Sent via email:
To the editor,
Brent Raynor’s recent review of Lenni Jabour & The Third Floor’s “Les Dangereuses” (NOW, February 9-15, 2006) does tragic disservice to an excellent release by one of Canada’s best, bravest, and most original artists. The disc marks an evolution in the group’s sound while preserving Lenni’s sensitive, often bittersweet lyrics and continuing the influences of the best of the Parisian cabarets. That in fewer than 100 words the review denigrates Miss Jabour’s reflective and evocative pieces as being “schmaltzy” and “pretentious” and even “macabre” shows what can only be construed as a personal bias—against the artist, a certain musical style, or some other aspect; Mr. Raynor doesn’t expand on his reasons—that unfairly ignores the remarkable and seamless melding of genres, style, and, above all, substance that Lenni et al have accomplished.
NOW’s readers, “Les Dangereuses”, the musicians of The Third Floor, and Lenni Jabour herself, deserve better than this undeservedly dismissive and callous article.
Peter Janes
London, ON
