CD Review: June Garber – Off The Carousel

June Garber (vocals); Lou Pomanti (keyboards except track 6) + collectively: Steve Heathcote (drums); Marc Rogers (bass); Jake Langley (guitar); Drew Jurecka (strings); William Sperandei (trumpet); Robyn Black (background vocals)

This is one for people who like musical theatre as well as jazz, because some of the singing is close to the more dramatic musical theatre style and the inclusion of strings on most tracks adds to that effect.  No accident because June Garber is also an actor.

A native of South Africa, Ms Garber settled in Canada to become a leading vocalist with a career spanning four decades. After touring with her own 8-piece band to places such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Toronto, her jazz career didn't actually begin until 2003. This, Garber's fourth jazz album,  is meant to convey life's journey as a wild carousel ride both rough and smooth This is shown by the choice of songs and well summed up by the last and shortest track, Rules Of The Road, which moves along with witty lyrics sung to organ-like sounds from the keyboard.

The voice is clear and pleasing, but the strings are more suited to some tracks than others, for instance they worked well on Windmills of Your Mind, but were not so effective on The Shadow of Your Smile. It was good to hear honest to goodness jazz solos, such as the trumpet on Come to me High. Just for a Thrill featured a skilled male singer in duet, Jackie Richardson, not listed elsewhere. Chick Corea’s Spain was one of my favourite tracks, a Spanish guitar with lots of rhythm, backing singers, and a clapping sound from the drums.

It's a miracle of Covid era recording that we have this CD at all, as the album was mixed by keysman Lou Pomanti from remotely recorded tracks. It is available from September 17 via VesuviusMusic Inc. See www.junegarber.com.

Plus, on a personal level, I have been rewarded with a bonus for doing this review, sort of. The information sheet supplied was in both English and French, so I can practise my 'O' Level French. Merci bien! Ann Alex

He Never Mentioned Love; Windmills of Your Mind; Just For A Thrill; Spain; Shadow Of Your Smile; When October Goes; Come to me High; Rules Of The Road