Lori Diamond

By Jenifer Bakkala

The water is cool and deep, and Lori Diamond is taking you in -- farther than you ever thought you'd go. Her voice is lush and alluring, and her lyrics dare to visit some of the most secluded tide pools of the human heart. It's a combination that continues to make listening to her music a profound journey -- one that Lori hopes will forge a real bond between herself and her audience.

"I want people to feel like they've had an emotional experience when they hear my music. I want to feel like I've made a connection with them."

A self-taught pianist, "there was never a moment when music was not there" for Lori. She began on her home piano as a toddler and joined her first band at the age of 14. Beginning in her college years, she was keyboardist and back-up vocalist for the Boston-based Bee Charmers, an acoustic/folk/rock group which offered her some experience in writing and arranging as well. During her 10 years with the Charmers, she also moonlighted with other bands, increasing her repertoire to include Motown, blues, classic rock and jazz.

Sometimes described as a cross between Joni Mitchell, Aimee Mann and Alicia Keys, her influences include Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Ella Fitzgerald, Carole King, Liz Story and Sarah McLachlan. The result is an adult contemporary style infused with jazz, pop, folk and blues.

In 2003, Lori put her songwriting abilities to the test with her first solo album, Bound, which is dedicated to the memory of her sister. Since then, she has performed avidly as a soloist, and has added her voice and keyboard work to the albums of many local artists.

Lori teamed up with guitarist/vocalist Fred Abatelli in 2007, a musical union that she calls "inevitable." "He paints more colors -- takes it to a different place, and expands the sound, making it richer and bolder." With Fred's help, Lori wrote and released Mystery, which made its debut to a standing ovation at Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham, Mass in 2009.

Currently, Lori and Fred are enjoying a full performance schedule, and hope to expand their horizons geographically as their reputation continues to grow. They also plan to collaborate on a new CD in the coming year -- recording begins in June 2010.

Fred Abatelli

He's only played three notes so far, but guitarist Fred Abatelli is already smiling. When he's performing with vocalist/keyboardist Lori Diamond, "it's a joy. The time goes by so quickly." Fred, who joined Lori in 2007, finds their current partnership to be the opportunity he has been searching for ever since he picked up a guitar at age 13. "Everything that I have done musically has prepared me for this experience."

And this "experience" comes after a colorful career of performance and experimentation. Fred learned his instrument by playing along with records as a youngster in Queens, NY, and over the years drew inspiration from a variety of musical corners: The Beatles; artists from Sun, Stax and Motown records; rock; country; jazz and blues.

He began performing at local open mike jams during his college years, and played with many groups before becoming a member of the Long Island band Shotgun, a country group which also paid homage to rock and jazz. In the 1980s, Fred moved to New England, where he eventually became part of Biggs Band, a 10-piece Motown cover band that frequented the House of Blues in Cambridge, Mass. for many years.

In 2004, he was one of the founders of Too Many Drivers, an acoustic rock and nu-jazz group. Later, after that group's break-up, he re-vamped some of its recorded material into the 2009 CD "October Road," which features him on guitars and lead vocals.

It was in 2007 that Fred went to a local performance featuring singer/songwriter Lori Diamond, whom he had recently met on MySpace. After exchanging several friendly emails, the two agreed to try some music together, and "it just clicked immediately."

Fred and Lori have been a duo ever since, and it's a match-up that Lori thinks is destined to be: "I've never trusted anyone with my music the way I trust him. Not even close. We think alike musically.

Fred's solid finger work and clever phrasing (both on bass and guitar),can be heard on Lori's latest original CD, Mystery , which was released in 2009. Fred describes the palpable electricity between them as "magic": "Lori and I truly don't play notes or chords - we have a conversation. I'd been searching for someone I can communicate with like that. Lori gives me carte blanche for a huge amount of self-expression."

Fred and Lori have appeared in a variety of venues across the New England states, and are hoping to expand their performance bookings beyond that territory in the coming year. Also in 2010, the two plan to collaborate on a new CD, which they are scheduled to begin recording in June.