MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: KEV CORBETT - ON THE RIVER OFF THE LAKE

There's nothing better than a musician who knows how to be an individual, and to carve out their own piece of the landscape. Although this Nova Scotian is a beloved sideman for many East Coast artists, when he does get out on his own he has a singular vision for his writing, his vocal presence, his playing, his overall KevCorbettness. He's a deep-thinking folk-rocker seemingly plugged into the land.

A multi-instrumentalist, Corbett basically put the whole thing together with producer Jason Mingo, all the better to let his individualism come through. It's a pleasing blend of rough and ready; his voice is unpolished but true, the playing bang-on but never busy. He'll rock it up sometimes, make it a little bigger, like with the driving beat and keyboard parts in Nowhere But For You, but it still sounds organic and somehow rural. Match it all with the level of thought going into the lyrics, and we have a set of songs here that feel rough-hewn but artistic, like a chainsaw carving.

Rural life does play a big part right across the set, whether its from nature or a canoe trip, or by the tale of life in the Sydney Steel Mill, taken from a 60-year old poem, and turned into a crazy electric blues in The Ballad of Slim McInnis. On the calmer side, Bury Me By The River has the country charm of a Rick Danko vocal. Sorrow On My Mind is the oldest-sounding cut, sounding like a Civil War number, with banjo and guest harmonies and a great big chain gang percussion sound. Eclectic, sometimes electric, it's your basic KevCorbettness.

MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: DONALD MACLENNAN - BELLEVILLE

It's always a blast to hear the joyful and innovative playing of gypsy jazz, and Antigonish's Donald MacLennan gives us his own fun spin on his debut disc. Usually found with Ben Caplan & the Casual Smokers or The Modern Grass, violinist MacLennan is a wiz, and, as befits the genre, a risk-taker too. He's not above making whale noises with his bow, or doing a downright shocking cover.


It's his version of the Dolly/Whitney that will set tongues a-wagging, almost unrecognizable until he gets to the chorus, and then only because it's one of only a couple of vocal numbers on the album, and you know the famous words. Once you get it, it'll cause a broad smile. The rest of the set bounces between more standard, frantic gypsy stuff, and surprising excursions into the jazz side of things. I guess "standard" is a poor word though, because the playing is anything but basic, with fast and furious passages at times, with other moments devoted to intricate arrangements with surprising results.


The other musicians here are equally fun folks up to the task, with the renowned Duane Andrews on hand to match MacLennan on acoustic guitar, Andrews being the East Coast's leading light of gypsy jazz. Sharp acoustic bass player Ronald Hynes gets to underpin the whole affair, and Graham Scott's accordion sets the needed mood, putting us in a little cafe somewhere exotic. Whether his own compositions, a couple of Django's, or a skewed take on Cole Porter's What Is This Thing Called Love, MacLennan and crew delight in the fits and starts, the interesting juxtapositions of the combinations of their instruments, and the musical freedom. A final shout-out to Matt Myer from Gypsophilia for grand trumpet work, especially on the cut Ariology. Inspiring, I say.

MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: CHRISTA COUTURE - LONG TIME LEAVING

The wonderful Edmonton-born singer-songwriter always has deep strength in her lyrics and crystal-clear folk vocals, but on her new album, she gets a beefed-up sound as well. Joining her are producer Steve Dawson, always an artist's best pal, plus the dynamic rhythm section of drummer Gary Craig and bassist John Dymond (Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, Bruce Cockburn, etc.)


The effect of the added colour is a wide selection of styles, and lots of subtle instrumental moments that add a ton to the already-captivating lyrics and charming melodies. A multi-instrumentalist, Dawson drops in highly-complimentary parts such as the pedal steel that winds around Couture's piano on In The Papers. The waltz-time Solid Ground gets an old-time rural feel, with lap steel. But That Little Part Of Your Heart follows those up with Dymond's fluid rock bass, and If I Still Love You has a fun pop groove.


In the meantime, you can get deep into some pretty special lyrics, as Couture winds up a relationship with some wise insights, and tough love. Her use of language is always a cut above, dropping in words such as cryptographer, happenstance, honey comb, and her illustrative powers make each song ring true: "The hallways are neatly lined with boxes stacked/this is what eight years looks like stacked."


Couture winds up her album release tour in Fredericton at Grimross Brewing on Saturday, May 7 at 8:30.

MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: PRINCE - HITnRUN PHASE TWO

Lots of tears and memories in the wake of Prince's untimely death, of course. Folks talked about what Purple Rain meant to them and how great 1999 was. Here's a novel idea: Go out and buy this new album, it's brilliant! Serious. Better than Purple Rain, by a long shot.


This is no quick cash-in, the album was actually released digitally at Christmas, part of Prince's recent return to form, and a true purple patch of increased activity and excellence. This album saw him back with the band he dubbed the New Power Generation, a particularly funky bunch, with lots of backing vocals, horns and hooks galore. It's a continuation of the album he released last fall, but much, much better, as good as the 3rdeyegirl-backed album Plectrumelectrum of 2014.


