Cami Thompson: REVIEWS

When it comes to showbiz entertainers, we've all heard introductions for them, like "incomparable!... fantastic!... phenomenal!... one and only!"
Well, when it comes to Cami Thompson, they all apply. What a performer! At the August 18th YES event, Cami -- with her winning smile and personality -- won us over immediately... The moment she got onstage, it was as if a whirlwind had come into the room and decided we were going to go spinning with it.... This is the kind of performance skill that cannot be learned. It is in you or it isn't.... I assure you, Cami is a consummate performer with a style and personality for entertaining that one could only be born with.

"Thompson sings with the clarity of a Barbara Cook, the range and control of a Cleo Laine, and the emotional impact of a Lena Horne. There's no denying the sincerity of Thompson's matchless articulation and the depth of her seamless shifts of mood in all she sings - Cami Thompon is a superb singing actress." (Reno Philharmonic's Pops on the River: An Inspired Evening of Music)

Guest artists Pete Escovedo, Latin jazz percussion master, and Cami Thompson, vocalist extraordinaire, each add their particular artistry that helps keep the high energy flowing.... Thompson demonstrates an excellent feeling for jazz with her amazing range, vocal control and awesome scat singing on the Rogers and Hammerstein standard, It Might As Well Be Spring. The two-bar trade offs between her and Vax steals the show! ... for CD MIKE VAX and MVJO, ALTERNATE ROUTE, Sea Breeze Records

"Cami Thompson (is) remarkable, a perfectly wonderful singer."

NOJO's guest artists --the beguiling Cami Thompson (It Might as Well Be Spring, Embraceable You) and fiery percussionist Pete Escovedo -- are superb in every respect. Whatever route you choose, you can ensure an agreeable traveling companion simply by inviting Mike Vax and NOJO along for the ride.

for CD by MIKE VAX and MVJO, "ALTERNATE ROUTE", Sea Breeze Records

Worth noting: the two vocals by Cami Thompson (Cole Porter's "I Concentrate on You" and Legrand and Bergman's "The Way He Makes Me Feel"), for the accuracy of her intonation while scatting in unison with the band, and for clear diction and a range that won't quit.

In my two years of hosting shows, I have never seen a performer like Cami Thompson. The lady performed like she was in a packed auditorium with thousands of people watching. With Si Perkoff at the piano, this duo dazzled the audience with their jazz touches, old favorites from Gershwin to Cole Porter. The audience clapped and their heels were moving with the beat of the music. Some of the songs Cami sang were - 'Embraceable You', 'I Get a Kick out of You', 'Nite and Day', In the Still of the Night', 'What is this Thing Called Love', 'What a Difference a Day Makes'. The crowd loved her style as she did her 'scatting' in the various jazz numbers. What the audience enjoyed most was Cami's ability to reach and hold the high notes. There were hints of Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Judy Garland and Ella Fitzgerald. Her last song was Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World". Si Perkoff is another great master at the piano. His fingers just seem to float and caress the piano keys with soft gloves. Cami and Si are a match made in heaven. The audience wanted more and more from them.

Lisa Starbird
Bread & Roses
Program Assistant

"Early Sunday morn, I stopped into the Coconut Grove to catch the wonderful singer Cami Thompson ... ... She makes me smile!"

" Thompson's finger-snapping flights of scat are as cliff-hanging as her ballads are touching."

Cami – I don’t even know what to say… you were SO SO fabulous Sunday……and the band was terrific too…… Like I thought – everyone present was blown away… not just with your incredible voice, style and personality, but your ability to work our story into your program. I thought that the creative way you added bits and pieces – and pulled the whole thing together – was beyond spectacular. It was so far beyond my expectation, that I could not even get my thoughts together to begin to thank you. Jack and I were completely engrossed in the presentation (he had tears in his eyes throughout the first half) – and I knew that one of the two of us had to be able to speak by the end! Well…… you made the day, and everyone at the dinner could not stop talking about how great you are… and about “Rainbow” – whew…… the consensus was that no one had ever been to a party like this one – the reaction has been overwhelming… and much of this is due to your fantastic concert... Please let me know if you ever need a recommendation!!!!

