Anne Lindsay

Anne Lindsay is most commonly known as the violinist in the Jim Cuddy Band and for frequent performances with the likes of Blue Rodeo and John McDermott. As this album (her third) confirms, she's also a very talented, roots-y singer-songwriter. All facets of her game are showcased on this highly eclectic offering. Original fiddle instrumentals like "Downwind in an Updraft" and "Thorley Island Reel" will please lovers of the instrument, as will a cover of the late, great Oliver Schroer's dramatic "Waltz For Annie." "Bartlett Street" is a sweet, piano-based cover of a Kurt Swinghammer song (featuring lovely work by Aaron Davis), while ballad "Valentine" is a co-write with Michael Johnston (Skydiggers). It's no surprise to see Jim Cuddy take a cameo, singing on the title track. Lindsay has a clean, pure vocal style that complements her ever-fluent, varied playing nicely, and she is ably abetted by such accompanists as Jason Fowler, Colleen Allen, David Woodhead and Jaron Freeman-Fox. The most leftfield track is "May Our Minds Meet," a hip-hop meets fiddle fusion written by Lindsay and her son, Tosh Weyman, who co-produced the album. It does work, though it'll surely elicit Ashley MacIsaac comparisons, and isn't a road she should venture down too frequently. Still, this is a solid effort.