Oh ya, you say? Ya, I say right back. Opening cut Baltimore, which first came out last year digitally, is a breezy slice of classic Prince pop in the mode of Raspberry Beret, expect there's a surprising lyrical edge, it being a protest song about the death of Freddie Gray in that city. Next up comes a pure piece of fun, Rockandroll Loveaffair, with one of those great Prince in-jokes, "She believed in fairy tales and Princes." It's your 1999 song. Another track that appeared digitally before, Screwdriver, finally makes an album, and it's another killer, based of course on the double-entendre, "Eye'm ur driver & u're my screw." Oh, Prince, you were always the best little devil.


And do it goes, there's not a weak track here, and lots of his best, most famous sounds, little horn blasts and synth bits you'll recognize from his '80's heyday. It's almost like he wanted to show that not only could he still do this stuff, but that he still loved to do it, when the time was right. I truly hope lots and lots of people pick this up in the grief period, and discover that he was making some of his very best music in the last four years.

MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: REPARTEE - ALL LIT UP

The happiest band in St. John's, N.L., or anywhere for that matter, Repartee are spreading that sunshine across the country as they head out on tour for the new album, All Lit Up.  After spending the last few years building the name and honing the sound, the group has zeroed in on its target, making big fun pop music, with a strong live band behind it, and lots of Top 40 hooks all the way through.

Lead singer Meg Warren is a jubilant and strong presence, bringing lots of the good vibes on record and stage, plus the very pleasing pipes to back that all up.  And while all of this could be programmed and autotuned, that's the exact opposite of how they make their pop.  They can, and do, all this live as well, with Warren's highly-trained voice (did opera, took voice at Memorial) having no need of electronic help.  Nicely though, the group adds lots of production on the album, effects and echo that highlight Warren's lead vocal, and each track is filled with energy, bliss for the both the modern pop fan or retro-'80's devotees.

Repartee's All Lit Up tour takes them literally coast-to-coast, as they make their way to B.C. and then back home to St. John's.  Here are the next few dates:

• May 5 - Capitol Complex, Fredericton
• May 6 - The Drake, Toronto
• May 10 - The Casbah, Hamilton, ON
• May 12 - Dstrct, Guelph, ON
• May 13 - Rum Runners, London, ON
• May 14 - The Moustache Club, Oshawa, ON

MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: ANGEL FORREST - ANGEL'S 11

Quebec's monster-voiced belter is arguably the country's reigning blues singer these days, having picked up the Maple Blues Award for Female Vocalist three years running. Her vocal prowess will always dominate a song, but here she comes up with a fascinating idea to save some of the spotlight for the guitar player too. Not just any guitar player; there are 11 of them, Angel's 11, as she has hand-picked some of the best Canadian talent to guest.


Much of the magic here is that the songs were designed for the guests. Writing with her partner Denis Coulombe, the pair matched songs with styles. So you get a player who is more of a rocker, Johnny Flash (Jean-Sebastien Chouinard), out of Garou's band and Cirque de Soleil's Elvis show, Viva Elvis, on the big opener, Hangman. Rob MacDonald, long-time performing partner with Rob Lutes, shines on the soulful All The Way. Steve Strongman lets some more jazzy notes come through on Spoil Me Up.


Each song has its own character, and the magic of the release is how Angel adapts to each, while many become a showcase for the guest. Paul DesLauriers, somebody capable of tremendous electric work, dazzles on acoustic for the track Goodbye, my favourite on a set full of highlights. This went from being a good idea on paper to being a fully-developed and very successful concept.

MUSIC REVIEW OF THE DAY: JONT & the INFINITE POSSIBILITY - SOMEONE TO LOVE ME

Halifax's Jont returns with a new three-track single, a taster for his next album,set for this fall. Like his 2013 release Hello Halifax, these are big, sweeping emotional pop songs, with epic beauty in each. The title cut is a rocker with heart, handclaps and horns, a joyful number for sure. The next, Supernatural, feature strings, glorious backing vocals and passionate vocals in a big ballad.


The final cut, This Windshield, has the same major impact while produced as a polar opposite, stripped back to Jont's solo vocal, a delicate guitar, and a far-away echo, this time a calm yet giant moment, the lyric about leaving one's mark on the world.


While we await the album, Jont and crew are hitting the road, with a selection of East Coast and Upper Canadian dates:

• May 4 - Moncton, N.B., Plan B
• May 5 - Fredericton, Grimross Brewing Co.
• May 7 - Toronto, The Rivoli
• May 8 - St. Catherines, ON., Cafe Mahtay
• May 10 - Toronto, The Horseshoe
• May 11 - Montreal, Brasserie Beaubien
• May 13 - Edmundston, N.B., Cafe Lotus Bleu
• May 14 - Saint John, N.B., Peppers Pub