JACLYN GUILLOU – The Lover’s Walk
Solid singer Music (No number)
Jaclyn Guillou (vocals); Bram Weijters (pno); Piet Verbist (bass); Toon Van Dionant (d)
Recorded in Brussels November 16th 2013
Canadian vocalist Guillou arranged to record this set with the three Belgium musicians she had been working with on her second tour of the country. Pianist Weijters wrote Restless and Burning Question, two of the original compositions on the disc. The rest are by the singer. Jaclyn’s voice is flexible and able to cover a range of emotions as she skips from one mood to another on this programme. If her main asset is a clear, intimate style of singing, she uses it to good advantage here and blends in very well with pianist Weijters, a versatile jazz pianist and the sturdy bass and drum team. Restless is a plaintive ballad which the singer uses to good effect to demonstrate the quiet, reflective side of her singing style.
The rhythm section work extremely well together with the pianist displaying a glowing, bright choice of notes on most of these pieces and, together with the hard working Verbist and Dionant, shadowing the vocalist wherever she ventures. Perhaps this release is best described as on the fringe of jazz with a strong trio and a singer with a pleasing, attractive voice who can stay on the beat but is not actually a jazz vocalist. Her original compositions are quite enjoyable without being particularly memorable and will be enjoyed by people who like fresh, new music with a strong beat. A curious mix of slow to medium tracks are offered here with most having a melancholy flavour that is not unattractive.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
Solid singer Music (No number)
Jaclyn Guillou (vocals); Bram Weijters (pno); Piet Verbist (bass); Toon Van Dionant (d)
Recorded in Brussels November 16th 2013
Canadian vocalist Guillou arranged to record this set with the three Belgium musicians she had been working with on her second tour of the country. Pianist Weijters wrote Restless and Burning Question, two of the original compositions on the disc. The rest are by the singer. Jaclyn’s voice is flexible and able to cover a range of emotions as she skips from one mood to another on this programme. If her main asset is a clear, intimate style of singing, she uses it to good advantage here and blends in very well with pianist Weijters, a versatile jazz pianist and the sturdy bass and drum team. Restless is a plaintive ballad which the singer uses to good effect to demonstrate the quiet, reflective side of her singing style.
The rhythm section work extremely well together with the pianist displaying a glowing, bright choice of notes on most of these pieces and, together with the hard working Verbist and Dionant, shadowing the vocalist wherever she ventures. Perhaps this release is best described as on the fringe of jazz with a strong trio and a singer with a pleasing, attractive voice who can stay on the beat but is not actually a jazz vocalist. Her original compositions are quite enjoyable without being particularly memorable and will be enjoyed by people who like fresh, new music with a strong beat. A curious mix of slow to medium tracks are offered here with most having a melancholy flavour that is not unattractive.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
