Kai Hoffman (vocals and French horn); Gunther Kurmayr
(piano); Geoff Gascoyne (double bass); Sebastiaan de Krom (drums); also Gavin
Broom (trumpet) and Derek Nash (saxophone) on track 4
(Review by Ann Alex).
This CD is a
thoroughly enjoyable, lively, sassy, whirlwind of songs sung and played well,
songs with an assertive feel, just in time for International Woman’s Day
although the timing is a coincidence so far as I can tell. Kai Hoffman, a resident singer at Ronnie
Scott’s,
is hailed on the festival circuit, and rumour has it that she also looks good
in Retro clothing! (so our editor tells me).
The album opens
in fine style with Fran Landesman’s rather naughty Some Boys,, listing almost
everything a woman needs to know about men, and continues with soft
cymbals and insistent beats on History
Repeating; on Pure Imagination
the drums play a little tune (bongos?) and the mood is more reflective. Then comes the title track with the main
message, to live for the moment and enjoy yourself. Quote ‘ sometimes you got to act before you
really understand’. I’ve Never Met A Guy
Who’s Perfect provides this very amusing line ‘I’m sick of silver foxes,
who don’t tick the boxes’. Jazz
standards included are Make Someone
Happy, a very zippy Sweet Georgia
Brown and What a Little Moonlight Can
Do. I was surprised by the final track The Masquerade Is Over, a sad song
about the end of a love affair, after all the optimism of the other tracks, but
perhaps it was intended to drive home the message of doing it while you
can. The musicians certainly did it
while they could with aplomb and solos on most tracks.
If this CD is
anything to go by, the album launch gig and party at Ronnie Scott’s on
Wednesday March 20 will be great fun. For
further details email launch@broadreachrecords.co.uk or visit http://www.kaihoffman.co.uk/ but you’re probably too late already!
Kai Hoffman: Do It While You Can is now available on itunes or from Amazon.
Ann Alex
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