Teresa Storch

Quotes:
“EMMYLOU HARRIS WOULD A FIND A WEALTH OF INSPIRATION IN THESE SONGS IF SHE LISTENED TO THIS COLLECTION. HOWEVER, TERESA’S ORIGINAL VERSION WOULD BE HARD TO TOP.”

“…SOMEDAY THIS ARTIST WILL BE IN THE LEAGUE WITH EMMYLOU HARRIS, PATTI GRIFFIN, MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER, SHAWN COLVIN AND ROSEANNE CASH.”

Excerpts:
“…That brings me back to the wilds of Colorado and Teresa Storch. While the music I describe was first performed — to my knowledge — by a Irish-Celtic band The Moving Hearts with Christy Moore in their tune “No Time For Love,” the concept of country-jazz was fully realized in a thrilling manner in this brilliant political song. I thought I would never hear the likes of it again.

But somewhere in the depths of this new album – Teresa further explores this music concept whether she knew it or not. And she succeeds. She may “sound” a little like other female folk-country artists but in reality her approach has her definitely walking down a separate, though parallel road. Not all of her songs are country-jazz – but when she does scrape the edges of this rare genre she is a fine example of what this music could be. She has brass coupled with violins, fiddles, violas, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, mandolins – wow. It’s like salty potato chips with dark chocolate. It’s like prosciutto on a slice of cantaloupe. It’s a cup of hot Earl Grey tea with Irish Whisky.”

“The music is where the focus should be: On the first track “Come Clean” – the subdued brass with its subtle touches drive the song subliminally as this Colorado-native sings in a clear, contagiously soothing voice. I was pleasantly surprised — as mentioned earlier — to find folk songs with brass coupled with older more traditional acoustic instruments…. The arrangement keeps the music sophisticated and makes it a pleasant curiosity. It’s genius lies in the balance of fiddles, violins and acoustics with the waves of trumpet, trombone and saxes blending seamlessly and arousing the ears. It’s an invigorating blend of melodic energy.”

“Happy Girl” is stunning. Teresa, in a lower, sad and sexy register, trickles her voice down into your ears with compelling words. It’s like looking at a painting and every time you return to it you see something you missed. It’s poignant — and though she is singing about being a Happy Girl you wonder by the vocal if she is telling the truth, trying to convince herself and others that she is…really is…when there are moments when she probably believes otherwise. Powerful subject, and a beautiful approach that listeners will relate to if they listen closely. Emmylou Harris would a find a wealth of inspiration in these songs if she listened to this collection. However, Teresa’s original version would be hard to top.”

“Before I Go Home” confirms that someday this artist will be in the league with Emmylou Harris, Patti Griffin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin and Roseanne Cash. This has a nice warm Deborah Holland type-vocal. A ballad with a confident country approach. But, Teresa’s magic is in how her vocals are supported by little flourishes of her brass section. Non-traditional folk-oriented instruments and arrangements. Balanced on a fence between country and jazz like no other since the fiery Moving Hearts song “No Time for Love,” which at seven minutes encapsulated the country-jazz prototype. A new approach at music for certain. Seldom explored by others. Teresa’s continuing this here brilliantly.” - No Depression Magazine

“WITH A VOICE AS EVOCATIVE AS EMMYLOU HARRIS’S AND SONGS AS INVENTIVELY PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF COUNTRY MUSIC AS LYLE LOVETT’S, TERESA STORCH IS AN ENGAGING PERFORMER AND WRITER” - R2 MAGAZINE, UK

Funky and soulful folk songs, seeped in jazz infused vocals, dirty guitar riffs and often backed by brass. This record offeres a variety of music from an artist who seems to know what she likes...and what she likes covers a lot of different styles. The opener Your Story is a brass infused funk song that's upbeat and comes across as fun loving but following that you have the sentimental and guitar/piano/vocal let track Bullet Proof Vest that resides in the genre of singer-songwriter tinted folk. It's substantial, enormous in content and talent, musicianship, vocals and writing skill and it all comes through ont his record. It's honest, it connects with the audience and the songs are heartfelt--soothing at times and at others uplifting. I like this record and it is certainly a promising debut. --LB

- Maverick Magazine (UK)

Teresa Storch brings some refreshingly vibrant blue-eyed soul to her funky blend of folk-rock on “Stream of Concrete.” The Boston singer-songwriter delivers 11 original songs like she’s been singing them for years, though she has only been performing professionally since 2003. “Your Story” starts the album in fine form with a catchy R&B tune that you can’t help but to groove to. It is the first of many “folk” songs that avoid the trappings of most new folk records by dwelling too much on the lyrics and not enough on arrangements… just listen to songs like “Bullet Proof Vest” and “Time is Yelling.” Then there’s the jazzy ballad “Mr. Moon,” alongside the Allman Brothers Band-inspired title track and “Tongue-Tied,” complete with Commodores-like horns, to remind you of Storch’s expansive artistry. — Michael Swanger - Des Moines CityView 10/30/2008

