Shelli LaTorre
Gig Seeker Pro

Shelli LaTorre

Portsmouth, NH | Established. Jan 01, 2000

Portsmouth, NH
Established on Jan, 2000
Solo Jazz Adult Contemporary

Calendar

Music

Press


"Feature Article: The Silver Starlite Orchestra at Pavinci Italian Grill, Hopatcong, NJ. - A Review and Appreciation"

If you know to respond with “How about you?” when the singer pauses after “I Like New York in June,” then you’ll enjoy an evening of dinner and dancing to the Silver Starlite Orchestra appearing the third Tuesday of the month at Pavinci Italian Grill in Hopatcong, NJ. The 20-piece big band, featuring vocalists Jimmy Mastrull and Shelli Latorre, provides a wonderful evening whenever they appear, with their themed shows including “Swing, Swing, Swing,” “Songs of Our Favorite Girl Singers,” “Sentimental Journey,” and “Cool Swing.”

Pavinci’s dance floor is one step down from the dining area, inspiring one 70+ year old dancer to hop off the step the most recent night we were there, so excited was he to dance to the music of Frank Sinatra and Glenn Miller Orchestra type songs.

The Italian specialties have always been good, but I usually save the zuppa di pesce for a non-dancing dinner since I find its difficult to manage shellfish and linguine with the up and down from the table that the Silver Starlite Orchestra inspires. It’s hard to get John to put down his fork when his dinner is in front of him, so a simple red snapper or salmon filet is the better choice to maximize dancing time. A dinner reservation at 7 pm makes for good timing so you will have eaten your salad before the band starts at 7:30. They take their own dinner break from 8:30 to 9 which is when we like to go out on the deck overlooking Lake Hopatcong and watch the moon, the ducks and some diners returning to their boats for their ride home. Why anyone would want to eat outside or in the back dining room while there is dancing in the main dining room is beyond our comprehension.

At 9 pm the band has started up again and we are lured back inside when we hear “I Only Have Eyes for You.” The dance floor comfortably holds ten or so couples. The really good dancers showed off their cha cha and rumba to songs like “Ojos Verdes” though foxtrot and swing dances comprise most of the evening. The music also attracted couples who had come to Pavinci’s just to have a drink at the bar, but the music called them in to dance.

We’ve taken hundreds of hours of lessons and we’re serious about having a good dance so we never really have much conversation while we are on the dance floor. Except this time, when the band did a medley starting with “As Time Goes By,” and I innocently remarked, “Was this from Casablanca? I don’t remember that it had music.” That set off John, the movie buff, who then held forth through the entire medly, beginning with his opening statement, “What? It had a lot of music. I can tell you five songs right now without even thinking very hard. “As Time Goes By,” - that's the famous one. There was La Marseillaise, the French national anthem. The Germans were singing some song that they drowned out with the anthem. Dooley Wilson also sang a song with the lyric "because my hair is curly." There was a Carmen Miranda-ish woman singer with the band that does a song with a big guitar solo. And "knock on wood" There are probably more in the flashback scenes in Paris and at Rick's.”

Later, with the help of the Internet, I also recalled “The Very Thought of You" and "It Had to Be You."

Then we did a lovely waltz to “Always” When the next song that the band played was Willie Nelson’s “Crazy” John remarked, “They must be in the single word song section.”

I guess we did a nice job with the waltz since someone remarked, as we left the dance floor, “You won the prize. “ John said, under his breath, “I didn't realize it was a competition but it’s an honor just to be nominated.”

As we returned to our seats, when the music finished at 10 pm, the woman at the next table said “You dance so well. It’s nice to see young people enjoying dancing.” John muttered, “Yeaaaah. We're not so young.” And we paid the bill and left.

Pavinci’s offers live entertainment and DJ music every week. If your preference runs to Latin music, Classic rock, Top 40s, Blues, Soul, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s or Doo-Wop, you’ll find your evening on the entertainment schedule at www.pavinci.com/entertainment.htm

The Silver Starlite Orchestra will be back at Pavinci’s August 16th and September 20th 2011. Follow the music at http://www.silverstarliteorchestra.com.

