7.4
Montreal native Johnny Coull is a classic piano man, a born storyteller steeped in tradition, who, with a full backing band, paints vivid scenes and encounters from life’s more colorful corridors. “I Left My Baby Grand In New Orleans” is a jaunty, jazzy number with the artist’s rollicking piano setting an engaging pace. (The song’s a bit on the long side, though, and we’d suggest a trim.) “Last Will of a Terminal Casanova” shows Coull’s mournful side, while “The Orpheum” reveals his voice’s limitations. His is not a great voice, but it gets the job done; and, based on these recordings we see no reason why he wouldn’t bring a memorable level of showmanship to a live setting, possibly even a musical theatre piece.
