Toronto Star Review
May 25, 09:52 AM
Two Etobicoke Collegiate and Toronto All-Star Big Band veterans, New York-based vocalist Amy and her drumming brother Ernesto, a
frequent Hogtown-Big Apple commuter, release this debut CD on
Saturday at the late Rex show – and it’s worth hearing from tracks 1
through 10. Joined by pianist Michael Cabe and bass Mark Lau, they
dip into wide repertoire ranging from contemporary pop (Fiona Apple,
Feist, etc.) to jazz chestnuts to cabaret to gloomy poet Leonard Cohen, whose “Famous Blue Raincoat” inspired the disc title and the foursome to make moving music. Jonatha Brooke’s “Because I Told You So” is a great starter, too. Amy has risen fast through tough singing ranks down south, and her freshly appealing voice is a big reason, allied to sympathetic support. The tasteful sounds suggest both youth and wisdom, a fairly miraculous tandem, but ironically it’s the jazz songs that succeed least. GC
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