Genevieve Marentette
Songs of '69 Volume 1 For Release Oct 16, 2024
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Credits
Alison Young - tenor sax solo 2,4
Andrew Stewart - bass 6
Ben Wittman - drums 1,2,3,4,5,6,8
Burke Carroll - pedal steel 7,10
Christian Overton - trombone 2,4
Christine Bougie - slide guitar 3
Drew Jurecka - strings 1, 5
Eric St-Laurent - guitar 1,2,3,4,5,6,8
George Koller - bass 1,2,3,4,5,8
Genevieve Marentette - all lead vocals
Jono Grant - guitar 1,2,3,4,5,7, keyboards 2, bass 7,9, percussion 1,3,4,7, drums 10
Lori Cullen - bg vocals 3
Lou Pomanti - organ 10
Marie Goudy - trumpet 2,4
Michael Shand - piano 6,9,10
Richard Underhill - alto, tenor & bari sax 2,4
Rob Christian - tenor sax 8
Vezi Tayyeb - piano & organ, 3
Arrangements by Genevieve Marentette and her band, string arrangements by Drew Jurecka, and horn arrangements by Jono Grant.
Produced by Genevieve Marentette and Jono Grant
Recorded by Jono Grant, Rob Christian, Jeremy Darby & Julian Decorte at Victory Drive, RC Studio & Canterbury Music Company.
Mixed and Mastered by Jono Grant.
Label: Vesuvius Music Inc., Distribution: IDLA, UPC - 803057093021
Photography by Jen Squires, Album art by Amanda Walther
© 2024 Genevieve Marentette
Tracklisting
1 You've Made Me So Very Happy (4:55) Brenda & Patrice Holloway / Berry Gordy Jr / Frank Wilson
2 Easy to Be Hard (3:20) Galt MacDermot / James Rado / Gerome Ragni
3 Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You (4:54) Bob Dylan
4 Undun (3:23) Randy Bachman
5 I Talk to the Wind (4:32) King Crimson
6 Leaving on a Jet Plane (5:12) John Denver
7 Lay Lady Lay (4:10) Bob Dylan
8 River Man (4:58) Nick Drake
9 These Eyes (4:50) Randy Bachman / Burton Cummings
10 Bad Moon Rising (3:55) John Fogerty
About Songs of '69 Volume 1
Toronto jazz chanteuse Geneviève Marentette was performing a three-month-long residency at the hotel bar in the Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, in 2019 and seeking material for a theme for the shows. Marentette used the past as her future inspiration, returning to the music made and released a half-century earlier in 1969. The result is the fantastic and extremely novel idea of reworking these classics into her own signature jazz style for Songs of '69, Volume I, a stunning 10-track effort released on Vesuvius Music Inc. honouring each song with thoughtfulness, tenderness and led by Marenette's marvellous, majestic voice.
Marentette, also known as "Gigi" to some, noticed the parallels between the music created in 1969 amid the social activism (women's liberation movements, Vietnam War protests, Stonewall Riots and LGBTQ+ equality) they were crafted in, "a powerful reflection of a time when music and activism were intertwined."
It was also a huge year for Marentette's mother, musician Linda Girard (one of two people Songs of '69, Volume I is specifically inspired by and dedicated to). Girard, then 18 in 1969, left her job in Windsor, Ontario, relocated to Toronto and assisted American draft dodgers trying to evade the Vietnam War. "Her commitment to social justice, human rights, and peace echoed the ideals that inspired the musicians of that era," Marentette says of her mother.
Although with a horde of material to choose from considering the year, the artist narrowed it down to ten songs. "There are so many gems from this year in music history: the whole era is chock-full of gorgeous, well-crafted music with a message, but I ended up with ten covers close to my heart," Marentette says of Songs of '69, Volume I. "These songs are in my emotional DNA; I grew up with them, and they resonate particularly with my parents and loved ones who have surrounded me and kept me in my craft."
