Holly Cole - Night (2013) [Hi-Res]

The multi-awarded and internationally acclaimed Canadian songstress Holly Cole once again presents a conceptually ambitious piece of work with a unifying theme: An intimate collection of songs for the night-time. It's a captivating cycle of songs that delivers additional proof of Holly Cole's unique mastery of song interpretation, this time featuring a theme where she is truly at home. Eleven wonderful tracks for the special time between dusk and dawn.

In trademark Holly Cole fashion, NIGHT crosses different corners of the musical spectrum from the first focus track, a Bond theme by John Barry (“You Only Live Twice“), to a Mort Shuman classic (“Viva Las Vegas“) to Tom Waits (“Walk Away“, “Whistling Past The Graveyard“), Jaques Brel (“If You Go Away”) and Gordon Lightfoot (“If You Could Read My Mind“). A song by late Sixties/early Seventies Canadian folk-pop duo The Poppy Family has gently found its way into the repertoire (“I Thought Of You Again“). All of this is complimented by an American songwriter/folk classic from the Danny O’Keefe songbook (“Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues“), a riveting version of a Captain Beefheart tune (“Love Lies“), a timeless pop ballad (“I Only Have Eyes For You“) and – a wonderful new Holly Cole original – “You’ve Got A Secret“.

Winner of the Montreal International Jazz Festival’s prestigious Ella Fitzgerald Award in 2013 for her extraordinary contribution to contemporary jazz vocals, Canadian vocalist Holly Cole isn’t one of those artists who fall into any one category. Her smoky voice is sultry, yet she’s ironically humorous and candid while reshaping traditional standards and pop classics. Jazz is her bedrock, but not exclusively.

Holly has always had her own unique way, since ‘Girl Talk’s thundering potential, she’s always delivered with precision and a promise of things to come. ‘Night’ calls on all of Holly’s musical endeavors. Her interpretation is so profound she can truly introduce you to a song all over again. Honestly, how do you present ‘I Only Have Eyes for You’ again? Hear it for yourself on this album. She approached one of the finest songs ever written, Canadian Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘If You Could Read My Mind’ slowly, with the uttermost reverence and heart.

Holly Cole has no equal when it comes to taking songs by artists as varied as Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Jacques Brel and making them her own.

Holly Cole, vocals
Aaron Davis, piano
David Piltch, bass
Davide DiRenzo, drums
Johnny Johnson, horns
Greg Leisz, lap steel
Kevin Breit, guitar
Cyro Baptista, percussion