The Halifax Jazz Festival gets underway this coming week, has a
stellar lineup, and opening night features a fantastic free show. It's
starring none other than Canada's premiere jazz-soul singer, Molly
Johnson. And wouldn't you know, she's got a killer new album out too.
It's
produced by none other than Larry Klein, who has managed to do a decent
job in the same role for Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman and Norah Jones
over the years. He knows how to showcase the finest female singers, and
that's just what you want with Johnson. She has one of those voices, the
kind that you want to enjoy every syllable she sings, the last faded
"sss..." on the end of a line. This is a particularly punchy, upbeat set
for her, mostly originals, and some well-chosen covers. There aren't
too many singers who can bring out the groove in Leonard Cohen's Boogie
Street, and make a classy version of Marvin Gaye's Inner City Blues as
well.
Her previous release was her tribute
to Billie Holiday, Because Of Billie, so Johnson had a bunch of her own
songs saved up for this one. Gone has a big groove, almost a rocker,
while Stop, written with Klein and David Baerwald (David & David) is
a jazzy modern ballad, with an emotional lead from Johnson at her
smokiest.
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