Just to prove that jazz and blues are alive and well in Canada comes 'Lonesome Ghosts', the second long player from Alberta's Blue Moon Marquee. The band revolves around A.W. Cardinal who deals with the vocals and guitar, and Jasmine Colette who is described as a “one-woman rhythm section”, who plays stand up bass, whilst playing a kick drum with one foot, and a snare and hi hat with the other.
The music that they play is described as “Gypsy Blues”, which in this case means that there are elements of the blues running throughout the music, but also Gypsy Swing. Upon listening to this CD, I did find a lot to compare with Django Reinhardt, but that is certainly no bad thing, in fact the opposite – through bands like this it appears that the influences of the Quintette du Hot Club de France are not only alive and well, but positively flourishing. In addition to this A.W. has a perfect smoky jazz vocal delivery that at times seems like a mellower Tom Waits, and when you place all these elements together, it makes for some exciting listening.
The album has nine tracks all falling within the jazz/blues genre, underscored by A.W.'s excellent playing. Tracks like 'Pipeliner Blues' (a personal favourite) are augmented by some laid back violin playing courtesy of Cameron Wilson, in this case, a worthy successor to Stephane Grappelli. The lyrics on this are full of subtle and not so subtle innuendo: - “ Well I'm an old pipeliner, and I lay my line all day/ I got four or five women waiting to draw my pay/ Well I lay my line honey, until the sun goes down/When I'm home to you darlin', you're the meanest girl around."
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The majority of the lyrics on the album revolve round blues related imagery, alcohol, women, gambling and poverty. In fact, the wonderful 'Scotch Whiskey' manages to deal with more that just one at the same time: - “Scotch Whiskey, scotch whiskey, anything you gots to do/ I'm staring down the walls holding on to you/ Well I bet on them horses child, and I lose every time/ Well I lost all my money, I nearly lost my mind”.
Overall, this is a remarkable album that will appeal to fans of jazz and blues alike.
'Lonesome Ghosts' is available from Blue Moon Marquee Bandcamp page.I can't wait to see the band when they tour the UK.
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