Looking For The Answers

LOOKING FOR THE ANSWERS // Released: April 12 2019

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Looking For The Answers - Aimee Nolte

LA Singer and pianist, Aimee Nolte's new album, “Looking For The Answers”, featuring her quartet (Mike Scott - Guitar, Bruce Lett - Bass, and James Yoshizawa - Drums), is Aimee’s third and most explorative album.
Looking For The Answers - Aimee Nolte The answers Nolte is searching for are easily discovered and possibilities opened up as she made the decision to unbridle herself from the reigns of "jazz" and compose and play whatever moved her deeply.
With solo numbers, driving latin grooves, intimate duets and elements of folk and popular music, Aimee has indeed, found the answers she set out to find, all-the-while, taking the listener with her.
John Clayton Bassist, John Clayton joins Nolte in a mind-blowing duet, dancing a dance of shared improvisation, and intense awareness.
Aimee is not only a talented jazz performer, but she has penned, arranged, and produced most of the new songs from the album. In addition to her original compositions,  jazz standards, such as Duke Ellington’s “All Too Soon” and Cole Porter’s “So In Love" add familiarity and a sense of history to the album. You'll experience exciting, soulful improvisations, beautiful and haunting new melodies, and lyrics that will take you by surprise and remind you of why you love life and music.

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Track List [click titles]

1. The Loveliest Girl

1. The Loveliest Girl
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Jason Neubauer: guitar
Bruce Lett: bass
Doug Webb: woodwinds
[Composer: Matthew Clark, Arranger: Aimee Nolte]

Spending afternoons together, a string of days with perfect weather, far too nice to stay inside.

Lying in the grass I looked up at him sitting next to me. He said the light was casting shadows under my nose.

The sun was running his fingers through my hair to make it glow. And I looked at him, and said I wanted to know what he was thinking about. So he told me this story...

I was born in the center of the sun. The product of a nuclear reaction. All the other sunbeams, we were all the same. Preparing ourselves, for the long and lonely journey into space.

I expected I would die 100 years from now, on the dark side of a desolate moon with nobody around. Imagine my surprise, when I went into her eyes, and down her nose, across her lips, across her toes, across her hips, and she was so...beautiful.

She was so...beautiful. But of all the light the sun gives off every second of the day, why was I lucky enough to fall upon the face of the loveliest girl?

2. Looking For The Answers

2. Looking For The Answers
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
Bruce Lett: bass
James Yoshizawa: drums
[Composer: Aimee Nolte]

Wake up from your dreams
Come on, you Sleepy Head
And finish what you started here
Do not be afraid
I’m here to take your hand
I can see the end so clear

Why do you always go looking for the answers
So far from where you started,
Away from what you know?
And when you decide to come back to the beginning,
You know I’ll be there

You’re running out of time
You’re running out of air
Running to a place unknown
Go on and do your thing I will be right here
When you find your way back home

3. Falling Snow

3. Falling Snow
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
Bruce Lett: bass
James Yoshizawa: drums
[Composer: Aimee Nolte]

I watch you walk away
Your footprints fill with snow
And icy silence falls upon my troubled heart

I wonder as you go
How time has changed the both of us
And all too soon is pulling us apart

I still remember how it felt to hold your tiny hand
And button up your coat on winter days
The wonder in your brown eyes as we looked for falling stars
The thrill we felt while watching passing trains
And even though you’re gone, I feel the same…
My boy, my Miles, my boy

But seasons have to change
And stars will fall and trains will pass
And little boys grow up and then they go

I’ll never understand
How time can fill our footprints
Just as softly as the gently falling snow

4. This One Hurts

4. This One Hurts
Aimee Nolte: prepared piano, vocals, vocal effects
[Composer: Aimee Nolte]

When I’m all alone with my thoughts,
I will turn them all to you
It seems to be my habit in the night

Then I keep on painting pictures
Of how our lives could’ve been
Cause I haven’t learned just how to stop the fight

If you never hurt me, then I would’ve stayed
And I would have loved you, all of my days -
And if I still loved you, I’d change all the words
I’d write you a new song, instead of this one that hurts
In my dreams I still can see you
Even though it’s been awhile
I can feel the way you whispered in my ear

I step back, you pull me closer
I am crying in the night
And I think that you’re the only one who hears

You can never take it back, it’s my forgiveness you lack
And you can never take it away, I will always make you pay
And you can never take it back, it’s my forgiveness that you lack

And no you can never take it away, I will always make you pay

5. I Gotta Get

5. I Gotta Get
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
Bruce Lett: bass
James Yoshizawa: drums
[Composer: Aimee Nolte]

