Vocalist Elaine Dame's "REMINISCING"

In 2019, ELAINE DAME set out to fulfill a long-held dream of recording an album of ’70s pop songs reimagined as hip, modern jazz tunes. She was set to begin recording in 2020 when the pandemic struck, a devastating year for her marked by the loss of both her parents. In the aftermath, she grappled with depression, contemplating giving up singing altogether. However, by 2024, she found her footing again, and the result is REMINISCING, a collection of nine songs that once populated the FM airwaves during one of the most creatively diverse decades in music.

Dame grew up in Michigan, where her mother, a flutist and singer, introduced her to music from an early age. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Dame received a scholarship to attend Pepperdine University in Southern California, where she studied classical flute, singing, and theater. After several years at Pepperdine, Dame chose to complete her education at California State University, Northridge, to participate in the school’s inaugural Theatre Repertory Program. Following nine years in Los Angeles, she returned to her Midwest roots and moved back to Chicago to pursue acting in the city’s vibrant theater scene.

Elaine spent years immersed in Chicago's theater scene, but everything changed when she read The Artist's Way. Published in 1992 and recognized as one of the "Top 100 Best Self-Help Books of All Time," the book is designed to help individuals harness their creative talents and skills. Dame experienced an epiphany: her true calling was not in theater, but in music—particularly jazz. After exploring her passion for jazz more deeply, she began working regularly with a pianist to refine her skills.

It did not take long for Dame to become a regular on the Chicago jazz scene, performing in top clubs and headlining at the Chicago Jazz Festival. Time Out Chicago called her "a jazz dynamo" and "a gem in the city's vocal jazz scene.” She has also enjoyed multiple appearances at the world-famous Rainbow Room in New York City and has had many engagements at venerable jazz venues across the country.

Dame released two previous albums, You’re My Thrill (2014) and Comes Love (2005). Neil Tesser, Grammy Award-winning jazz critic and author of Playboy Guide to Jazz, said, “Dame has risen to the top ranks of Chicago jazz singers. She possesses all the musicality one could want in a true jazz vocalist: centered intonation, an enviable command of rhythm, and a translucent but powerful instrument.”

Dame’s first two albums mined the Great American Songbook, but for REMINISCING, she wanted to stretch herself vocally. She states, “This recording represents the culmination of my desire to create something entirely outside my comfort zone—something unique that challenges me as a vocalist. And, I have a deep emotional connection to all these songs. When I listen to them, I recall specific moments in time and have distinct memories associated with each song.”  

The 1970s were an eclectic era for music, showcasing disco, rock, R&B, funk, fusion, and soul. Many songs from this vibrant decade continue to attract new listeners today, and Dame’s genre-blending approach highlight the versatility of jazz. She states, “I want to engage amateur and seasoned jazz listeners and provide them with a fresh perspective, which is essential for keeping jazz relevant in today’s musical landscape.”

Joining Dame are top Chicago musicians, including CHRIS MADSEN (co-arranger and tenor & soprano sax), TOM VAITSAS (piano, organ, Fender Rhodes), SAM PETERS (bass), JON DEITEMYER (drums), VICTOR GARCIA (trumpet), ART DAVIS (trumpet), NEAL ALGER (guitar), ALYSSA ALLGOOD (harmony vocals), and CHRISTY BENNETT (harmony vocals).

Dame opens the album with “Tell Me Something Good,” a funk-soul tune originally performed by Chaka Khan. Dame updates the song with a mambo beat and faster tempo. “Use Me” is a song by Bill Withers. Dame’s funky-bluesy version features a get-down guitar solo by Alger and Vaitsas’ driving piano.

She changes pace on “Reminiscing,” the title track. A soft rock number by The Little River Band, Dame’s fluid vocals give this song a sexy, yearning feel, paired with a bossa-nova vibe featuring languid flute, trumpet, and guitar solos. The song has special significance for Dame; it was chosen as the theme for her high school prom.

“Wish You Were Here,” written and originally performed by Pink Floyd, is reimagined as a pensive waltz, and reminds Dame of her separation from her college boyfriend. She altered the pronouns in “Sing Child,” a song by the group Heart, transforming it into a powerful statement against sexism. The tune features background vocals by Allgood and Bennett. “Nothing Seems to Matter” is a song filled with longing, and you can hear the ache in Dame’s voice.

“Midnight at the Oasis” was a big hit for Maria Muldaur. Dame slows it a down a bit, giving it a more dreamy but no less suggestive attitude. “Last Dance” was originally performed by disco queen Donna Summer. Dame’s ballad version highlights the emotional depth in the lyric. Pablo Cruise is not a group that is well remembered today, but their song “Love Will Find a Way” was a big hit on the radio in 1978 and still very familiar to aficionados’ of 70s pop.

Looking over Elaine Dame’s oeuvre, it’s clear that she can sing just about anything she sets her mind to. Her commitment to rework these rock, pop, and funk classics is a bold move, but it pays off handsomely. These songs are both familiar and refreshingly current. REMINISCING is a journey through nostalgia and an homage to a creative era whose sounds still resonate today.

TRACKS

1. Tell Me Something Good 4:31

2. Use Me 4:06

3. Reminiscing 5:57

4. Wish You Were Here 5:30 

5. Sing Child 4:33 

6. Nothing Seems to Matter 5:47

7. Midnight at the Oasis 7:00

8. Last Dance 6:32

9. Love Will Find a Way 4:44 

Arranged by Elaine Dame and Chris Madsen  

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REMINISCING was released on February 21, 2025. Physical copies are available at Bandcamp.

Online:

Elainedame.com

Facebook.com/elaine.dame

IG: @elainedame

Elainedame.bandcamp.com/album/reminiscing

Youtube.com/user/TheDameElaine

Promo Video: https://youtu.be/bJkKyv0fgMY