Jaime Nanci and the Blueboys: Toy

Toy
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Artist: Jaime Nanci & the Blueboys
Genre: Jazz
Label: Self Released

Singer-songwriter Jaime Nanci has gotten himself well and truly noticed around Dublin with his defiantly androgynous take on the jazz vocal tradition. So his debut album had some promises to keep – could Nanci and his talented Blueboys capture their theatrical Waits-meets-Weimar sound on record? The answer is a pink, fluffy yes. Toy is a finely crafted collection of original songs (with a couple of covers thrown in, including a plangent version of Chris Isaak's Wicked Game). All are sung with wit and wounded conviction by Nanci and faultlessly performed by a group that includes pianist Pawel Grudzien, saxophonist Ciaran Wilde and the ace rhythm team of bassist Dave Redmond and drummer Kevin Brady. jaimenanciandtheblueboys.com

Cormac Larkin

Cormac Larkin

Cormac Larkin, a contributor to The Irish Times, is a musician, writer and director