Caroline Nadeau

Forever Lasting Canadian Songs

Les Disques Jazzazoue, 2023

8/10

Listen Forever Lasting Canadian Songs

A veteran singer, arranger, composer and backing vocalist, the Canadian jazz artist Caroline Nadeau makes an impression with this 3rd solo album, where arrangements by legends from her home country are thoughtfully delivered.

John Sadowy’s warm piano opens the listen, as Max Sansalone’s frisky drums enters as well to complement Nadeau’s smooth pipes on “Takin’ Care Of Business”, and “If You Could Read My Mind” follows with Karl Surprenant’s precise bass plucking amid the elegant singing of the Gordon Lightfoot original.

Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” lands in the middle and utilizes Daniel Lacoste’s fluid electric guitar that suits Nadeau’s soaring pipes, while “Black Velvet” spotlights Nadeau’s impressive range via the rich interaction between the keys and rhythm section.

Landing near the end, “Hurts To Be In Love” benefits much from Lacoste's cozy acoustic guitar and the emotive, intimate singing, and “Constant Craving” exits with Rich Irwin behind the drum kit for the powerful and dreamy K.D. Lang tune.

An excellent assembly of pop classics, Nadeau and company keep the original melodic aspects of the originals, but place plenty of timeless jazz flavor into the fun atmosphere.

Travels well with: Linda Purl- This Could Be The Start; Jan Cronin- I Thought About You