It's been a long, stressful and tiring day, and before going home, you decide to stop at the local jazz club for a drink and to unwind. You head for the bar, but are intercepted by a waiter who points out that there is a table free in front of the stage and that the show is about to begin. You weren't thinking about any entertainment, but after the day you've had, why not? You take the seat offered by the waiter and order a drink. The waiter returns to set a drink and a napkin on the table and departs just as a number of musicians begin to take their places on the stage. The house lights dim and a single spotlight highlights the microphone beside the piano. Out of the dimness and into the spotlight steps a beautiful woman in a blue cocktail dress who adjusts the microphone, smiles briefly at the audience, nods to the band and begins to sing. The slow pace of the music and the woman's soft, mellow and intimate presentation are the perfect restorative for the stresses of the day. As she performs a set of jazz and pop classics, you are struck by the woman's marvellous voice and her apparently easy mastery of the songs. The musicians performing with her are also highly skilled.

During the intermission, you beckon to the waiter, order another drink, and ask about the beautiful woman in the cocktail dress. The waiter says he will bring the evening's programme with the drink, and shortly thereafter you are reading about Juliann Kuchocki of Toronto and her 25 years of experience as a vocalist, actress and dancer. In the long list of her accomplishments, you notice Juliann's role in the Mont Tremblant Jazz Festival and her tour with 'Cats' in Germany. It's no wonder she performs these songs so effortlessly!

The "evening at the local jazz club" described above is what comes to mind when listening to Juliann's debut album Don't Explain available on CDBaby.com. It was released in 2010 and is listed under the Jazz Vocal genre. There are a number of great songs on the album, but for me, three songs stand out. 'Hit Me With A Hot Note' is an enjoyable, upbeat number. 'One Mint Julep' tells of a woman who meets a man and accompanies him into a tavern for one drink, a Mint Julep, which leads to a series of unforeseen consequences including having to get married! Juliann's rendition of 'Send In The Clowns' is simply stunning, and by itself is worth the price of the album.

Note that CDBaby has no problem selling CD's and downloads to Canadians; in fact, a number of Canadian artists use CDBaby to market their music. CDBaby also claims that artists receive a higher percentage of the proceeds compared with other online music sites. Also note that I have no connection with CDBaby other than as a satisfied customer.