Called a “jazz sensation” by Monday Magazine, Heather Ferguson’s journey to music has been long and winding. The sultry-voiced singer, now based in Victoria, Canada after many years in Toronto, is fast becoming known for her interpretations of the great songs of the 20th century. Her debut album, Lush Life – to be released in November 2022 – is a showcase for her beautiful phrasing and remarkable gift for storytelling. With the help of many of Vancouver Island’s finest musicians, Ferguson pays homage to some of history’s finest songwriters, interpreting classic songs that still resonate with audiences decades after they hit the charts. A dynamic and consummate performer with a smouldering sound, Heather Ferguson is a wonderful addition to the vocal jazz scene.
A Little Louder Now is the phenomenal new album from Toronto bassist and composer Lauren Falls. This album takes the listener on a musical journey through a beautifully curated collection of seven original compositions, plus a classic standard from Victor Youmans. Falls’ second album as a bandleader, A Little Louder Now demonstrates her growth as a musician and composer since the release of her 2013 debut album, The Quiet Fight. A Little Louder Now features several of Canada’s most sought-after musicians, including saxophonist David French, guitarist Trevor Giancola, pianist Todd Pentney, and Falls’ brother Trevor on the drums. Each musician brings something unique and enticing to the record’s sound. Falls had each musician’s specific musical voice in mind while writing the material for this album. The title A Little Louder Now speaks to Falls’ personal evolution, and her journey becoming more confident and courageous as both a musician and a person. These compositions are reflections of her life experiences, both good and bad, and the artistic growth that has accompanied them. The sonic textures created for the listener inspires feelings of hope and inspiration, bringing comfort to those who are also in the midst of their own personal journeys.
Canadian composer and guitarist Avi Granite celebrates his musical roots by spotlighting some of Canada’s finest musicians in solo performance. Based in New York City, Granite returned to his native Toronto in the fall of 2021 to record Avi Granite’s In Good Hands. Granite is a seasoned improviser, but in this context we focus on his work as a composer. With the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Granite recruited the talents of several of his musical mentors and friends. A cross section of Juno Award winners and Toronto music scene mainstays, In Good Hands offers an intimate glimpse into the work of 11 incredible instrumentalists as they interpret and reimagine Granite’s distinctive compositions. The opening piece Like A Magazine features a gorgeous performance by jazz legend Pat LaBarbera in his only known solo recording. Each track offers a unique listening experience as a different instrumentalist takes the stage. Avi Granite’s In Good Hands is perhaps the most texturally dynamic recording you’ll hear this year. It’s an invitation into a musical space like no other, and an intimate portrait of a composer painted by some of the artists that shaped his work.
Dan McCarthy’s Songs of the Doomed: Some Jaded, Atavistic Freakout is an album of music inspired by the writing of political journalist and general dingbat Hunter S. Thompson. A lot of the jangled madness that makes up this band’s repertoire comes from a new compositional style created specifically for this band called the ‘Gonzo Cypher’. The cypher allows you to take a word, phrase, or even paragraph of Hunter’s writing, submit it to the cypher, and what you are left with is a weird and likely obnoxious ‘tone row’, which is then used to compose the music – serial music rules apply. The sound of the band is inspired by the Gary Burton Quintet from the 1970s on ECM Records, which was weird in its own right. It featured Burton on vibes, along with two guitarists (Metheny and Goodrick), bass (Steve Swallow), and drums (Bob Moses). This mess of chordal instruments allows for the creation of thick tapestries of sound, and also allows the band to get weird and intense, not unlike The Grateful Dead or Jimi Hendrix. Perhaps Songs of the Doomed will achieve fame equal to those artists… Or maybe not. But, the uniqueness of this project leads me to believe that audiences everywhere will clammer for more. T
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