Songs of '69, Volume I, produced by Marentette and Jono Grant (who also mixed and mastered the album), includes songs made famous by the Guess Who ("Undun" and "These Eyes") and Bob Dylan ("Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You" and "Lay Lady Lay") alongside deeper cuts by Nick Drake ("River Man") and British prog-rock pioneers King Crimson ("I Talk to the Wind").
Also included on Songs of '69, Volume I, is "You've Made Me So Very Happy," a song written by Brenda Holloway and recorded by Blood, Sweat & Tears. The song, featuring cinematic string accents by Grammy-nominated musician Drew Jurecka, is especially personal as Marentette released it last month to celebrate the 83rd birthday of Blood, Sweat & Tears vocalist David Clayton-Thomas, the other person to whom Marentette specifically dedicated the album. He was also a source of inspiration following "resonant discussions" Marentette had with the legendary vocalist about the '60s, "a time when musicians were warriors of social justice and peace."
Marentette began recording in 2022 for Songs of '69, Volume I. "The arrangements emerged from many spontaneous performances with my core trio, which includes Eric St-Laurent (guitar), George Koller (bass) and Ben Wittman (drums)," Marentette says. "As is my way as a song interpreter, we've fused folk, soul, and pop into a jazz-rooted approach. After years of singing jazz in hotel lounges, I love arranging and interpreting songs from every era." It's a sound and style that brings to mind highbrow work by Diana Krall, Sade, Norah Jones, Cassandra Wilson, and the late Angela McCluskey.
Although the material effortlessly draws the listener in from start to finish, some songs simply shine, particularly "Undun," with its sultry horn accents by Alison Young, some great guitar work by St-Laurent and a divine delivery from Marentette. Meanwhile, Marentette’s rendition of Nick Drake’s "River Man," from his Five Leaves Left album, is a sparse, reflective, and deeply bittersweet tribute, made even more poignant by the loss of her sister. "It was one of those songs I leaned on when I was 15 and had lost my sister to an overdose, and I had no idea it was from '69, and I had no idea Nick Drake had passed away from an overdose as well until I made this album," she says.
The album, featuring "Lay Lady Lay," tweaked to reflect a "woman-to-woman plea for intimacy and connection," closes with an incredible reworking of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising." It's one of the freshest, most invigorating covers you'll hear. The gospel, hymnal organ by Lou Pomanti and pedal steel wizard Burke Carroll accentuates Marentette's ethereal, soulful approach to the John Fogerty-penned staple. Simply put, it's a spine-tingling coda to what is an almost criminally consistent collection of covers.
Recorded by Grant, Rob Christian, Jeremy Darby and Julian Decorte and recorded at Victory Drive, RC Studio and Canterbury Music Company, Songs of '69, Volume I includes two big band-style horn arrangements on "Easy to be Hard" and "Undun" featuring tenor saxophonist Alison Young. Grant played bass, drums, keys and percussion, and singer Lori Cullen provided backing vocals ("Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You"), with contributing musicians saxophonist Richard Underhill, trombonist Christian Overton, trumpeter Marie Goudy, pianists Michael Shand and Vezi Tayyeb, bassist Andrew Stewart and lap steel guitarist Christine Bougie.
Born in Leamington, Ontario and spending her teen years in Detroit, Marentette was inspired by her mother and her career as a musician. Performing throughout Asia and Europe, she returned to Canada in 2014. Having worked with a variety of artists such as Clayton-Thomas, Don Francks and Jane Siberry, Marentette produced The Heart of 21 in 2019, an EP by her mother celebrating her mom's 70th birthday. In 2021, the artist released Live & Improvised, a live recording from a Toronto concert featuring Marentette and pianist Robert G. Scott.
Now, with Songs of '69, Volume I, and a special concert launching the album set for Toronto's Koerner Hall on October 16, 2024, Geneviève Marentette is ready to move forward with her lovingly intuitive look back at past nuggets. One can only hope it's the first of what should be several superb volumes from this dynamic, innovative vocalist.
