CARA MATTHEW at Casa Loma, Tuesday, July 23. Rating: NNN
“Oh, you meant, like, a legit castle” said my out-of-town guest upon our arrival at Casa Loma Tuesday night. Yes. Even I was impressed with the scenario – an outdoor concert, with barbecue and a bar, at a castle – and I’d known I was attending for a week. The second of Casa Loma’s Summer Music Series, All That Jazz took place in that famed Toronto landmark’s back gardens, overlooking forest, and beyond that, the CN Tower.
The entertainment came courtesy of Cara Matthews. The lauded local jazz and blues singer has a string of awards and accolades to her name and steady gigs around the city, so, we know she can sing. But Tuesday wasn’t her best performance. She was often pitchy – particularly in the second of three sets – and her voice didn’t have quite enough oomph to carry reinterpreted versions of classics like At Last, Killing Me Softly With His Song and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
The crowd, though appreciative and incredibly attentive (Matthew mentioned how pleased she was to not just be “background” music) was mellow. Circumstances could not have been more romantic, and a cool, clear-skied summer night on a castle terrace begged for a little more impromptu dancing.
That said, All That Jazz was an experience. Three hours of al-fresco entertainment for $10 at a castle – an actual castle – is pretty tough to beat, even if the star is having an off-night.
Casa Loma’s Summer Music Series continues Wednesday, August 14, and Tuesday, September 3.
