Joe Coughlin is multi honoured jazz singer who deserves to be better known around the world. He has won the Canadian Jazz Award for best Male Vocalist three times in the past decade (2000, 2008, 2009.) Joe is a saloon singer with a style often compared to Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra but with an added dash of contemporary hipness. Joe’s swinging style can likely be traced to his rock and roll drumming and his heavy metal band, Whitesheet. So take that Michael Buble!
I prefer listening to Joe when it’s late at night quiet or on ‘calm before the storm’, weekend afternoons before company comes. Perfect times for his deep silky baritone phrasing to grip your spirit or enhance your sunny disposition. Joe manages to take jazz standards to a – new standard.
You can taste the wonders of Joe’s voice and his talented quintet on his new CD, Slow and Slower which features a sample of romantic and heartache ballads from previous recordings, including many of my favourites.
And it doesn’t matter where you live the CD can be ordered here. A nice introduction to a great singer and truly remarkable person.
If you are in Vancouver June 17th or 18th come enjoy Joe live at the Cellar Jazz club. The Cellar is consistently ranked in the top 100 Jazz Clubs Worldwide by Downbeat magazine and is often compared to The Village Vanguard for its ambiance and acoustics. The acoustics are like being in a recording studio only with good food.
Reserve early online at www.cellarjazz.com on the Calendar page, or by phone at 604.738.1959. Open at 7pm for dinner. Shows at 8:30 and 10:15. Tickets $15. The Cellar is located downstairs at 3611 W. Broadway.
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