LAURA’s DISCOGRAPHY, SOLO & SHOWS

“Jazz standards, French chansons and the occasional perfectly judged blues or country number made for a very satisfying, often moving evening with Laura Bernay and her quartet. Totally at home on the stage, Laura’s beautiful voice, easy manner, and formidable musicianship held the packed house rapt. Glorious jazz musicians provided the perfect backbone for this very classy entertainment!”

Stuart Maunder
– General former Director New Zealand Opera
– AM, Theatre Director
– Current Artistic Director South Australian Opera Company

Eclectique

Piano
Mike Nelson
Bass
Murray Wilkins
Alto & Soprano Saxes
Paul Millard-tenor
Drums
Peter Evans
Arrangements
Mike Nelson

Reviews

“Laura is certainly a versatile vocalist-equally at home with jazz as well as standards, cabaret and other genres. She has that great quality of reacting so effortlessly with her audience and in doing so, bringing us the audience almost on stage with her…”

Murray Lavelle
Devonport Jazz Festival

“Perth vocalist Laura Bernay grew up in a musical family in the U.S.A. She has covered many facets of music, studied classical flute and has a strong French connection in her family heritage plus a French husband to whom this album is dedicated.

The CD covers a wide range of styles and compositions in the twelve tracks, tipping her hat to composers such as Benny Golson, Bill Evans, Johnny Mandel, Clifford Brown, Michel Legrand, Cole Porter, Romberg and Poulenc with two from Joni Mitchell.

Several of the songs are sung in French. She has a quality voice, a wide vocal range, navigates tricky arrangements with finesse and is particularly adept at vocalise/scatting”.

Jazz Scene Australia

“Laura Bernay’s ‘éclectique’ covers a wide range of styles and compositions…..a quality voice with a wide vocal range, navigating tricky arrangements with finesse and particularly adept at vocalise and scatting.”

Australian Jazz Scene

“Congratulations on your CD! The nice thing about this CD is that it takes a few plays to really start appreciating all the work that went into it, in other words even after playing it more than 5 times I hear something new the next time.

Paul Millard is great on Night and Day, and Mike Nelson is always good, Murray Wilkins and Peter Evans, world class!”

Peter Wakeford
Presenter of “Jazz Swing and other Good Things”, Capital Radio Perth for 10 years

“It’s fantastic!”

Paul McIntyre
ABC Radio Hobart

“After the first listen I was enthralled. Subsequent listenings made me appreciate why you chose those songs and how vital it was for you to be content with your arranger. You guys are a great team and the musicianship is second to none. Your voice is better than ever–what a range! Thank you again for providing me with such great pleasure–you are so gifted.”

Bruce Lizotte
U.S.A.

  1. WHISPER NOT – Golson/Feather – 3:49
  2. LES CHEMINS DE L’AMOUR – Poulenc/Anouilh – 4:20
  3. VERY EARLY – Bill Evans-3:42
  4. A TASTE OF HONEY – Scott/Marlow-4:31
  5. NUIT ET JOUR (NIGHT AND DAY) – Cole Porter – French lyrics by Emélia Renaud/Alain Bernay 5:21
  6. WHERE DO YOU START – Mandel/Bergman/Bergman 3:07
  7. JOY SPRING – Brown/Hendricks – Campbell Connelly 3:38
  8. SONG TO A SEAGULL – Joni Mitchell – 4:31
  9. FLYING EASY – Hathaway/Moss/Lowe – 3:37
  10.  CROYEZ AU PRINTEMPS (YOU MUST BELIEVE IN SPRING) – Legrand/Demy/Bergman/Bergman French lyrics – Alain Bernay 5:19
  11. SOFTLY AS IN A MORNING SUNRISE – Romberg/Hammerstein 4:20
  12. MICHAEL FROM MOUNTAINS – Joni Mitchell – 4:51

Shows & Repertoire

A tribute to Sammy Cahn

Songs by
Jule Styne, Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn
Written by
Nicholas Christo
Music Direction by
Mike Nelson

Sammy Cahn

The timeless words and music of Sammy Cahn are certain to make hearts swell at this swinging tribute to the legendary American songwriter.

Laura Bernay the leading interpreter of Cahn’s songs in Australia, along with her six-piece band, brings a poignant, fresh interpretation to some of the 20th century’s most enduring classics such as Come Fly With Me, Bei Mir Bist du Schoen, Three Coins in A Fountain, The Tender Trap, Time After Time and All the Way.

Reviews

“Highly entertaining and informative. I’ve come away wanting to know more about Sammy Cahn!”

Nancye

“A fantastic show, what a voice! And an entertainer to boot- she keeps the audience involved and entranced with her humour, those sultry tones , and her easy engagement with the rest of the band. We’ll be back for more!”

