“There are great vocalists, from Sinatra to Bublé, who effortlessly straddle the border between jazz
and pop; there are plenty of great songwriters; and the annals of great interpreters stretches from
Bing and Billie to Dee Dee and Diana. But Steven Taetz is one of a rare breed, seamlessly
succeeding across all three. Whether tender and romantic or sharp and sassy, he is a unique,
arresting talent, blending the charismatic charm of Harry Connick Jr. with the mischievous
postmillennial élan of Jamie Cullum.”
– Christopher Loudon, Vocal Jazz Critic, JazzTimes
” You have a winner in both your musical writing and performance. Having listened to the album
twice, it is quite impressive. The musical arrangements for each song are unique and distinct from
one another. You have a wonderful lyrical quality to your voice. It is indeed a great pleasure to
meet the musical artist.”
– Joe Melillo, BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music)
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“There are great vocalists, from Sinatra to Bublé, who effortlessly straddle the border between jazz
and pop; there are plenty of great songwriters; and the annals of great interpreters stretches from
Bing and Billie to Dee Dee and Diana. But Steven Taetz is one of a rare breed, seamlessly
succeeding across all three. Whether tender and romantic or sharp and sassy, he is a unique,
arresting talent, blending the charismatic charm of Harry Connick Jr. with the mischievous
postmillennial élan of Jamie Cullum.”
– Christopher Loudon, Vocal Jazz Critic, JazzTimes
” You have a winner in both your musical writing and performance. Having listened to the album
twice, it is quite impressive. The musical arrangements for each song are unique and distinct from
one another. You have a wonderful lyrical quality to your voice. It is indeed a great pleasure to
meet the musical artist.”
– Joe Melillo, BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music)
“The beautiful songwriting and vocal gifts of Steven Taetz are represented in a debut album that
makes us laugh, cry, ponder and connect with our humanity. The unique Canadian perspective is
simply a bonus; this is a collection that has universal appeal. He has a unique gift for telling a
story in song that manages to connect personally with his audience, so that the songs feel that
they were written for each individual listener. From the first hearing of him perform “True North,” it
brought tears to my eyes, and I thought it could easily become a new anthem for Canadians both
at home and abroad. As we approach the 150th birthday of Canada, I can’t imagine a better
musical depiction of the distinctive identity and appeal of our nation.”
– Janice Price, CEO – The Banff Centre
“Steven Taetz is a very compelling live performer who, seemingly effortlessly, creates an intimate
space with his audience. His honest and pure vocals partnered with sensitive original phrasing put
him in the league of great jazz vocalists.”
– Tracy Jenkins, Artistic Director – Lula Music & Arts Centre
“Steven Taetz puts the “songwriter” in “singer/songwriter”. After writing pop hits for other artists,
he has teamed up with other songwriters from across Canada for the northern song cycle that
makes up his first solo album. What great songs! What a great debut!”
– Marc Rheaume, Head of CBC Radio’s Music Resources department
“Impressive album! Lotta vocal range there! “Drive” will be featured on our next show… Talk about
a story through [songs].”
– Sandy Mowat, Producer – Fresh Air CBC
“Thank you for the great album you sent me. It goes to show there is a lot of artistic talent in this
country […] Canada is a great nation not in spite of its diversity, but because of it and this album
you recorded with fellow artists from each province reflects this brilliantly. I wish you all the best
with your album and your tour.”
– Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
“Thanks for sharing your songs with us last night, Steven. They, like you, are a thing of beauty.”
– Holmes Hooke, Booking – Hugh’s Room (Toronto)
“Steven is a gifted songwriter with a unique voice that’s hard to describe. It has a lightness to it
but retains the ability to express complex emotion and nuance. I had a great time working with
Steven. He has a very clear artistic vision but remains open to new ideas and approaches … a very
delicate balance to achieve!”
– Rob Szabo, Producer and artist – Juno-winning production on Steve Strongman’s 2013 Blues
Album of the Year
“The cd is keeper — really enjoyed it… ”
– Jim Marino, Host – Freewheeling Show, 93.3 CFMU radio
“[Taetz] is making his mark on the music scene, one track at a time […], quickly gaining notoriety.
Taetz’s crystal-clear vocals and driving melodies, which he writes himself, have led to
collaborations with some of the finest in the music business.”
– Derek Dotto, cover and feature article, Outlooks national magazine
“Young singer/songwriter Steven Taetz executes an ambitious concept with compelling skill on
this self-titled debut album. The stylistically versatile artist has had an international impact with
dance-based tracks, but he explores folk and adult contemporary terrain here. His concept, he
explains, was “to write my way across Canada” by collaborating with top songwriters in each
province. […] “The Miner’s Hymn”, is a powerful and haunting highlight. […]Taetz has a warmly
melodic voice, and producer Rob Szabo and a cast of local players contribute effectively. [An]
emerging strong talent.”
– Kerry Doole, freelance journalist – feature from New Canadian Music blog (The Globe and Mail,
The Toronto Star)
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