Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Kathleen Gorman: Brand New Day

321

Kathleen Gorman: Brand New Day

By

Sign in to view read count
Kathleen Gorman: Brand New Day
Toronto-based Kathleen Gorman wears several cloaks. She is a composer, singer, pianist, and arranger. Her first CD, Brand New Day, conclusively profiles her talents with songs possessing a wide range, and Gorman does them justice in bringing out the feelings that lie in the lyrics.

Gorman 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 twice—once 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: 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

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.