Track Descriptions
1. You've Made Me So Very Happy (4:55) | 77 BPM | Db Major | 4/4 | Orchestral, vocal jazz, Motown, RnB
A Motown hit written by Brenda Holloway and her team, this song was made famous by Blood, Sweat & Tears in 1969, reaching gold record status. Originally about finding love again after heartbreak, Gigi’s version is a heartfelt tribute to her mentor and dear friend David Clayton-Thomas and was released on his 83rd birthday. This new version is intimate and affectionate, with cinematic strings by Grammy-nominated Drew Jurecka. A vocal solo section set to unison strings is a nod to Gigi’s jazz roots. Message: Keep your heart open to love, even after loss.
2. Easy to Be Hard (3:20) | 86 BPM | D Major | 4/4 | Modern big band, vocal jazz, classic rock | Writers: Galt MacDermot / James Rado / Gerome Ragni
This track, from the rock musical Hair, was made famous by Three Dog Night’s 1969 version, which reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Gigi’s version, a personal favourite, begins with George Koller’s tasty Hofner bass line and Eric St-Laurent’s esoteric guitar licks over the steady heartbeat of Ben Wittman on drums. The song's bridge slips into a driving Motown-inspired groove punctuated with a Blood Sweat & Tears style horn arrangement by Jono Grant featuring a simmering solo by saxophonist Alison Young. Gigi finds this song's lyrics particularly relevant to today's issues. Message: Becoming indifferent to others is easy, but we must stay compassionate and engaged.
3. Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You (4:54) | 138 BPM | Ab Major | 4/4 | Folk, Americana, vocal jazz
From Bob Dylan’s Nashville Skyline album, this romantic, laid-back track is a perfect reflection for a wandering troubadour such as Gigi, reflecting the longing to stay with a loved one. With the core trio, this arrangement also features a solo by Christine Bougie on lap steel and Vezi Tayyeb on organ, which sounds a bit like The Band. Lori Cullen’s background vocals add another layer of comfort to the song. Gigi’s “long-time dalliance” requested this song, and she’s still singing it for them. Message: Cherish love in the moments you have together.
4. Undun (3:23) | 126 BPM | F# Minor | 4/4 | Modern big band, vocal jazz, classic rock
Randy Bachman’s (The Guess Who) classic takes on a new dimension in Gigi’s version, which carries personal resonance due to the loss of her sibling to an overdose in her teens. Guitarist Eric St-Laurent concocted the groove. Jono Grant has added a beautiful big-band horn arrangement featuring a stunning solo by saxophonist Alison Young, giving it a contemporary jazzy twist. Message: Consider the risks before trying something new, especially regarding drugs.
5. I Talk to the Wind (4:32) | 81 BPM | E Minor | 4/4 | Orchestral, RnB, soul, classic prog rock
This song is from King Crimson’s debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King, and is less well-known but beloved by classic rock fans. The lyric captures the feeling of alienation in a divided society, and what could be more perfect for today? Ben Wittman’s ethereal drum groove feels so good here, and Drew Jurecka’s gorgeous string arrangement and featured solo section add a reflective, stormy quality to the track. Message: Stay critical and keep an open mind, even when no one is listening.
6. Leaving on a Jet Plane (5:12) | 86 BPM | Ab Major | 4/4 | Vocal jazz, pop
Who doesn’t know this John Denver classic? A fan favourite during Gigi’s many years performing in hotel lounges in Hong Kong, it is a perfect song for any traveller. This stripped-down jazz trio arrangement was born in the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Kowloon with the great pianist Richard Abellano and, for this recording, reimagined with Michael Shand’s soulfully reflective piano and Andrew Stewart’s bass. Gigi sings about the bittersweet feeling of leaving loved ones behind while she was overseas for consecutive years. Message: No matter where I go, my heart stays with you.
