Louise Pitre is a multi-talented performer from Canada. In addition to her success in a leading role in the Broadway hit Mamma Mia, she has had a concert career working with various symphony orchestras, as well as performing in a variety of musical revues. For her first CD she has selected an assortment of tunes, running from an earnest "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody," recalling
Al Jolson's dramatic rendering of this 1918 tear-jerker, to songs done in the manner of a French chanteuse, including "Y'a Rien a Voir" and "A Notre Tour." These reprise her portrayal of
Edith Piaf, a role which gave her career a big boost. In between there are songs favored by cabaret singers -- not so much for their popularity (although some of them are), but for the tales they tell.
Pitre has a clear, mature voice over which, like a good cabaret singer, she exercises absolute control both emotionally and technically. Her experience on the musical stage clearly has benefited her ability to present a song with the right level of drama, avoiding becoming mushy, cloying, or cute. Her backing on the session is impeccable. There is a rotating set of keyboard players, one of whom, Leslie Arden, composed two of the songs. On some tracks
Pitre is accompanied by a flock of strings. But, like the keyboard players, they don't overwhelm the singer. The bass of
Tom Szczesniak, the piano of
Gord Sheard, and the alto of Vernon Dorge give a jazzy feel to "To Love Again" to make this track one of the better ones on the CD.
Pitre is a fine singer with an impressive set of vocal chops. Kudos to LML for giving these talented cabaret/musical revue performers time in the recording studio. Recommended. ~ Dave Nathan