Mar 19th, 2021
Spring 2021 guide: 21 albums you need to hear
From Jean-Philippe Sylvestre to Cadence Weapon to Rochelle Jordan, all the Canadian releases you should hear
A time of renewal and (fingers crossed) sunshine, spring normally feels like Mother Nature’s restart button. This year, on the anniversary of a global pandemic and when anti-Asian hate crimes are surging, that time of hope feels both incredibly necessary and yet so far out of reach.
One thing we can count on for escape and catharsis, though, is music, and this spring is looking like a fruitful one for Canadian albums. From Junia-T’s deluxe release of his Polaris Prize-nominated Studio Monk to Charlotte Cardin’s long-awaited debut full-length to new music from Sook-Yin Lee and the late Adam Litovitz, there’s a lot to look forward to.
With the spring equinox on our doorstep, we’re digging into these 21 upcoming Canadian albums that we think you’ll love, in chronological order of release. What new records are you looking forward to? Share with us @CBCMusic.
Jazz played without a chordal instrument such as piano or guitar can take some getting used to, its harmonies often sounding thin to the unaccustomed ear. But that’s not the case with TuneTown, the trio of saxophonist Kelly Jefferson, bassist Artie Roth and drummer Ernesto Cervini, who flesh out this mix of originals and standards admirably. Highlights include “Sycamore,” a Roth composition built on a hypnotic beat; Cervini’s “Billyish,” whose sharp melodic angles recall Thelonious Monk, and a touching ballad by Roth called “Memories Remain” that concludes with a wail of anguish from Jefferson’s saxophone. Also included are some short, head-turning interludes as well as a sepia-toned take on “Blue Gardenia,” for which Cervini grabs his bass clarinet and the trio affects a relaxed jazz manouche style.
Robert Rowat