I walked into the Elmdale Tavern on Sunday afternoon. Megan Jerome’s voice filled the space as she belted out covers by Bill Bailey, TLC, Michael Jackson, and Hozier. Megan’s definitely a talented electric piano player with a dreamy voice.

No stranger to the stage, Megan formally trained in classical and jazz piano at Carleton University. Her self-produced albums have topped CBC and community radio station charts across Canada earning her a Galaxie Rising Star Award.

Performing Sundays throughout May at the Elmdale is one of her latest gigs, where she has souped up her repertoire with some cover songs to entertain oyster shucking crowds. This simply shows her versatility as an artist as her experience is vast and deep, spanning several years, culminating into the release of her most recent album: Together Ensemble. Audiences will get a live taste of her new music in an album launch this Thursday  in an intimate concert with her full band at the Fourth Stage of the National Arts Centre.

This is the fifth album under Megan’s belt, playing with other musicians like her  drummer husband Mike Essoudry, Fred Guignon on the electric guitar and Don Cummings on the Hammond B3 organ. She particularly enjoyed the sympatico between her and the other artists she worked with on the album, who she feels helped take the music in new directions. “They are very creative, very skilled,” she explained. “They listen and respond and give so much.  I went to them with sketches and by playing together we developed really full, lush songs. I’m thrilled with the sound and feel.”

I think the concert is going to feel very personal. Something like being in her living room, which is something she strives for. Megan added that the songs on this album are different than what she’s recorded so far. “Maybe a deeper groove, more influenced by gospel chord progressions,” she said. Moon is a good example too. Although it was on her last album, it is now morphed to be, in her view, a richer and fuller song.

Groovy is a definitely a way to describe her music. Check out the video for ‘Moon’ as a preview.

—Adria May, Apt613

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