to her appearing as a guest at jazz festivals around the USA. A very modern way to become known, which I guess will become ever more usual. This, her third album, consists of 8 originals and 3 re-imagined standards. She also arranged and produced the album.

At the age of 3, we’re told, she surprised her parents by spontaneously playing Silent Night. She went on to study classical piano and gained a degree in jazz piano in 1998. Despite being the mother of four, Nolte’s voice has retained her fresh sounding youthful voice. On this CD she is joined by stellar musicians from Southern California.

Many of the tracks have a contemporary folk feel though there is also a strong jazz feel on the other tracks, so fans of both types of music will probably enjoy the album. The lyrics are seemingly straightforward yet satisfying, with repeated ‘choruses’ to act as hooks. For instance, Falling Snow begins as if it’s about a lover leaving, but then you realise that it’s a touching song about a son growing up and making his own way in the world. The beat and percussion is Latin and the lyrics are tender.

The sad love song, This One Hurts, is enhanced by changing the piano tone - putting felt between the strings and hammers, giving a warmer sound, as I imagine a piano might sound at a Victorian musical evening. Bye, Bye Blackbird is voice and bass only with well-controlled relevant scat. The other jazz standards are All Too Soon and So in Love. The second track is the title track, and the tune cleverly reflects the theme as it curves round musically as if searching. You Should’ve is a strong protest aimed at a teacher who mistreated Ms Nolte in her youth. Other tracks are: The Loveliest Girl, Save Me One Last Time; I Gotta Get. The CD ends satisfyingly with a lovely flowing piano instrumental from Nolte, titled For a While.

The CD is currently available both online and in stores. The label is Aimee Nolte Music. See www.aimeenolte.com

Ann Alex

Vocalist, Pianist, Arranger and Song writer Aimee Nolte has released her newest CD, "Looking For The Answers" on April 12, 2019 and its stunningly good! She is one talented person with a clear soft voice that at times can sound more like a musical instrument than a voice. I was drawn into the songs on this CD one by one including the 8 songs that Aimee composed. Her lyrics are compelling and believable and her melodies are haunting and hard to turn away from. Honestly this is not the type of music that hits my musical hotspot, but once I started listening to Aimee sing and play, it was too late for me to escape, I was captured. Aimee is a super-star musician and her career will surely build from here.

Aimee has selected some strong Jazz players to join her on this CD who I have listed below. I had a hard time deciding what cuts from this CD I should attach to this review because I loved every one of them. I decided you needed to hear one of her original songs, "This One Hurts" and I had to include her duet with John Clayton. Then I found another "YouTube" of Aimee playing and singing "Have You Met Miss Jones" that I just had to share with you.

"Aimee Nolte is a composer/singer/pianist who actively performs in Los Angeles area, and this is her third album. This album captures her original compositions in addition to three jazz standards with active west coast musicians. "Bye Bye Blackbird" is a duet performance with the bassist, John Clayton. To play with the master bassist, she can match up with her great scat abilities.
She has a very attractive voice with a little smoky spice -- the unique approach toward her original compositions and arrangements reveals her noticeable talent. On the album title composition, you will enjoy the environment which she creates with folk style by her light piano touch. In my personal opinion, I really appreciate her intimate voice technique."

Singer/songwriter Aimee Nolte brings a fresh voice and sound to the scene with Looking For The Answers. The recording offers primarily her own wonderfully melodic compositions with a decidedly more contemporary vibe, and it works. Nolte’s delivery is compelling whether she’s singing a lyric that is playful or one that is mournful. Nolte, who plays piano on the production as wonderfully as she sings, is joined by the talents of Jason Neubauer and Mike Scott on guitars, Bruce Lett on bass, James Yoshizawa on drums, as well as Doug Webb and John Reilly on woodwinds. Bassist John Clayton is also guests on one of the tunes. This is a very entertaining effort from a talented singer and musician who is truly worth hearing.