Dawn Tyler Watson & Paul Deslauriers

Led Zeppelin, Bruce Cockburn, Patty Griffin, Smokey Robinson, Steve Earle, the Beatles, these artists and others are covered on En Duo, plus there are two traditional songs and a few originals by Watson. Recorded as an acoustic duo, Watson and Deslauriers have produced a CD that’s a cohesive blend of rootsy blues, folk and soul despite its divergent sources of material. From Montreal, Watson began singing in church at a young age. That gospel training, combined with years of singing blues and soul, ensures that her voice is the glue that binds this project together. A strong and supple tool, it’s capable of sultry seduction (Cockburn’s "Mama Just Wants To Barrelhouse”), wistful remorse (Robinson’s "The Tracks of My Tears”) and righteous anger (Griffin’s "Wiggley Fingers”). Paul Deslauriers is a first-rate guitar player and his arranging abilities take familiar songs like Stevie Ray Vaughan’s "Cold Shot” and make it new again. His light voice contrasts nicely with Watson’s powerful style. Their harmonising during Zeppelin cover "Going To California” and "Shine On Harvest Moon” is particularly nice.