Juliet Varnedoe: Cajun Blue

New York based singer songwriter Juliet Varnedoe has a plan. She has developed a New Orleans themed recording, Cajun Blue, which is to be released later this year, a collection of eight original blues and jazz songs combining the disparate influences of King Oliver Creole Band, the classical French chanson as realized by Blossom Dearie and Juliette Greco, with an alchemic shot of the cool scintillating vibe of Serge Gainsborough. In preparation for the delivery of Cajun Blue, Varnedoe is releasing several singles, the first, "Mon Chéri," presented here.

The singer fronts the Juliet Varnedoe Jazz Band, a quintet anchored with both a bass and traditional tuba, played by Ben Rubin and Clark Gayton, respectively. Jon Dryden's accordion is added as the filé seasoning for the composition. What results is a sultry and humid performance, recalling a Romantic long-ago memory sung with seductive cleverness and mirth by Varnedoe. Dryden's accordion provides the potent smell of "the old country" (whichever it is, but Eastern Europe comes to mind). Gayton, who doubles on trombone, injects a musical conversation shared with the singer that is fully integrated and settled. "Mon Chéri" is a good start, one that begs for the further singles releases promise.