John Alcorn – March/April 1998
Style: candlelight jazz
Line-Up: John Alcorn (vocals, piano); Kim Radcliffe (guitar); Lew Mele (bass) with guest musicians.
Contact: John Alcorn, PO Box 472, Station C, Toronto, ON M6J 3P5 (416) 504-6469.
Two years in the making, Toronto smoky-voiced jazz pianist John Alcorn has finally finished his long-awaited debut CD, Haunted. Produced by Holly Cole keyboardist Aaron Davis and recorded at Wellesley Sound, the romantic collection sweeps you away. Sometimes soothing, sometimes sad, it’s a sentimental journey to be sure. The album begins with the jazzy funk of “Out of This World”, complete with a nine-piece string section. There follows the simply stirring “If I Could Sleep” (lyrics by Arlene Bishop) and the simply unshakeable “Haunted” (lyrics by Daniel MacIvor) – if you’ve ever lost a great love or friend, be prepared to have your heart sink. More empowering is the ballad, “I Do Not Love You”, a happy kick to the sidewalk. On a different level, “Meet Me At The River” (also MacIvor) has a percussive tribal vibe, while “Change Your Mind” is a duet with Sony recording artist Melanie Doane. Then, brace yourself for the beat-poet jazz version of Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love”. Haunted, a year-round Valentine’s Day album, was well worth the wait.