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Come Fly With Joe Coughlin Lyricist Sammy Cahn once told a journalist, “If Sinatra wanted a song in the morning, he’d get it in the afternoon. Seriously. We spoiled him.” Cahn would write the lyrics and quickly pass them on to his writing partner Jimmy Van Heusen, who in a flash (sometimes on a tablecloth in a busy restaurant) would compose a catchy melody backed by a complex chord progression that fit the words perfectly. And so it was, that Van Heusen, usually working with Cahn, wrote more songs (84 in all) for “The Chairman of the Board,” than any other composer in history. That’s just one story you’ll hear in Canadian jazz vocalist Joe Coughlin’s spectacular Salute to the Saloon Singers, a larger-than-life, romantic tribute to the composers and singers of the Great American Songbook that will debut in October with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. "Singing these great classics with my group and a fabulous orchestra fulfills a lifelong dream,” says Coughlin. “That this show will launch on the very same stage where I made my debut as a jazz singer in 1981, is an added bonus. The completion of this full circle is extremely rewarding." Working with National-Jazz-Award-Arranger-of-the-Year John McLeod, Coughlin has prepared ten songs, including Van Heusen and Cahn’s Come Fly With Me, for performance with a 62-piece orchestra. Other
tunes include The Way You Look Tonight, Witchcraft, One for My Baby,
and Luck Be a Lady, songs made famous not only by Frank Sinatra
but also by other so-called “saloon singers” of the
era who were well versed in the traditions of jazz and who elevated
the popular song to an art form that appealed to a broad audience.
A successful performer for over 30 years, Coughlin has been named Male Vocalist of the Year three times in the last decade, once by Jazz Report Magazine (2000) and twice at the National Jazz Awards (2008, 2009). He’s produced six critically acclaimed albums, including Lowdown West Broadway, recorded live at Vancouver’s famed Cellar Jazz Club in 2009, and worked with many of the legends of Canadian jazz including Don Thompson, Terry Clarke, Ed Bickert, Mark Eisenman, Pat Coleman, and Miles Black. A strong advocate for people with disabilities, Coughlin has also won an ACTRA award for television hosting (1991) and BC Paraplegic Association Award of Distinction in Media (1996). Originally from Ontario, he has lived in Victoria since 1995 where he writes, performs and records.
"Salute to the Saloon Singer" Show Rundown: Just the Way You Look Tonight I Don't Think About You Anymore Come Fly With Me Witchcraft Detour Ahead Do Nothin' 'til You Hear From Me A Time For Love Teach Me Tonight
What the critics are saying... "Unlike the pop singers who pass as jazz vocalists these days, Coughlin is the real deal, his voice an instrument on par with the rest of the band, a voice that phrases and improvises exactly as any wind instrument would." Rick Gibbs Islandjazz.com "Coughlin uncorks thoughtful readings of old favourites and several gems that he unearthed and reshaped with characteristic cool and hard-won wisdom." Joseph Blake Times Colonist "Coughlin nails it with feeling!" Marke Andrews Vancouver Sun "Joe gets Low Down with these carefully selected tunes, there's energy to swing, knock out a great ballad, and take his audience inside a song. He could be a very Bad Influence on the ladies. Joe can out croon the crooners and put a beat in your step! Beautiful." Helen Simons The JazzXpress Australia
"Eventhough Joe Coughlin’s silky and swinging Things Turn Out That Way was released last year, it has now taken on a second life: this most dapper of singers won the 2008 National Jazz Award for vocalist of the year due to this remarkably fine recording. Justly revered as an inspired interpreter of jazz standards, the Victoria-based Coughlin has an impressive but understandably very mainstream discography. That changed somewhat with Things, which includes a half-dozen originals alongside such classics as “Do Nothing ‘Til You Hear From Me” and “Teach Me Tonight.” Most of the new songs were composed by guitarist Pat Coleman, and aside from being tasty jazz gems they further benefit from the sly hipster lyrics of Colin Lazzerini (who executive-produced the CD). Both classic and new, Things is Coughlin’s finest achievement." - Robert Moyes- Boulevard Magazine "
one of the top male vocalists on the Canadian jazz scene. " Joe is simlpy the best" Shaukat Husain - Host of "Straight No Chaser" CFUV FM
" The only problem I have with the album is I play tracks from it too often. When I prefaced the regular 'Money & Finance' segment on my morning show with 'It's A Jungle Out There' Joe became an integral part of 'Peninsula Update'! But from the musical standpoint is where the quality really shows, jazz influenced but accessible music with this kind of flair is hard to come by...either it's intimidating to the non jazz fanatic, or it's too easy listening oriented. Joe get's it just right, the voice is not that sweet it cloys, but the expression and timing both ask for and give sympathy and friendship. And it wouldn't be this good without the quality backing...top professional work that fits in perfectly with the production values of the album. Did I say Production? Even the 'look' and the packaging shouts quality. Congratulations to everyone involved." Don Smith - Radio Port Philip Victoria Australia ...arguably one of the world's great jazz singers ... an equally talented studioband on a collection of smart original tune and several even smarter versions of jazz standards ..., Thins Turn Out That Way is an instant classic ... a singer's singer, a horn-ike improviser with brilliant technique and taste ... worldly soulful and hip ... the essence of everything wonderful. Five Stars. Joseph Blake - Times Colonist - Victoria, Canada I love Joe's CD ... a top notch release with some outstanding songs and great musicians. Jacques Emond - CKCU-FM - Galaxie - Ottawa, Ontario ... opening track sets the stage for what is to come ... I cannot put it down ... even take it to work with me to listen on my portable ... great job ... highly recommend this work of musical art to all. Leon Reyes - Leon's Jazz In A Box, KVMR Radio 89.5 - Sacramento Ca USA Good to see that it's still possible today to find composers/writers able to propose material as strong as that from the Broadway golden age. Claude Copaert - Jazz A Iame Radio Campus -France ... a veteran jazz singer with several albums to his credit ... now offers perhaps his best album yet with this year's release of Things Turn Out That Way ... fourteen tracks of exciting morden jazz music ... anchored by a host of original tunes written by the team of Pat Coleman abd Colin Lazzerini ... one of the best jazz vocals albums I've had the pleasure of listening to ... songs are great, the musical support unchallenged and the singer possesses one of the best baritone voices in the business ... a heck of an album. Edward Blanco DJ WDNA 88.9 FM Miami FL in ejazznews.com Great album. Fantastic stuff for our Radio Station. Alex Pijnen - Brto Radio Nederlands ... a fabulous album and my listeners love it ... great piece of work. Helen Jarroe - Cairns FM89.1 - Queensland Australia ...a star is born. Toronto Life Magazine feeling for a song is convicing...voice has a gentle, easy quality. Ottawa Citizen ...sings ballads that are breathtaking. Jazz Now I like the smokey quality of his voice. Cadence Magazine ...excellent voice...really swings. Calgary Sun ...damn good singer! Audio Scene ...abundance of style! Globe and Mail ...same league as Sinatra...voice is velvety...singing soft and supple. Chatelaine ...our answer to Torme, Bennett and Sinatra. Toronto Sun ...saloon singer in the very best sense. Toronto Star ...melodic craftsman...skill, style and sensitivity...national musical treasure. Goodlife ...mature, full bodied pipes...like a smooth but robust Cabernet Sauvingnon...sings with passion, humour and gentleness. Jazz Report |
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