PRESS RELEASES // Peggy Duquesnell
Press Quotes:
“All I Ask for Christmas” Album Release (2013)
JazzCorner News // (Published: October 11, 2013)
Pianist and vocalist Peggy Duquesnel will release “All I Ask for Christmas” on November 5th, a double-disc set comprised
of instrumental and vocal renditions of holiday standards and spirited originals.
…”The album concept is to take familiar Christmas songs and put them with unique arrangements that have a jazz influence, but that are all accessible to a broad audience. In the process of making the album, I decided to do instrumental versions of the vocal songs.
I am both a vocalist and an instrumentalist and enjoy playing these songs just as much instrumentally as vocally…
JazzHQ // (Published: October 21, 2013)
Duquesnel is having a prolific year. In April, she released “Seems Like I Know You,” a five-song EP that she produced with noted contemporary jazz musicians Jeff Lorber and Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets) on which she exercised her fitness as an adult contemporary singer-songwriter while engaging her light jazz muscles. The instrumental portion of “All I Ask for Christmas” is a return to the classically-trained pianist’s roots in straight-ahead jazz presented with elements of adult pop, contemporary jazz and inspirational material on this, her seventh full-length outing….
Bop-N-Jazz // (Published: October 23, 2013)
An elegant and sophisticated riff on Christmas favorites and inspired originals! Brent Black / www.criticaljazz.com
Christmas does seem to come earlier every year but a little Holiday heads up on Christmas releases can hopefully save you a little time, trouble and effort this year. Peggy Duquesnel’s All I Ask For Christmas hits the shelves on November 5th and this two disc set is classic Christmas with a slight contemporary twist. A two disc set may seem like too much music for some but this is actually where the release takes off with one instrumental and one vocal disc.
Peggy Duquesnel has an old school voice with style, sophistication and the ability to play catch and release with a note that rivals some of the major label singers that bang out overly commercial and equally as predictable seasonal releases. The band here is first rate including bassist Brian Bromberg and drummer Joe La Barbera while the entire accompanying 4tet is on point, spirits are also raised with special guest Rick Braun on flugelhorn. The instrumental disc has the traditional cast of lyrical characters including “Little Drummer Boy” along with “O Christmas Tree” and “What Child Is This.” The vocal disc ventures into some inspired originals including the delightful title track “All I Ask For Christmas.”
Whether you dig your Christmas music straight ahead, contemporary, smooth or perhaps extra chunky there are no disappointments here. Peggy Duquesnel brings her critically acclaimed talents as both vocalist and pianist to fruition with a solid Christmas release destined to be in your regular rotation for years to come!….
Press Quotes:
“Seems Like I Know You” Album Release (2013) “This project is a thoroughly enjoyable offering, and if I wore a hat, I’d certainly be taking it off to “With mad skills and a great attitude, Duquesnel is a stock whose arrow is pointing straight up. “One truly admirable piece of art.” |
Press Quotes “Summertime Lullaby” Album Release (2010) “LA – based Peggy Duquesnel sings, plays piano and writes in the jazz tradition of guys like Dick Hyman and Ralph Sutton…she brings her clear yet unassuming voice to mature originals like ‘Promised Land’ and the title track.” – George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly (Aug 13, 2010) “The title song is an original with a lovely melody and touching lyrics…’In The Quiet Hours’ and “Peggy Duquesnel sounds like a smokier version of Rosemary Clooney. Her voice is bright and “Duquesnel’s keyboards are right on time all the way through the album and clearly show her love “She writes some nice tunes, like the title cut. And her choice of standards suit her own vocal “The original tracks on Summertime Lullaby are sensitive and sincere; you can hear for yourself “Orange County jazz pianist Peggy Duquesnel, who played keyboards in Warwick’s band from 1996 “Her voice is very calming like Janis Siegel, where you not only hear her love for jazz and singing, “Her voice is clear and pure and she is unafraid to divide her arrangements between extended “Peggy Duquesnel has all the accoutrements needed to make a lasting and positive impression on “Duquesnel’s vocals, be they bluesy or joyful are tailored to the many moods of the season.” “Duquesnel knows how to reach her audience and her singing is very appealing. ‘Stay As Sweet As “This album is a treasure for the discerning ear… It is jazz at it’s best. Her piano solo makes ones “The California-based singer has come up with some smooth arrangements for a clutch of well |