What an awesome evening we had! A crowd of around 55 were treated to a really gifted singer-songwriter who was joined by local guitar player Scotty Miller and cellist Paige Capes. These guys practice with Jill about two hours the afternoon before the concert, but in concert sounded like they were her regular band, playing with absolute ease, rounding out Jill's already great sound. For those of you who missed Jill, here's a little bit about her.
In the music industry, memories are short. As an artist what you did three years ago rarely matters. It's what you do now that counts. On that score, Canadian-born Jill Paqutte is an unknown, even though she garnered a Juno award (like a Canadian Grammy) for her self-titled 2003 Reunion Records CCM release. A host of kudos followed that release. Christian Music Today heralded the advent of the classically-trained Paquette, calling her disc "buzzworthy" and a "thoughtful pop collection laced with folk influences." Jill went on to share the stage with CCM greats like Rebecca St James, Shaun Groves and Jill Phillips, and she's traveled the US and Canada, performing in large venues (Franklin Graham Crusade, Spirit West Coast, Freedom Fest, GMA Seminar in the Rockies), coffee houses, concert halls, churches and local clubs. Jill has been featured in publications like Christianity Today, CCM Magazine, and CBA Marketplace. Christian Music Today dubbed her one of the Best New Artists and Radio & Records named her one of radio's Top 10 New Artists. So, why is she relatively unknown? For a good reason: she took a couple years off to marry and have a baby. Can you think of a better excuse?
And yet I think she's itching to make some music and play some gigs, even with five month old Judah in tow! In any event, it was a real treat to have her with us, and I hope I'm able to have her back real soon.
You can find out more about Jill by visiting her MySpace site or her website, though it's outdated. Be on the lookout, however, as she has recorded a new album that's being mastered right now. For now, you can buy her 2003 release and a special pre-release record sold only at her shows.
WATCH:
LISTEN: "Not The Only One"