While it might generate some airplay in the Los Angeles area where Duquesnel is based, it does not have the magic for broader recognition. If the objective, at the outset of this project, was to create a breakthrough disc, this has not been accomplished. While at times during her solos she seems to lose her way, this is really where her strength lies and it might be interesting to see how she would fare in a piano trio setting. There are four instrumental cuts presented with a well-executed bossa Latin-flavoured rendition of On Green Dolphin Street, an OK version of Mack The Knife, and then two Ellington/Strayhorn classics - Satin Doll and Take The "A" Train - which really showcase Duquesnel's piano talent and arranging capabilities. The challenge, as always when doing covers of iconic tunes, is that the original (in this case by Frank Sinatra) always comes off the much superior product and this case is no different. Peggy does shine on a couple of standards, especially on the Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer tune Days Of Wine And Roses where she transforms the usual ballad into a real swinger, and the Bart Howard classic Fly Me To The Moon which is also offered with a slow-tempo opening vocal and then segues into a strong instrumental take-off. Otherwise the tunes are very conventional without any particularly memorable lyrics. Of her four compositions - Summertime Lullaby, In The Quiet Hours, Promised Land and Drivin' Blues - only the last offers anything that attracts the listener, as it has a rocking beat supported by Edo Guidotti on the Hammond B3. While this is a pleasant album and Peggy has a light but lyrical voice and it is easy to discern her classical piano training, there is nothing riveting on the disc which says "play me".
With the release of her latest album entitled Summertime Lullaby, Duquesnel attempts to distinguish herself from the rest of the pack with a collection of jazz standards and love songs, including some of her own compositions that might have both jazz and pop crossover appeal. Joyspring A Grace Sufficient Joyspring Abide in Light Joyspring In the Cool of the Day Joyspring True Repentance Joyspring A Good Father Joyspring Most High Joyspring Any Time Any Place Joyspring The Reward Joyspring Play full songs with Apple Music. The most accomplished musician to gain any widespread public recognition.
Of the oxygen in this space, it is exceedingly difficult even for Likes of Diana Krall, Norah Jones and Carol Welsman taking up most
Piano-playing singers that dot the jazz music scene today. Peggy Duquesnel (pronounced do-shay-nel) is one of numerous female What was it from "MacBeth?" "Life's but a walking shadow A player poor That struts and frets upon the stage And's seen no more A tale that truly has an idiotic ring That's full of lotsa sound and fury Signifying nothing.Grant Greissman - Guitar (tracks 2-5, 8, 9) Ol' Ponce de Leon laughed so much he Never did find the magic fountain But many people with a well-adjusted Spirit they could hear it when y'told 'em it was there tellin' them was Like tellin' it on the mountain It's quite a lift havin' the gift of laughter I'm a man who knows in a Minute I can tell y'just exactly how the story goes It involves a firm conviction in another previous life givin' your mind a chance to fly Fly aroun' the universe investigatin' other Galaxies n' certain other subtle Types o'life tryin' t'dig it gettin' Pretty well-acquainted with a lot of Other strife an' pretty much acquirin' Yourself plenty of education Pretty soon here comes earth birth 'n then y'ready t'put it all t'work But soon as you're finished bein' born You start forgettin' what you knew 'Cause you're another kinda you - a Reincarnation manifestation Of spirit in sensation Y'really got that right The average person isn't bright Not so bright that they recall the fatal fall Down here t' this earth Their minds disguise their death to spirit Life and call it birth That's their reason for forgetting and they find it very upsetting when reminded Tell 'em they've lived before They'll show y' the nearest open door Gotta have feelin' while dealin' with Walkers in their sleep They can't imagine somethin' as deep