Pirate Jenny

The latest effort from Toronto’s Pirate Jenny finds the trio making the shift from performing cabaret standards to writing original material.

All the elements that made their previous outing, 2002’s Cabaret Blues such an underrated gem are still firmly in place. Guitarist Bill Parson’s impeccable fretwork and Blair Mackay’s accomplished percussion meld seamlessly with singer Jennifer Moore’s phenomenal vocals to create a unique listening experience.

The crisp production values flawlessly capture what the band sounds like live. If you close your eyes you can almost imagine you’re sitting in an intimate jazz club.

Moore’s poignant, often unsettling, lyrics touch on a number subjects. The disc’s haunting centrepiece ‘Asiye’ was inspired by the ordeal that Turkish journalist Asiye Zeybek suffered at the hands of the Turkish police force. The minimal instrumentation and Moore’s plaintative vocals will doubtlessly send shivers up the listener’s spine.

The beautiful ‘Boy’ drew inspiration from a conversation that Moore had with a 17-year-old male prostitute. The intense song paints a brutal portrait of the life of a street hustler. A word of warning, it is not an easy song to listen to.

To the Moonis a truly amazing second album from a talented group of musicians. Pirate Jenny’s fans will not be disappointed. While their jazz-influenced cabaret may not be for everyone, adventurous listeners looking for something a little different should definitely track it down.