What Love Is is a classy, sexy, incredibly mature debut album chock full of torchy, nu-jazz/lounge ballads that make for relaxing dinner music or even better, for the love making soundtrack that may follow dinner.  In her liner notes Erin Boheme writes: “Happiness, sadness, laughter, tears, lust, loss, pain, joy…All of these things are a part of the human condition.  And these, for me, are the reflections of What Love Is…”

Erin co-wrote the opening track “Someone To Love” with Mark Portmann.  It’s a slow tempo pop ballad filled with longing and loneliness and is followed by the delightful, nu-jazz tune “One Night With Frank”, penned by Erin and Guy Chambers.  One of my favourite tracks on the album, “One Night With Frank” reflects the singer’s dream of dancing cheek to cheek with her idol, Old Blue Eyes, himself.  Taylor Eigsti tinkles the ivories with feather fingers making this jazz lounge the only place to be.  A host of exceptional musicians are featured on What Love Is including bassists Kevin Axt, Chuck Berghofer, Brian Bromberg and Harish Raghavan, drummers Gregg Field, Vinnie Colaiuta, Aaron McClendon and Joe LaBarbera, trumpeter Christian Scott, saxophonist Tom Scott, guitarists George Doering and Larry Koonse, pianists Taylor Eigsti, David Foster, Mike Melvoin and Billy Childs, and Joel Taylor on brushes.

Erin’s grown-up and gorgeously sung cover of the sensuous “Let’s Make The Most Of A Beautiful Thing” is highlighted by Larry Koonse’s guitar, David Foster’s piano and Corey Allen’s string arrangement.  The album’s title track “What Love Is”, written by Erin and Rob Chiarelli is graced by another lovely piano solo, plaintive trumpet and unabashedly romantic, poetic lyrics about original love and the special passion that only surfaces the first time.

“Mold me in your arms to
fit the shape that you are taking
Paint me with your kiss laughing
with the love we are making
I see you smiling as you sleep
Hiding the secrets that you keep

It was new to me
I wanted you to be
The first to make me see
What love is…”

Erin’s vocal on “Teach Me Tonight” conjures the image of a young Billie Holliday but let there be no mistake, this dazzling girl is an original work of art in every way.  She’s got the voice of a legion of Archangels, a face Raphael would have died to paint and an almost impossibly incarnated old soul.  Influenced by her father’s record collection of old jazz and American classics by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holliday, Julie London, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin and Peggy Lee, Erin was born to sing them for the 21st century.

“Make You Happy” is another elegant ballad Erin wrote with Rob Chiarelli that sounds like it could have been a big hit in the Forties.  Erin puts a fresh, jazzy spin on Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason” which is lovingly accented by Christian Scott’s trumpet.  “Anything” is a perfect choice for a fairy tale romantic film (written by Ms Boheme and John Harmon) and might have been a soundtrack choice for an Audrey Hepburn movie.  I would do anything to be as sexy as Erin Boheme for just one day!  Her daintily sultry version of Cole Porter’s “Let’s Do It” would have, without a doubt, made the man fall in love upon first listen.  The penultimate song on What Love Is, Peggy Lee’s “I Love Being Here With You”, is painted to perfection with Ms Boheme’s inimitable style and Tom Scott’s saxophone.  The album closes with another Boheme/Guy Chambers collaboration called “Don’t Be Something You Ain’t”, possibly my favourite track because of its lyrics.  I wish my daddy had told me “Don’t let anybody tell you you’re not good enough”. 

Erin Boheme is more than good enough.  This young woman is humble, honest, sincere, amazingly talented and has a legendary career in front of her.  Diana Krall, move over because Erin Boheme is on her way up!  I, for one, intend to follow her progress every step of the way.

Make the time to visit Erin and tell her what you think at www.myspace.com/erinboheme and join her mailing list at www.erinboheme.com.  Every record collection needs this kind of music. 

Christine Bode
c.bode@partyinkingston.com