7. Lay Lady Lay (4:10) | 125 BPM | A Major | 3/4 | Folk, Americana
Gigi’s interpretation of this Bob Dylan classic is a folky-jazz fingerstyle guitar waltz featuring special guest Burke Carroll on pedal steel, adding a gorgeous layer of ethereal texture. The lyrics are reimagined to reflect a woman-to-woman plea for intimacy and connection. Gigi couldn’t resist adding another romantic track from Nashville Skyline, inspired by a rehearsal recording with Eric St-Laurent. Message: Take time to be with your lover.
8. River Man (4:58) | 140 BPM | G Minor | 5/4 | Vocal Jazz
Perhaps Gigi’s jazziest track on the album, this version of Nick Drake’s “River Man” features Rob Christian on beautiful tenor sax and Eric St-Laurent on a melancholic guitar solo. The song is a deeply personal tribute to Gigi’s sibling, who passed away tragically at a young age. “It was one of the songs I leaned on when I was 15 and had lost my sister to an overdose, and I had no idea it was from ‘69, and I had no idea Nick Drake had passed away from an overdose as well until I made this album.” Message: Care for the fragile, brilliant minds around us.
9. These Eyes (4:50) | 84 BPM | Ab Major | 4/4 | Vocal Jazz
Originally an upbeat hit for The Guess Who, Gigi strips this song down to piano, bass, and vocals, letting the sadness of the lyrics shine through. Michael Shand’s piano accompaniment enhances the raw emotional tone of this heartbreaking version. Message: Let go of heartbreak and move on.
10. Bad Moon Rising (3:55) | 120 BPM | A Major | 4/4 | Classic Rock, Americana, vocal jazz, gospel
This Creedence Clearwater Revival hit gets a fresh take with reharmonization inspired by Robert G. Scott, a close friend and collaborator of Gigi, who passed away recently. Burke Carroll’s pedal steel and Lou Pomanti’s organ and a slower tempo add warmth and melancholy to this upbeat classic, revealing the timeliness of the lyric with a gospel rock energy. Message: Stay vigilant and engaged—be active in shaping your future.
All About "Gigi"
Genevieve "Gigi" Marentette is not your average singer. "She sings from the soil to the sky," says Whitney Ross-Barris, "with an enviable and effortless range that shocks and thrills." Gigi’s music draws from a deep well of experience, fearlessness, and an innate ability to connect with her audience, bringing an electrifying energy to every performance.
Born in Leamington, Ontario, affectionately called Tomato Town, Gigi was immersed in music and activism from an early age. Her mother, Linda Girard, a musician and social activist, ensured Gigi's childhood was filled with the sounds of jazz, folk, blues, and global sounds. By age five, she was performing professionally under her mother's wing, and her early exposure to the stage shaped her fearless and eclectic approach to music.
Gigi’s teenage years were spent between Windsor and Detroit, where she held weekly residencies in local venues, performed at Detroit's MotorCity Casino, and collaborated with artists in Detroit's renowned electronic music scene, such as Recloose, Jonn Arnold and Theo Parrish. She also began a lifelong collaboration with Armenian guitarist Sean Blackman, singing global music.
Her formal training began with her music-teacher mother and her grade school's youth choir and continued at Windsor's Walkerville Centre for the Creative Arts. After graduating from Humber College in Toronto with a diploma in vocal jazz, Gigi embarked on an eight-year journey performing across Asia and Europe, developing her signature blend of jazz, Brazilian, blues, and global music. This extensive period of international performance solidified her reputation as an international artist.
Returning to Toronto in 2014, Gigi quickly established herself as one of the city’s most recognizable vocalists. As co-founder of Molly Johnson’s Kensington Market Jazz Festival, now in its tenth year, Gigi has nurtured Toronto’s jazz community.