Erin

“Not many people would connect Mario Lanza’s ”Be my love” and Frank Sinatra’s “Come fly with me” as having a common thread… but thanks to the ingenuity of Perth songstress Laura Bernay, a delighted audience at the 2014 Noosa Jazz Festival were presented with a unique 90 minute’s insight into the writing talents of Mr Sammy Cahn, who wrote many of the great lyrics that have become the standard bearer ,and source of inspiration to so many jazz and other singers over the last 50 years.”

Noosa Jazz Festival
Review of “The Sammy Cahn Tribute Cabaret Show”

“Congratulations on your CD! The nice thing about this CD is that it takes a few plays to really start appreciating all the work that went into it, in other words even after playing it more than 5 times I hear something new the next time.

Paul Millard is great on Night and Day, and Mike Nelson is always good, Murray Wilkins and Peter Evans, world class!”

Peter Wakeford
Presenter of “Jazz Swing and other Good Things”, Capital Radio Perth for 10 years

“In a jazz festival that this year was marred by the appearance of a number of artists who had almost no connection to the real world of jazz, it was a revelation to hear a jazz tribute, to a great song writer, perfectly executed by a professional and highly talented quartet, headed up by a singer who loved and enjoyed what she was doing. This show deserves a wide audience!”

Peter Wakeford
Ex presenter of ”Jazz ,Swing and other good things” on Perth’s Capital Radio 101.7fm.

Jazz Classics from Gershwin to Cole Porter

The timeless words and music of Sammy Cahn are certain to make hearts swell at this swinging tribute to the legendary American songwriter.

Laura Bernay the leading interpreter of Cahn’s songs in Australia, along with her six-piece band, brings a poignant, fresh interpretation to some of the 20th century’s most enduring classics such as Come Fly With Me, Bei Mir Bist du Schoen, Three Coins in A Fountain, The Tender Trap, Time After Time and All the Way.

Jazz Classics

French Cabaret

From Cole Porter to Édith Piaf, includes songs from the great American and French composers and interpreters of the 1920’s to the 1960’s. The show is interspersed with contrasting songs in French and in English cabaret/jazz style and quirky informative and humorous dialogue.

Reviews

“Your concert at the Alliance Française de Perth extremely pleased our audience! The patrons were delighted, and praised the high quality of your performance and we have received many complimentary messages since. You carried the show with humour and charm. I will gladly recommend your show to all Alliances Françaises in Australia and beyond. A big thank you for this wonderful evening!”

Sylvie Dallier
Director Alliance Française de Perth

“Laura Bernay’s show was outstanding. I was enthralled. In addition to having a rich, clear and magnificent voice, she has a delightfully engaging stage presence which helps bring the songs to life and honours her backing musicians. Also, she gave brief but thoughtful comments on the music itself and its place in our culture, which I found very interesting.”

Dr Bruce WS Robinson
“West Australian of the Year 2013”
Am MBBS MD FRACP FRCP DTM&H FCCP Professor of Medicine School of Medicine and Pharmacology-Consultant Respiratory Physician
Dept of Respiratory Medicine, SCGH

“There are times in your life when unexpected gems catch you by surprise. Heidi and I had such an experience last Friday night when we saw Laura Bernay in her show“from Porter to Piaf” at The Alliance Française.

Laura is a fluent French speaker and made the best of her language skills to charm the audience. The theme of the night juxtaposed the reality of the bohemian street life and the romantic American view of the songwriters who lived in Paris in the early and middle twentieth century. Song selections from Edith Piaf to Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hammerstein filled the night air. Laura’s witty and insightful patter seamlessly took us from one scenario to another, illuminating a vivid history from opposing perspectives.

Mike Nelson’s brilliant quartet flavoured the music with an easy jazz ambience and Laura’s beautiful confident voice made time stand still for those of us fortunate enough to be there.”

Dennis and Heidi Sheppard
South Perth

“I was enveloped in sound. ‘Padam’ really did something for me: I was already warmed up to being present, the tone was so French, the band let you have the lead and you were like Piaf incarnated. Your voice was just so satisfying!”

Meta Doherty

Saudade

Melancholy, tristesse, regrets, reverie, nostalgia and longing for the past. But not all doom and gloom!

With such beautiful standards from Duke Ellington, Rodgers and Hart, Johnny Mandel, Dave Frishberg, Carlos Jobim, Van Heusen, Johnny Mercer and many more this show leaves the audience on a high.

Reviews

“Laura Bernay is one of those jazz singers who respects her audiences. She knows that apart from being loyal to the beautiful jazz idiom she performs with her éclectique repertoire she is expected to entertain people as well. This she does to the max and superbly! As a result she fills the venues in which she performs with her quartet.”

Victor Zappner
Devonport Jazz Festival Musical Director

Other Videos

Laura Bernay & Diesel @ The Ellington Club

Laura Bernay & Diesel Live @ Lizotte’s Central Coast NSW “A Taste of Honey”

“Georgia on My Mind” by Hoagy Carmichael, Laura and her brother Diesel Live @ Lizotte’s Central Coast NSW