"Teresa Storch has an immediate emotional way with a song… people can’t help but be pulled into her world.” -Boston Herald music writer Daniel Gewertz - Dan Gewertz

By JAY N. MILLER
For The Patriot Ledger
Posted Oct 09, 2008
Losing her job as a software developer was the best thing that ever happened to Teresa Storch, who then swapped a computer for a guitar.
``I began playing in the subways and around town, and making music my main focus,'' said Storch, who lives in Boston. ``Now I still enjoy part-time software jobs to make ends meet, but my music is the main thing.''
Storch, whose debut CD ``Streams of Concrete'' has just been released, performs Saturday at the new Driftwood Folk Cafe in Plymouth, opening for Cliff Eberhardt.
Tickets are $16.
Of course, engineers and software developers make a pretty good living, while the income for young musicians on the way up can be scarce. Storch, who grew up in Omaha, said she has no regrets, despite her mother’s warnings.
``She was very concerned, worrying about me, and what I was going to do if the music didn’t work out,'' Storch said. ``It just seemed so clear to me, and overwhelming, that now I’m so happy with what I do. Working on software is not a bad life, but with music and creativity, I’ve discovered a part of me I never knew.''
The first song on ``Streams of Concrete,'' in fact, spewed out a conversation Storch had with her mother. The song, ``Your Story,'' is a remarkably vital and rock-inflected, horn-fired bit of musical caffeine, and it has a companion piece in the rock/funk ``Time Is Yelling.''

The latter is a paean to seizing the moment, delivered with the kind of sizzling arrangement you’d find on a Tower of Power record.
Clearly, Storch is not your average folkie, and the guest list on her album includes musicians like T. Lavitz of the Dixie Dregs on organ, David Goodrich on guitar, and brothers John and Scott Aruda on sax and trumpet, respectively.
Storch will be appearing solo in Plymouth, and said while it is challenging to approximate the band sound, she doesn’t hold back. This is a woman, after all, who has been dubbed ``a combination of Joni Mitchell and Dave Matthews.''
``I always write with funky rhythms,'' she said, ``and I put a lot of soul and energy into my shows. I still can get people kind of grooving, even solo, and that is my goal.''
In other cuts on the CD, Storch achieves a twangy feel (``Streams of Concrete''), jazzy R&B as Steely Dan might’ve done it (``Tongue Tied'') and classic Tin Pan Alley (``Mr. Moon'').
``My brothers were Steely Dan fans, but I was not of that era,'' Storch said. ``A friend told me that ‘Tongue Tied’ sounded like them, and played me one of their records. I said ‘Oh my God.’ It’s actually just a song about me flirting with a guy. People say ‘Mr. Moon’ is my Hoagy Carmichael song, which is a huge compliment. I wrote it when one of my brothers got married, and it’s about choosing to love one person the rest of your life.''
Storch has a full-band CD release show scheduled for Nov. 21 at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. In the meantime, she’s built a solid fan base around three areas: Boston, Colorado and Omaha.
``I love touring,'' Storch said, adding she has 200,000 miles on her old Pontiac. ``I love driving alone for long distances, and I’ll go out to Omaha and Colorado four times a year.''
- Patriot Ledger

"Infuses contemporary singer/songwriter with traditional folk vibe. It's no wonder she's being recognized in her genre..." - Soundcheck Magazine

“She’s the real deal!” - Ken Gaines

“Teresa Storch is an energy ball…this gal has it all. Rock, folk, smoky blues, solid guitar work and dynamite voice. She connects with her audience as if we’ve known her forever!” - M.F. Daisy

"Teresa Storch debuts her promising singer/songwriting talents on Muscle Memory. Her Vega/Merchant-esk vocals and simplistic yet funky guitar work are backdropped by some very tasteful musicianship from Jim Wooster, Jeff St Pierre & Phil Antoniades. Teresa’s skilled vocal style shines on the track “Choose Your Battles” while inserting a bit of wisdom; I’m one who seeks perfection I get frustrated by the rest / if that’s just out of the question I can convince myself that I could care less So I’ll appear undaunted, but there’s still this confidence I lack/ ‘cause I fear my mind could always stab me in the back.

The bluesy title track reveals her alluring seductiveness which balances out this set of 6 fabulously catchy folk-genre’d tunes. We’ll be keeping an anxious eye on this newer talent and look forward to her next effort. Speaking of keeping an eye on her, Teresa is quite the road warrior so zip over to her website & catch one of her many upcoming show dates!" - Boston Girl Guide

“…one of the most inventive writers and solid performers of the current crop of singer/songwriters coming out of Boston. [She] makes me proud to be one.” - Vance Gilbert

Teresa Storch is another impressive member in the Boston Music scene … I believe there are some really good things ahead. - DJ Zsid