Larra Skye / Toronto, Canada / July 25th, 2009 / The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar / Jazz Vocals
On
Saturday July 25th, The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar played host to
yet another of Canada’s fine young female jazz singer / songwriters; this
time it was Toronto’s Larra Skye, who was preceded earlier in the month by
Melissa Stylianou, who now lives in the United States. Two years ago, Skye
released her debut album The World Disappears, and it was so well
received that Canada’s largest music retailer HMV signed her to a national
distribution deal. Skye’s talents as a songwriter, paint a rosy picture for
her, and she seems destined to eventually share the spotlight with fellow
Canadian (now based in New York City) Brenda Earle, who has established
herself as a highly respected jazz pianist, vocalist and composer. Larra
Skye brings more passion to her singing, and injects more fun into her
performances than another one of her peers Sophie Milman, and during her gig
at the Rex the crowd quickly warmed up to, not only Skye’s music but her
personable demeanor. One would think in time, if promoted correctly, Skye
should eventually exceed Milman’s popularity, which is not a diss of Milman
as an artist, as she has devoted fans on both sides of the Canadian –
American border, but it is more a tip of the hat to Skye.
With her long, light brown hair cascading past her shoulders, and dressed in an above the knee, black and brown dress, complimented by cream colored high heels, Skye opened her set with a Latin flavored “All Or Nothing At All,” The combination of Skye’s smoky vocals and pianist Dave Restivo’s solo, evoked a passionate response from the appreciative crowd.
In contrast to her sultry vocals on “All Or Nothing At All,” Skye’s phrasing was both tender and romantic as she performed her original piece “Turn Up The Stars,” from her The World Disappears CD. Skye sang the lines “Sweep me off my feet / If you say that you love me / Say it’s forever,” with authenticity. At the midpoint in the song, saxophonist Luis Deniz served up a strong, but mellow solo.
There is an appropriate line in “Whisper A Secret,” also from Skye’s album, “The smoky jazz groove hits me like a heartbeat,” that accurately describes her vocals as she accompanied herself on acoustic guitar, while singing the love letter. Larra Skye’s ability to permit herself to be vulnerable in front of her audience, allows those who are in love to remember why, and creates a yearning among those who are not. The song was collaboratively written by Skye, her co-producer Gerard P. Finn Jr. and Adrean Farrugia.
The song “What A Day,” clearly belonged to the instrumentalists, with Dave Restivo turning in a very good performance on the Rhodes piano and Deniz blowing some sweet notes on his horn. As he did throughout the evening, drummer Anthony Michelli wielded his sticks superbly. This is a funky tune that seemed to capture the imagination of the boisterous crowd in the standing room only, close quarters of the Rex.
Skye’s quartet continued to funk up the beat, as they played “Always Rolling Seven,” and this time, the crowd responded to bass guitarist Rich Brown’s ninety second solo.
Other highlights from Larra Skye’s gig at The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar included, “Down On Your Luck,” a song in which Skye lingered on the last note or two for at least fifteen seconds, her blues tinged “Love Is,” and a fan favorite, her own “Pretty Little Baby.”
Larra Skye was also believable and reflective, as though she were recalling personal memories, while covering The Beatles’ “A Day In The Life.” She was accompanied only by her pianist, as they presented a stripped down version of the song that she first performed on CIUT Radio in Toronto, two years ago, during a tribute to The Beatles.
To listen to Larra Skye's music, click here or visit the Larra Skye website to learn more about this gifted artist.
Photo by Greg King, protected by copyright ©
July 25h, 2009
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Riveting Riffs Magazine wishes to express our gratitude to The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar for making it possible to review this performance
