Jill Freeman
Claudia Russell
Laura Zambo-Flores

Recorded Live at Genghis Cohen
February 4, 2002

LISTEN (MP3):

Harry's Solo - Ensemble vocal...with Laura as Harry

Bop Til You Drop - Claudia sings lead

Hot Baths - Jill sings lead

Feel Like Makin' Art - Laura sings lead

Tears of a Clown

BACK TO CLAUDIA RUSSELL HOME

The Life Is Grand Band formed in the early 1980s in Los Angeles with the stated purpose of rehearsing endlessly, drinking tea, and talking about boyfriends. The trio appeared at venues such as the Lhasa Club, Club Largo and the Central. The repertoire was about half original songs and half covers of well known songs, often done a capella or as song parodies. In fact, one year (c. 1989) LIGB took third place in the Harmony Sweepstakes, a national a capella competition. The Band was also included on the one and only L.A. Fast Folk compilation album and, as such, is part of the Folkways Smithsonian collection, making Life Is Grand a national treasure of sorts.

The Life Is Grand Band broke up around 1990. This performance from 2002 was essentially a "reunion concert." The flyer design is by yours truly, Bruce Kaplan. Photo by Anny Celsi.