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At first blush, Montreal’s Jon Davis’ soft, gentle and most intimate vocals recall those of Nick Drake, his sombre soundscapes, moving the deeply personal lyric into a very personal place. “Nocturnal Rainbow” moves from the dark of night to the illuminated promise of things to come. “Silver Tree” digs deep into the depths, its strings carrying his vocals further down until – in the nick of time, the clouds give way to sunshine as it bursts through the din. And, despite the title of “Traumatic Head Injury”, we discover a comparatively upbeat artist in search of answers, despite life’s many seemingly unanswerable questions.

Jon Davis’ recently released debut – Golden Hue – reveals an artist who enjoys giving the listener’s emotions a bit of a workout. Golden Hue also provides Davis the opportunity to underline his abilities on piano, guitar and arranging skills. The star of this show is, however, his fragile, weathered vocals. Whether his voice delivers flashes of Kenny Rankin, Drake or even, on occasion, Chris Martin (Coldplay) at his most introspective, this is not the point. Jon Davis has created a debut that deserves immediate attention – not to serve as company for those dark and rainy days as much as to provide a soundtrack for coming out on the other side. Originally trained as a jazz pianist, he switched horses somewhat, based on an outbreak of carpal tunnel syndrome and the accumulated comments he’d received on his vocal talent. Classical training followed and the influence of everyone from Joni Mitchell to Stephen Sondheim helped set the stage. Yet this singer is a songwriter first, and his fine arts background as an artist has provided him with an approach similar to that of a painter with a new canvas. And he paints very personally, indeed, revealing himself in the painterly process – an intense vulnerability exposed through lyrical content providing insight into his old soul.

Jon Davis gives us something to think about – a warm fire on a blustery day – and something to assist us in our own search for answers, buoying our spirits in the process.
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De prime abord, les chansons douces et intimistes du Montréalais Jon Davis rappellent Nick Drake : de sombres paysages sonores, et une écriture toute personnelle qui aborde des rivages tout aussi personnels. Dans Nocturnal Rainbow, la nuit obscure ouvre sur la lumineuse promesse de jours à venir. Silver Tree entraîne vers un abîme, les cordes sous-tendant les mots jusqu’à ce que, juste à temps, le soleil perce le tumulte des nuages. Traumatic Head Injury, malgré ce titre, dévoile un artiste en quête de réponses, même si les multiples questions de la Vie restent apparemment sans réponse.

Dans son premier album Golden Hue, Jon Davis, on le sent, aime bousculer un peu l’auditeur dans ses émotions. Il montre aussi son savoir-faire au piano et à la guitare ainsi que dans les arrangements. Mais c’est surtout sa voix, fragile et aérienne, qui retient l’attention. Qu’elle évoque celles de Kenny Rankin, de Drake, voire à l’occasion de Chris Martin (Coldplay) dans son plus introspectif, cela est secondaire. L’important est que ce premier CD mérite une attention immédiate, non pas tant pour accompagner les jours sombres et pluvieux, que pour révéler l’autre versant de Jon Davis. Formé à l’origine comme pianiste jazz, Davis a, disons, changé son fusil d’épaule après avoir connu le syndrome du canal carpien et après les éloges que sa voix a suscités. La formation classique, acquise ensuite, et de multiples influences – de Joni Mitchell à Stephen Sondheim – ont fini de planter le décor. Pourtant, ce chanteur est d’abord et avant tout un auteur. Comme artiste, son bagage en beaux-arts lui fait aborder la chanson tel un peintre sa toile blanche. Résultat : des chansons très personnelles, son travail pictural révélant une grande vulnérabilité; et ses paroles, un aperçu de sa vieille âme.

Jon Davis nous offre matière à réflexion, tel un bon feu un jour de grand vent, un soutien dans notre propre quête, une balise pour l’esprit dans son labeur.