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CD REVIEW The High Life is the latest album from Rose Room featuring violinist and vocalist Seonaid Aitken, Jimmy Moon (double bass), Tam Gallagher (rhythm guitar) and Tom Watson (lead guitar and vocals). This 12 track album takes us back to sounds of Gypsy Jazz and Stephane Grappelli sounds mixed in with the exotic flavours of Django Reinhardt. Add that to the timeless and at times haunting voice of Seonaid Aitken and you can just imagine yourself being taken back to an earlier time of music in French cafes or someone singing in front of a big circular microphone at The Savoy Hotel all those years ago The opening instrumental “The High Life” sets the tone as we take a journey in music to classics like “I’m Confessin’” and “ Isn’t This a Lovely Day?” as they blend seamlessly with newer songs and arrangements by Seonaid. A few standout songs here for me such as “January Blue” and “Edge of Love”, but after a few plays of this album, “Tomorrow’s Goodbye” is definitely my favourite. The High Life is a finely crafted album blending together a group of talented and experienced musicians to give us a haunting sound of the past that is also fresh and modern. Rose Room with special guests Capella String Quartet and Konrad Wiszniewski are playing at George Square Spiegeltent on Friday July 15th (19:30) as part of The Edinburgh Jazz Festival. If there are any tickets left for this performance, try to catch up with them live. Further details on Rose Room available from www.roseroom.co.uk/ If you would like your CD added to our review pages contact us