It’s time for a party
Tonight we’re gonna boogie down
Transportation is ready
It’s time for the countdown

Meet me there at the station
We blast off at eight thirty
If you’re late we will wait for you
We’re not in any hurry

Destination unknown, leave your worries at home
On the Earth, far below - We’ve got a long way to go

I gotta get, I gotta get, I gotta get
I gotta get you off of my mind
I gotta get, I gotta get, I gotta get
I gotta get you out

6. Save Me One Last Time

6. Save Me One Last Time
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals, backing vocals, synth bass, organ
John Reilly: woodwinds
[Composer: Aimee Nolte]

I’m watching as you fade into the past
I can’t believe it’s happening so fast
I’m stepping back into my empty life
I’m fighting through the silence of the night
I really messed it up this time

I drink away the pain most of the time
It’s what it takes to get you off my mind
I find it hard to face up to the truth
Cause I look into the mirror and there’s the proof
I know I broke your heart this time

And I am falling harder than I’ve ever fallen
Falling into nothing, and nothing’s all I’ve got
If I keep on falling, I’ll be lost forever
Save me one last time

There’s a part of you that wants a part of me, I know
It’s the rest of me that needs some working out for sure
Yeah, there’s a part of you that needs a part of me, I know
Take the best of me, the rest will come along

I really wish you’d even up the score
Cause maybe then I’d hate me even more
At least I’d know there’s something left to feel
You’re the only thing about me that’s for real
I think you’re gone for good this time

7. Bye Bye Blackbird

7. Bye Bye Blackbird
Aimee Nolte: Vocals
John Clayton: Bass
[Composers: Ray Henderson, Mort Dixon]

Pack up all my care and woe
Here I go, singing low
Bye-bye, blackbird

Where somebody waits for me
Sugar's sweet and so is he
Bye, bye, blackbird

No one here can love and understand me
Oh, what hard-luck stories they all hand me
Make my bed, light the light, I'll arrive late tonight
Blackbird, bye bye.

8. All Too Soon

8. All Too Soon
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
[Composer: Duke Ellington]

All too soon
We had to part
The moment you had touched my heart
And with you went my dream
All too soon

All too sweet
Was our affair
And you put all the sweetness there
What a shame that it's gone
All too soon

I knew the strange delights
That only you in love could bring
And as I reached the heights
The bottom fell from everything

You should know as well as I
Our love deserves another try
For we whispered goodbye
And all too soon

9. So In Love

9. So In Love
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
[Composer: Cole Porter]

Strange dear, but true dear
When I'm close to you, dear
The stars fill the sky
So in love with you am I
Even without you
My arms fold about you
You know darling why
So in love with you am I
In love with the night mysterious
The night when you first were there
In love with my joy delirious
When I knew that you could care
So taunt me, and hurt me
Deceive me, desert me
I'm yours, till I die.....
So in love.... So in love....
So in love with you, my love... am I....

10. You Should’ve

10. You Should’ve
Aimee Nolte: piano, vocals
Mike Scott: guitar
Bruce Lett: bass
[Composer: Aimee Nolte]

You should’ve known, that I was much too young
You should’ve stopped yourself from coming on too strong
The loneliness you’d known, the time you’d spent alone
They were no excuse for the pain you put me through

You should’ve said I’m sorry
You should’ve thought to call me
You should’ve done it long ago
At least that much you owed me
My heart’s been broke a long time
And you’re the reason why
You should’ve said I’m sorry

You put your coat on
And hung your head in shame
You left me standing there
Blue eyes crying in the rain
You never told me why, you didn’t even try
Not one word of regret, and I can’t forgive you yet

11. For A While

11. For A While
Aimee Nolte: piano
[Composer: Aimee Nolte]

Instrumental track

Album Reviews [click titles]

Downbeat Magazine

 Downbeat Magazine
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

Link

Lemonwire.com

 Lemonwire.com
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.

Link

JWvibe.com

 JWvibe.com
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.

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Midwest Records

 Midwest Records
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.

Link

Jazz Weekly

 Jazz Weekly
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.

Link

Contemporary Fusion Reviews

 Contemporary Fusion Reviews
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

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Bebop Spoken Here

 Bebop Spoken Here
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

Link

Music Man Blog

 Music Man Blog
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.

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Jazz Life (Japanese magazine)

 Jazz Life (Japanese magazine)
"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."

Link

The Jazz Page

 The Jazz Page
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.

Link

Aimee is promoted by: Holly Cooper - Mouthpiece Music - (310) 993-4017 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - www.mouthpiecemusic.com

Tags: Falling Snow, Looking For The Answers

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Aimee Nolte performs in duos, trios, and big bands as a jazz pianist and singer. Live performances

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