In 2012, Gigi Marentette released an EP produced by George Koller featuring Mark Kieswetter on piano. Her unique ability to reinterpret songs with her distinct voice earned her critical acclaim. "She has always had the type of voice and stage presence that mesmerizes an audience and is simply one of Canada’s finest singers," says Jaymz Bee of JAZZ.FM91.
Her collaborations span a wide range of genres and artists, from jazz greats like Don Thompson, Ted Quinlan, David Clayton-Thomas, and Don Francks to electronic music creators such as Marc Houle, Theo Parrish, NYMA, Recloose, and Francis Harris.
In 2019, Gigi produced The Heart of 21, an album for her mother’s 70th birthday featuring a French waltz composed by her grandmother, Lena Ledoux. That same year, she recorded "While There’s Still Time," a contrafact of "Moon River" written by Don Francks, showcasing her deep connection to her mentor and her emotive range.
Gigi’s artistry is as diverse as it is dynamic. Her fearless improvisation and deep emotional connection to each song are defining characteristics of her style. As Don Francks said of her, "a lovely muse of music… a femme fatale from film noir… jazz improvisation at its best."
During the pandemic, Gigi released a cover of Leon Payne’s "Lost Highway," made famous by Hank Williams and Jeff Buckley, with remixes by Eric St-Laurent and Jeff Young. The project was part of an initiative where Gigi took song requests from friends and family, using music to maintain connection during lockdown.
In February 2021, she released Live & Improvised, an archival recording of a duo concert at Trinity-St. Paul’s Church in Toronto with pianist Robert G. Scott, a recording that became even more meaningful following Scott’s passing in July 2024.
Gigi has performed with many renowned musicians across her career, including Jane Siberry, Esthero, Ted Quinlan, Don Thompson, Roy Ayers, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Larnell Lewis, KC Roberts, Ted Lo, Eugene Pao, Lou Pomanti, David Clayton-Thomas, Robi Botos, Joe Sealy, Colleen Allen and many many more.
In 2022, Gigi began recording Songs of ’69 Volume I, an album inspired by conversations with her close friend and mentor David Clayton-Thomas about the social and political upheavals of the late 1960s. The project, which includes timeless covers such as Nick Drake’s "River Man," King Crimson’s "I Talk to the Wind," and Bob Dylan’s "Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You," reflects her deep connection to the musicians of that era, whom Gigi describes as "warriors of social justice and peace." The album is set to launch at Koerner Hall in October 2024, paying tribute to the year 1969 and its cultural impact on the music world.
Gigi’s musical versatility continues to captivate audiences, whether performing intimate jazz ballads or collaborating with pioneers of electronic music. Jane Siberry describes her as "precise, heart-connected, exciting," while Laila Biali calls her "a radiant spirit with fearless creativity." Her live performances are the stuff of legend, with Marc Jordan noting, "Gigi has the rare gift of interpretation… she can take a melody and alter it slightly, and suddenly you are hearing that song for the first time."
Constantly pushing artistic boundaries, whether in small clubs or grand concert halls, she draws listeners into her musical imagination, soul, and storytelling world. "She is, to me, the perfect balance of fragile beauty and a burning intensity that makes her and her music irresistible," says Don Thompson.
It's not often you walk into a club and hear a fully formed artist singing to a full house of people like me who have come just to hear songs interpreted by Gigi Marentette..... Gigi has the rare gift of interpretation, and by that, I mean she can take a melody and alter it slightly, and suddenly you are hearing that song for the first time...hearing the inner and hidden meanings in all great songs that wait to be unearthed by a great artist who sings the lyric, understanding that melody is also language. I have been a fan of Gigi's for many years, and just when you think you have heard it all, she surprises you… There are few singers and artists that surprise me every time, yet Gigi does just that, and I would say she's an artist at the height of her powers. Her warm and magical performances are gifts, and I hope she continues to chase the horizon line where art and soul collide....
Marc Jordan
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Concerts
Bookings
genevieve @ songsof69 dot com
Publicity
Eric Alper eric @ thatericalper dot com
