As I go into the studio this week (EEP!) to re-record the album, I have been thinking a lot about the tunes I selected for this project.

Tracklist:

(in no particular order)

All Apologies (Kurt Cobain)

Exquisite Corpse (Kate Fenner & Chris Brown)

Lonely Lonely (Leslie Feist & Tony Scherr)

This Flight Tonight (Joni Mitchell)

Alfie (Burt Bacharach & Hal David)

One More Colour (Jane Siberry)

Ahead By A Century (Tragically Hip)

Midnight Sun (Hampton/Burke/Mercer)

Repetition (Michael K. Feuerstack)

LINK TO PLAYLIST HERE

Why these tunes? I don’t often get asked this question-but it permeates my very being when trying to decide on 10-12 new tunes to do. A good handful of these tunes have been on a list in my notebook(s) for over a decade. And I realize that there are some who don’t consider what I do to be jazz. I’m not here to convince you that it is. It’s up to you to decide, but I feel it in my bones because that’s where I feel the music.

These songs spark a memory and it is that spark that allows me to connect deeply with the material. I have a hard time choosing songs simply because they are catchy or have great licks.

All APOLOGIES:

All Apologies came into my life in the 8th grade. I was still figuring out my footing in what kind of music I liked, but because I had older brothers I was often exposed to all kinds of music. I remember feeling compelled by KC’s melancholy as it resembled my own, but he was describing it in a way I never knew could be done.

EXQUISITE CORPSE:
I had the great honour of meeting these two musicians on a couple of occasions, as they were friends to my boss at the time. But before that, I had been introduced to them by my housemate in college, and I could not stop listening to their music. Kate’s voice and Chris’s lyrical prowess (as well as hers) made me fall in love with these ex-pats. This song just spoke to me with such imagery, it’s always been in the back of my mind.

WEBSITE HERE

LONELY LONELY:
Lonely Lonely was probably one of the first tunes I ever worked on in a jazz context. I was living in Vancouver (which was indeed lonely lonely) at the time, working with jazz guitarist and friend Rich Rabnett (of Rab 5.) Let it Die had permeated my being since I had discovered it at Megatunes (my old album buying joint) thanks to Twyla. Back then, you could listen to an album on these great headphones before buying it. Everything about Feist spoke to me, and her tunes translate so well to the jazz context. Lonely lonely just had such great dynamics and space that I couldn’t resist.

THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT:

I can’t say when and where Joni Mitchell first came into my life, but it’s as though she’s always been there. I knew I would do something Joni for this album, and I thought I would pay homage to a song that doesn’t get reworked quite as often as some of the other tunes off Blue. In fact, most folks only know it as a Nazareth tune!

ALFIE:

Alfie is a tune my mentor and friend, jazz guitarist Keith Smith would always bug me about doing. We got so far as making a chart, but I never figured out my key and kept putting it off. I don’t know why I was so reluctant, because it’s such a beautiful song. Perhaps the old versions stuck in my head wouldn’t allow me to do it. But, after Keith died I knew I needed to. Songs that ask questions about love and life-he always plucked them so gently. We hope to honour him in that way.

ONE MORE COLOUR:

This song was first introduced to me by Canadian Favourites THE RHEOSTATICS, back in grade 10. My brothers were major fans and by proxy so was I. The Rheostatics were so wonderfully weird and I felt a kinship with them like they were my Canadian spirit animals. One More Colour explodes with Joy and Punk Rock feelings-we’re loving how it worked out for this project.

AHEAD BY A CENTURY:

I know I don’t need to say much about this song or band really. I don’t need to convince you how much I loved them or how formative a part they played in my musical education. What I will say, is that I had the honour to play and sing this song for two dear childhood friends at their wedding, and they are MAJOR fans, much more than you. It brings me such joy when I sing it as they found each other after 20+ years after a high school crush that never quite faded. <3 SWOON, HEART SIGHS <3

MIDNIGHT SUN:

I first heard Esperanza Spalding do this tune, and I really shouldn’t have to say much more than that. But up until recently hadn’t found my “colour” so to speak in how to play and sing it. Thanks to Simon, I think we’ve nailed it. It encourages me to not care about what others think of my style or tune selections, as they are coming from my heart, which is what Esperanza does so well.

REPETITION:

I have a friend who writes these incredible songs. This one comes from his formerly known as project SNAILHOUSE. You can find him under his own name now, Michael Feuerstack. Based out of Montreal, Mikie writes these dreamy, magical, pull on all your heartstrings tunes. My first college boyfriend and now dear friend, jazz drummer Dan Gaucher introduced me to his music and to him, and this is Dan’s arrangement of this tune from back in my Vancouver days.

WEBSITE HERE

Recording begins today! Can’t wait!

Thanks for being on this journey with me.