Leah Kaufman
Gig Seeker Pro

Leah Kaufman

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2017

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Established on Jan, 2017
Solo Folk Singer/Songwriter

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Review of solo CD Five Fingers"

Having no background on Kaufman to bias my opinion, I can only say that she’s absolutely breath-taking. Her voice and guitar playing are magnificent, carrying some of the best lyrics I’ve ever heard on a wave of melody and rhythm. The variation in style and texture keeps each song a fresh, new experience from folksy to jazzy. “That Bike” is an especially fun and delightfully orchestrated song; Marjorie Richards chimes in with perfect background vocals, Tim Miller leads a playful rhythm for David Keenan’s mandola and Jami Sieber’s cello to dance along with. John Daly’s uillean pipes and the simple blend of voice and guitar on “Persephone” are dramatic and moving. The total package is just dynamite, and I would recommend it to everyone. A fine, fine album.

- Marilyn O’Mallory, Victory Review

- Victory Music Review, Vol. 24, No. 7, July 1999


"'On to Something Fine' - Fresh folk from Leah Kaufman"

After making a name for herself and loading up on folkie awards, Kaufman disappeared for a while and relocated from Seattle to Raleigh where she really makes back porch sounds with the locals who aspire to the back 40. A gentle rain of well-wrought folksiness, Kaufman finds her métier in the country where the nearest coffee shop is miles away and the good vibes stretch out like the fields before you. Delightful singing and playing that can make people that make faces at the mention of folk music stop being so rude. - Midwest Record, Chris Spector


"On to Something Fine CD Release Show this weekend"

’On to Something Fine’ is full of gentle folk gems. Her soothing vocals pair with clever songwriting – the jaunty “Ruby Shoes” is from the perspective of a post-Oz Dorothy – and simple yet sharp acoustic arrangement. - Indy Weekly, Durham NC


Discography

1999 - Five Fingers - solo CD
1994 - Flying to Blue - CD (with The Wailing Strangers)
1992 - Shakin’ - cassette tape (with The Wailing Strangers)

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

In the 1990's,
Seattle singer-songwriter Leah Kaufman
released three recordings with popular acoustic
quintet The Wailing Strangers and her own solo debut CD, ‘Five Fingers'.
Performing in festivals and venues throughout the Northwest, her songs garnered
song­writing awards and accolades from the South Florida Songwriting
Competition, lntermountain Acoustic Music Association, Mid-Atlantic Songwriting
Competition and the Austin Songwriting Competition.


 In 2015 she relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina, and in
2017 re-emerged with ‘On to Something Fine’, a collection of songs that pulse
with rhythm and vibrant musicianship. This is eloquent acoustic music that
dances between genres. From the sweetness of a lullaby to a driving honky-tonk
dance tune, there’s a backbone of articulate guitar playing and an ear-catching
voice that pulls you in to each song's unique story. Her newest album, ‘Midnight
Refrain’, builds on these strengths: songs with melodies that stick like glue
and lyrics that tell stories you love hearing. An accomplished finger-style
guitar player as well as fine flat-picker, each song holds true to a common
core of exquisite lyrics, fine guitar work and a clear strong voice.


These new projects helped her pick up a few more awards including 2018 finalist in the South Florida Folk Festival, 1st place and Audience Choice Award in the 16th Annual Rapunzel's Coffee & Tea Songwriting competition, and in 2019 finalist in the 'NC Gold Album Project'.