Whole Note Magazine
November, 2010
Bill MacLean
"This recording is a dream-come-true," says award-winning jazz vocalist Adi Braun of her recently released five-song EP, "Canadian Scenes I." On it Braun has stretched her already impressive talents to include songwriting with three original tunes.
In My Heart I Know begins with a softly plucked acoustic guitar, and is soon joined by an evocative arco bass, to set up this beautifully romantic ballad. Ocean Eyes is an excellent example of Braun's "cabarazz" style, a mixture of cabaret and jazz. Her sultry vocals caress the lyrics, swooping and soaring over the pulsing beat of Kevin Barrett's guitar and the piano of Jordan Klapman. Grace "walks with a steady pace/Through the summer heat," a loving ode to "the place where she and I belong." It is good to hear that Braun has taken Shirley Eikhard's encouragement to "put my songwriting foot forward." These three tunes are hopefully harbingers of many more originals to come.
Braun is also noted for her determination to bring Canadian songwriters to her audiences' attention, and she does so exquisitely with Tony Quarrington's collaboration with Jordan Klapman, Rain on the Roof. Songwriter Julian Taylor joins Braun on his composition It's Not Enough, a pop ballad reminiscent of the many duos of 90s rock. Other contributing artists on "Canadian Scenes I" include bassist George Koller and Glenn Anderson on drums. The EP is available through Braun's website.