Jaclyn Guillou. Foto: David Fierro

JACLYN GUILLOUJaclyn Guillou

Date and Venue 6 April 2011 @ 8.00pm | The Cultch, Vancouver

Reviewer Ed Farolan

I was delighted by Jaclyn Guillou's invitation to come over to the Cultch and listen to her sing songs from her debut album To the City.

Guillou is touring Western BC promoting her new CD which comprises mostly original music. Some songs are her interpretations of classic tunes such as "O Pato" popularized by Joao Gilberto in the 60s.

She mentioned that her songs are autobiographical. "To the City" is about her going to a Catholic school, and irritating the nuns because of her inquisitiveness. She also mentions her travels to Brazil, and the view of English Bay from her 17th floor apartment in downtown Vancouver,

I liked her song about wanting to be alone and getting a ticket to New York and Los Angeles, a sultry, slow jazz, a cross between the styles of Norah Jones and Astrud Gilberto.

Guillou is an award winning vocalist, recipient of the 2009 CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award. Her international band includes New York City vibraphonist Tom Beckham, Belgian pianist Bram Weijters, Vancouver bassist Michael Rush and Vancouver drummer Joe Poole.

BC has produced another rising star, someone perhaps to follow in the footsteps of international jazz artist Diane Krall in the years to come.

.© 2011 Ed Farolan