The voice is still as caressing, with great accuracy of tone and expression, and the choice of program for this Christmas album that doesn’t quite bear the name is varied enough to not be too repetitive and familiar enough to make it perfectly suited to the season. Neige (‘’snow’’) was recorded in concert at Koerner Hall in Toronto, with a wealth of arrangements highlighting a full jazz quintet (piano, sax, guitar, bass, drums), a string quartet, and even three backing vocalists.
Besides the great traditional classics such as Santa Baby, Sleigh Ride, Please Come Home for Christmas (in a beautiful and sweet blues version) and What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?, all in refined arrangements that bring out little-heard facets, we also have some beautiful discoveries: My Dear Acquaintance, Neige and Angel’s Lullaby. Devoted Francophile that she is, Emilie-Claire also sings a very pretty version of Marie-Noël, in addition to addressing the Toronto audience in French quite often, at least in the excerpts that we can hear.
This sets the stage well for a new entirely French-language album that she is preparing to release in February 2026, according to available information.
It’s impeccable and pleasantly sweet without being excessive, which allows you to come back often without suffering from indigestion. A great success.
Jazz quintet
Kelly Jefferson: saxophone
Jon Maharaj: bass
Fabio Ragnelli: drums
Reg Schwager: guitar
Amanda Tosoff: piano
String Quartet
François Pilon: solo violin
Mélanie Belair: violin
Ligia Paquin: viola
Sheila Hannigan: cello
Choristers
Rique Franks
Stephanie Martin
Kathryn Rose