By Lisa Skriloff, www.dancetravelnews.com - Dance Travel News


"Rochester wine tasting to benefit performance center"

ROCHESTER — There will be a charity wine tasting held at The Castle on Charles to benefit the new Rochester Performance & Arts Center on North Main Street.

The Performance & Arts Center combines versatile studio and performance spaces, art gallery, and comprehensive arts and educational programming for students, children, teens, adults, and seniors in a comfortable and uniquely supportive environment, according to a press release from organizers.


The wine tasting will feature four tables of wines to sample as well as delicious food including shrimp cocktail, smoked salmon, a chef’s carving station, and many fine desserts. The event will also offer live music, silent auction, and chances to win tickets to shows at the Rochester Opera House.

The event will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, at The Castle on Charles Street. The Castle is located at 19 Charles Street in Rochester. Tickets are $45 per person. Tickets can be purchased online or call the box office 603-35-1992, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Visit www.RochesterOperaHouse.com or www.CastleNH.com for more information.

Dining Out with Rachel Forrest - Cataqua and Bowled Over - Edge Radio


Discography

Shelli's music is available at shellilatorre.com/music


Full Circle


"Full Circle."  A short, powerful sentence to describe all of the things that have happened in our lives.  For me, Full Circle is about finding the things that I want to hold onto forever and throwing the others into the sea of forgetfulness. It is about finding ways to survive - and - thrive!

Full Circle is a 12-song package of my passion for music, fresh air on a flame that will roar through your heart.   It is more than a collection of songs.  It is a journey that I want to share with you.  I hope you come to see your own courage and creativity through Full Circle.  I hope you find the same power of belief.  

As Martin Luther King said, "Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase."

Great jazz is a team sport and Shelli is proud to have recorded Full Circle with these fantastic musicians (in alphabetical order):

Steve Ash, piano: US State Department Jazz Ambassador, internationally performing musician, currently music director for the legendary bebop vocalist Jon Hendricks

Tim Givens, bass: Performed with jazz greats Lou Donaldson, Curtis Fuller and Ray Bryant. Toured with pianist James Williams

Joel Perry, guitar: Longtime member of Texas Bluesman Johnny Copeland's band. Recorded with Copeland and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Performances with Rosemary Clooney, Joni Mitchell

Leonieke Scheuble, Hammond B-3 organ: (at the time of the recording, Leonieke was 12 years old). Her 2014 release "Debut" was recorded by Rudy Van Gelder and featured Miles Davis' drummer, Jimmy Cobb.  She has already won prestigious awards, including Hot House's "Best Up and Coming Young Artist" in 2015

Nick Scheuble, drums: Longtime percussionist with Chico Mendoza. Performances with Wynton Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon

From the Hudson's Jersey Side

Shelli also sings with the Silver Starlite Orchestra and recorded From the Hudson's Jersey Side LIVE in 2011.

Photos

Bio

Shelli LaTorre is a fun, romantic singer.  Her range and expressiveness is a home-grown recipe that comes from a lifetime of embodying the sounds and styles of Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday.  She has a gorgeous voice with warmth and radiance that shines through in jazz, rock, and pop songs. 

Shelli personalizes every song with natural rhythms and harmonic sensibility. Versatile and creative, Shelli evokes a passion and emotion with her ballads and generates playful, seductive interpretations of upbeat standards.

"Shelli has been an integral part of our live music line-up for years, including New Year's Eve.  She keeps our patrons coming back for more!" - The Clinton House (NJ)


Shelli performs on the concert stage, in restaurants, and at private functions.  Shelli has sold-out Shanghai Jazz, one of DownBeat's Top 100 Great Jazz Clubs, played Trumpets, the Brownstone, Vanderbilt's, Westbury Manor, Bowman's Tavern, the Radisson Hotel at Cross Keys, and many other clubs.

"The charm, charisma and talent of this wonderful musician was the keynote to the success of my very memorable party."

Shelli sings different genres, but - so far - she has saved her recording efforts for jazz classics.   Shelli's new CD, "Full Circle," tells the story of her musical journey through an eclectic mix of American and jazz standards, vocalese, blues and Brazilian repertoire.  

Shelli's first CD, “From the Hudson’s Jersey Side,” features several treasured classics from the Great American Songbook. Each selection is a live big band performance with the Silver Starlite Orchestra from various choice supper clubs.