NANCY LANE - Let Me Love You
Self Produced Album 001 Available from Amazon
Nancy Lane (vcl) Aron Doyle (tpt/flg), Lara Driscoll (pno), Francois D' Amours (tnr), Kenny Bibace (gtr), Mike De Masic (bs), Dave Laing (drs)
This is the first album release by Canadian singer/songwriter Nancy Lane who hails from Montreal and on her own admission is at present little known outside of her own country. Born into a musical family her early influences were Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane. Although working part time in music for over ten years since the age of seventeen she has concentrated on her general adult education while writing pop and indie songs alongside tv jingles in her spare time.
She bears an uncanny physical resemblance to Diana Krall and although her voice has a marked individuality there are strong overtones of Annie Ross on some numbers. A fine group of musicians have been recruited for the project, some from the local Montreal scene alongside the likes of pianist Lara Driscoll and guitarist Kenny Bibace, who have both been widely recorded and currently in the bands led by Christine Jensen. The recording contains mostly standards from The Great American song book with a small number of contemporary pieces for good measure within the eleven track forty five minute play list.
The Opener "Let me love You" by Bart Howard, contains a superb guitar solo and lays down the format for most of the album. The vocals are relaxed and mature, most of the front line musicians are given time to express themselves . They also support the singer well during the ensemble passages. "Tout Ce Que Veut Lola" is a fine ballad presented in it's native tongue with a masterful muted trumpet interlude. Arthur Hamilton' famous torch song, "Cry Me A River", originally brought to prominence by Julie London is taken at half tempo and showcases the sultry tenor of Francois D'Amours. Lara Driscoll's piano is superb, particularly during the guitar conversation on Rogers and Hart's "You Took Advantage of me". The bass of Mike De Masic is inventive throughout and to the fore on "What Is This Thing Called Love".
Overall this is a high quality recording, by a vocalist who most certainly has talent and deserves an audience. However she may need to move somewhat more away from the standard repertoire with her subsequent output to attract a real following. In the meantime many will find this initial release ideal for late night listening.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
Self Produced Album 001 Available from Amazon
Nancy Lane (vcl) Aron Doyle (tpt/flg), Lara Driscoll (pno), Francois D' Amours (tnr), Kenny Bibace (gtr), Mike De Masic (bs), Dave Laing (drs)
This is the first album release by Canadian singer/songwriter Nancy Lane who hails from Montreal and on her own admission is at present little known outside of her own country. Born into a musical family her early influences were Stan Getz, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane. Although working part time in music for over ten years since the age of seventeen she has concentrated on her general adult education while writing pop and indie songs alongside tv jingles in her spare time.
She bears an uncanny physical resemblance to Diana Krall and although her voice has a marked individuality there are strong overtones of Annie Ross on some numbers. A fine group of musicians have been recruited for the project, some from the local Montreal scene alongside the likes of pianist Lara Driscoll and guitarist Kenny Bibace, who have both been widely recorded and currently in the bands led by Christine Jensen. The recording contains mostly standards from The Great American song book with a small number of contemporary pieces for good measure within the eleven track forty five minute play list.
The Opener "Let me love You" by Bart Howard, contains a superb guitar solo and lays down the format for most of the album. The vocals are relaxed and mature, most of the front line musicians are given time to express themselves . They also support the singer well during the ensemble passages. "Tout Ce Que Veut Lola" is a fine ballad presented in it's native tongue with a masterful muted trumpet interlude. Arthur Hamilton' famous torch song, "Cry Me A River", originally brought to prominence by Julie London is taken at half tempo and showcases the sultry tenor of Francois D'Amours. Lara Driscoll's piano is superb, particularly during the guitar conversation on Rogers and Hart's "You Took Advantage of me". The bass of Mike De Masic is inventive throughout and to the fore on "What Is This Thing Called Love".
Overall this is a high quality recording, by a vocalist who most certainly has talent and deserves an audience. However she may need to move somewhat more away from the standard repertoire with her subsequent output to attract a real following. In the meantime many will find this initial release ideal for late night listening.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
