Veronneau Love & Surrender

Veronneau
Love & Surrender
Veronneau Music

The acoustic trio Veronneau are back with a new album (their fourth) that building on their critically acclaimed and popular world-jazz repertoire. French Canadian vocalist Lynn Véronneau, with guitarists Ken Avis and David Rosenblatt take the listener around the globe, blending samba, French chanson, bossa nova and swing into a genre-defying musical feast. On this they are joined by long-time collaborator British violinist Dave Kline; their regular touring percussionist from Brazil, Bruno Lucini; and other guest musicians from Senegal, Nigeria, the UK and US on a program of five originals along with five intriguing interpretations.

Lynn Veronneau is an alluring vocalist with her honey-toned singing and phrasing well supported by the two guitarists. Kline's violin adds to the funky, samba feel of the opening "Song of Love," with a wonderful solo (by Rosenblatt I believe) and followed by the title track, a lovely ballad sung with a touch of heartbreak, with the kora of Amadou Kouyate adding some delightful musical coloring. There is the charm of a lovely French waltz, Serge Gainsbourg's "La Javanise," with Kline's violin and Tom King's accordion filling out the backing here. I believe Rosenblatt composed "September Moon," a winsome instrumental with the sound of the guitars embellished by Avis' harmonica and Lynn's whistling.

The rendition of Alberto Domínguez's "Perfida," a song of love and betrayal, has a melody that will be familiar to many. It is sung in Spanish with flamenco-accented guitar trading lines with violin,. It is followed by Lynn's haunting vocals on the standard "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," with exquisite backing and then Jim Webb's "The Moon's A Harsh Mistress," both of which display her interpretative skills with a lyric. Brazilian 7-string guitarist JP Silva joins Lynn for a appealing vocal duet on the French-Portuguese mashup "Voce Abusou/Fais Comme L’Oiseau," before "Waltz For Youssef," another marvelous original, that closes a engaging recording that is full of charm, lyricism and superb performances.

I purchased this from Veronneau. Here is an early (pre-CD) performance of "Love & Surrender." There website is http://veronneaumusic.com/.

 

The Musical Living Joy of Véronneau

Based around the vocals of Quebec native Lynn Véronneau, Véronneau has established itself around the Washington DC area with its interesting blend of musical inspirations ranging from gypsy jazz, brazilian sambas, folk and Beatles. In addition to her, the group is comprised of Ken Avis on guitar, vocals and percussion, David Rosenblatt on guitar and percussion and Pete Walby on drums. On their self-produced recording Joy of Living (Véronneau Music), they are joined by David Kline's violin and
tenor saxophone.

Lynn Véronneau has a lovely voice immediately evident on the opening La Mer (known here in the States from Bobby Darin's recording Beyond the Sea), with the light backing of the guitars and drums and Kline's violin. She has a gift for Brazilian tunes including The Gentle Rain, Concovado, and One Note Samba, with the band providing subtle and complementary backing. This style is also present on the charming rendition of The Street Where You Live, with a nice single-note acoustic guitar solo as well as Kline's violin adding coloring. Saxophonist Antonuik adds a nice flavor on The Gentle Rain, that might suggest to some the Getz-Gilberto collaborations.

There is a enchanting rendition of the traditional Mexican Ranchera song, Cielito Lindo, that might be more familiar from performances of it by Mariachi Band and she also places her own stamp on Brazil. with her gentle longing beginning transformed into a lively samba. David Rosenblatt contributed an original instrumental Abertura do Verao (Opening of Summer), that is a lovely guitar duet, while Antoniuk returns for the lively closing "Blue Skies."

If there is a favorite selection on this, it may well be the lovely rendition of Lennon & McCartney's For No One, as she sings "she no longer needs you, in her eyes you see nothing," with a lovely violin break over the two-guitar accompaniment. The gentleness of the performance accentuates the heartache reflected in this classic Beatles number. She simply has a way of touching the listener's heart and this track may exemplify this best, but there is plenty of Joie de Vivre on this excellent recording.

Véronneau will be performing June 2 at the Creative Cauldron (www.creativecauldon.org) in Falls Church, Virginia.

I purchased this recording.