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Kathleen Gorman: Brand New Day
ByGorman sings with a compact sense of rhythm and development, letting her creative sense light a fire under the songs. What emerges is an expressive singer who is at home in jazz, blues and the gentle folds of a ballad.
"Nothing More Than Everything" is bittersweet, her voice echoing disappointment at a love lost. Gorman's arrangements involve the musicians closely, their interaction elevating every track. Here she plays piano, with Kirk Starkey adding warm intonation on cello. Together they make this one of the best on the set.
Rob Piltch(guitar) and Gorman (Rhodes) set up the bluesy "The River is Wide." Gorman's voice not only infers the sense of melancholy, but also carries a steely determination.
Gorman essays her skills as a pianist on two instrumentals. "Rialto" radiates with ideas that are saturated in melodicism. Gorman never goes over the top, and gives the tune an ethereal vibe abetted by St-Laurent's instilled Latin lilt. "Ain't the Way" is played twiceonce as an instrumental, and again as a vocal track. The instrumental is a warm and fuzzy ballad, given cozy comfort by saxophonist Colleen Allen, while Rob Piltch (electric guitar) edges it into rock. Gorman lays back, content to let the Fender Rhodes ripple underneath.
It's an impressive enough debut and Gorman should be well on her way to marking her territory as an accomplished performer.
Track Listing
No More Room; The River is Wide; Brand New Day; What Does it take?; Far Too Late; Survival; Ain't the Way; Rialto ; True Love; Nothing More Than Everything; Ain't the Way.
Personnel
Kathleen Gorman
pianoKathleen Gorman: piano, Rhodes , vocals; Henry Heilleg: acoustic and electric bass; Rob Piltch: guitars; Colleen Allen: saxophone; Denis Keldie: Hammond B organ; Ben Riley: drums; Alan Hetherington: percussion; Sara Traficante: flute; Marc Pfizer: drums; Eric St-Laurent: guitars; Kirk Starkey: cello.
Album information
Title: Brand New Day | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Self Produced
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