Caroline Dahl Boogie Woogie Biography

This is a review of Caroline Dahl’s first CD, NO HATS. This is a real artist at work. On the cover of this debut CD, she is showing one of her textile designs. There are more at her website, where you get a choice on Caroline’s home page… side A – Musician and side B – Textile Artist. She is busy!

But on to the musician stuff…

1st cut on No Hats CD is Caroline Dahl’s Boogie – Bang, out of the shoot, first cut. Good piano sound, and a boogie pattern in the left hand, but not one of the familiar ones. It sounds like it will be a classic three chord boogie romp, but then Dahl takes us off through some chords and changes that build interest as well as satisfying the need for driving boogie. Actually that’s a good description of this whole CD!

We get a taste of so many different kinds of music throughout this work and in the physical arrangement I like best -that of piano and drums alone. Playing with other instruments, particularly drums, the mix is critical. This mix is ideal – just enough drums and the piano way out in front. Caroline Dahl uses 4 different drummers all sounding right at home.

There’s so much more than boogie going on here. I guess it’s just good old American roots combined – progressive roots music and I like it. It’s the kind of CD you listen to cranked up as you are going about your life whether partying or working in or working out. Nothing matters but the good feeling you get as you listen.

If you like good sounding energy piano, you’ve got to love this CD. And top that off with her ability to know when to step on that boogie pedal – a fantastic first effort. I can imagine it must take a while to get a CD of this much work together. I’m ready for more.

Another reviewer (Globe) said it was impossible to pick a favorite here. I agree. He mentioned sheer guts and dexterity describing one cut. Works for me for the whole CD. Couple that with a Caroline’s huge musical warehouse of chords, phrases, rhythms and ideas. Oh, yes and ENERGY!

Damn, I guess I’ve gushed enough. For more, go to www.caolinedahl.com