Piano and Vocal Jazz Duo: Matt Dorland & Susan LaVelle

Piano and vocal jazz duo, Matt Dorland & Susan LaVelle, share originals drawn from jazz, Latin, blues, and pop, and standards from the Great American Songbook.

“This Old House”: Our 2023 Tiny Desk Contest Entry

“This Old House” Written and performed by Matt Dorland & Susan LaVelle

This is our third entry into the Tiny Desk contest! Basically, the rules are that the song needs to be an original song by US writers/performers and it must contain a desk of some kind. “This Old House” is blues, plain and simple, with impassioned vocals and the terrific piano you expect from this vocal and piano duo.

Just a Touch of Jazz’s lyric video for “Silence”

Piano and Vocal Jazz Duo, Just a Touch of Jazz, Matt Dorland & Susan LaVelle

The song and video for the song “Silence” came about after seeing the shocking video of George Floyd’s murder. The only reason this terrible deed came to light was because witnesses recorded cell phone video and shared it on social media. The witnesses broke the silence. The word “silence,” stands in contrast to action. “Silence” is indifference, apathy, detachment, dispassion. The song expresses a call to “find a voice, not silence.” Matt and Susan encourage you to listen and share this song!

Also, check out our 2022 Tiny Desk video for our original song, “Music Brings Us Closer”

Check out the “Music” page for more Just a Touch of Jazz and Matt Dorland & Susan LaVelle’s piano and vocal jazz originals. Performances by the duo are also found on the YouTube page @JustaTouchofJazz.