Lots of love – Jan and Jack

" Last weekend's "Jazz and Beyond" festival at the Brewery Arts Center was a spirited success... Sunday capped it all with the Reno Jazz Orchestra and Cami Thompson. She's a jewel, and sings the way the jazz angels should."

"Freedom, humor, love and compassion--these are the things Thompson values most, and she hopes her creative endeavors can be a source of inspiration and encouragement to others. Her voice is beautifully diverse and moving, skillful and wise, and her outlook on life is so positive, you can't help but admire her--that's the inescapable aspect of her music: It makes your body move and makes you feel good."

"Cami Thompson sang on a recent night, backed by the superb expertise of her jazz trio. (She) energetically performed some of the most artistic scat styling in the Western states."

Loved the jazz festival!
Congratulations to Carson City for the world-class jazz festival held this past weekend. Many participants felt the highlight of the weekend was the Reno Jazz Orchestra performance featuring Cami Thompson. If there is a better big-band singer in America, would someone please let me know? Cami Thompson should be a major headliner whenever she performs.

Max Jackson, Reno

"Thompson was perfectly cast as Mona, and she delivers one of the finest performances I've seen since reviewing Reno theater. Not only can she belt a song with the best of them, she has a winning stage presence. In fact, she almost single-handedly salvaged the first 30 minutes of the show."

"The world has yet to learn that Cami Thompson is among its great entertainers... She is a singer, composer, lyricist, band leader and serious and comedic actress of limitless promise, with a majestic voice that suggests a new Streisand or Ella Fitzgerald is dawning. But thankfully what we don?t have is an imitator. Cami is original! "

"Dahling...you were maaahhhvelous!" (After seeing Cami's performance at San Francisco's "Coconut Grove", dancing with wife, while fellow actor Nicholas Cage looked on. (Cami nearly fainted when he came up and spoke these words to her.)

"The hour-long concert embracing some 20 love songs of George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Duke Ellington before a large, enthusiastic audience ... was the most exciting star turn I've heard since Liza Minelli was at the peak of her powers. ... (Cami) generates that kind of excitement, while remaining indelibly her own person. She's self-effacing in a fun-loving way, with a voice that caresses, scats, soars, and gets way under the skin of every tune she sings.... (She's) a first-rate actress with what it takes to touch the soul of a song."

"Cami probably has more talent than any performer I know. Her voice does things I can only dream of doing! She has incredible stage charisma and timing, and she's got... THAT VOICE!" (Co-star in "Mame", Nevada Opera Company)

Cami Thompson's "One Touch Of Heaven" changed the pace a bit. A lilt in this voice nevertheless carries a natural vibrato and a strong sense of soul that puts some spice into the mix that came across as peppery to me. If that seems a contradiction, well, I guess it is. The attack is perfect. The intonation is flawless. And Thompson's work in the upper registers is obviously intuitive. And there is a high final note that seals the envelope on this piece that will make you tingle with excitement and admiration. Wow! (Review of one song from a
radio show.)

Avec son timbre tres personnel, collant sur les missives musicales l'appel au de'passement, Cami Thompson chante le jazz avec chaleur, avec cette precision qui fait les professionnels.

"Cami Thompson has an elecfying quality about her, and her friendly outlook, wild sense of humor and exceptional professionalism make her powerful voice a joy to listen to."

"... An abbreviated Rubenesque Mae West, she's sensuous, she's hilarious... she's femme fatale. What she does with her eyes and moue is delightful. What she does with a song is spine-tingling."

"From her dynamic vocals to her clever compositions to her unique arrangements, Cami's versatility and talent really shine... The world awaits Cami Thompson!"