Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Jul 29, 2005
Canada certainly has a shortage of really good pop crooners.
But having recently relocated here from Edmonton, Simon Rettie has surfaced as just that. On the strength of a handshake agreement with the Toronto division of peermusic (the world's largest independent music publishing company), his stripped-down demo is drawing interest from major and indie labels, alike.
He plays a showcase tonight and tomorrow night at Toronto's Savoy club, with a style best described as a cross between the cool Fifties jazz of Chet Baker, and the sentimental pop of acclaimed, JUNO-award-winning Toronto singer/songwriter Ron Sexsmith.
On songs like Gravity, and Champagne Without You, the vocals are silky and bittersweet, while the lyrics are well-crafted and at times poetic. About the only thing he doesn't do properly is rock out.
His group includes drummer Lyle Molzan (from the Jann Arden Band), bassist Stephen Zsirai, guitarist Christine Bougie, and pianist Jamie Reynolds.
THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS
- THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS
Discography
Left behind - 2006
released on itunes, napster, rhapsody
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Simon can narrow his musical influences down to three records, The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Pink Floyd- Dark side of the Moon and Chet Bakers "Chet Baker Sings". It was his love of Chet's melancholy tone and emotive phrasing that brought Simon to attend Jazz College, he wanted to learn how to do what Chet did, make you feel the loneliness, the sorrow. After graduation Simon moved to the west coast where he would be based for the next several years. He spent those years playing jazz festivals, concert venues and clubs, but more importantly, developing and honing his sound. Many who hear him describe his song writing and singing as the perfect bridge between what was then and what is now, a contemporary singer songwriter yet timeless in his appeal. It’s clearly his signature velvet jazz-tinged voice that creates this sensation.
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