By Katarina Bourdreaux

Who: Katarina Boudreaux, a Louisiana native who now lives in New Fairfield. The singer/songwriter composes jazz- and ragtime-influenced piano romps that sound both classic and timeless at the same time. She calls her style of music zydeco piano.

Where you can see her: Katarina, who says it was incredibly difficult to formulate this mix, will be at The Space in Hamden for a show at 7 p.m. Sunday. Both Zac Taylor and Shrinking Violets will open the gig. But enough with this stuff, here’s Katarina’s mix:

- “Do I Move You” — Nina Simone. The charisma of Nina Simone’s voice defies explanation. If you don’t know her work — get as much of it as you can and have a listen. The in-your-face attitude of this particular song, the energy of the band, the down-and-dirty grittiness of the entire track is charmingly groovilicious and I dig it.

- “Throw It Away” — Abbey Lincoln. The lyrics are first rate, and the voice — the inflection, the way she turns the phrase creates sound where there isn’t any — it’s a revelation in how to create sung narration.



- “Smile” — David Egan. Straight-up Louisiana — so I’ll share it. Besides the spectacular delivery and crisp piano, I adore the philosophy of this song. Have a bad day? Trip and break your foot taking out the trash (yes, I did that) — turn this on loud and keep on rolling through life. [no video/stream available -- click for mp3 sample via Amazon]

- “My Feet Can’t Fail Me Now” — Dirty Dozen Brass Band. This is the music I grew up with, the music that my feet cannot be still to. It’s my pulse, and I’m deliriously happy when I bust a move to it.



- “Chi il bel sogno di Doretta” — Puccini. I listen to this and feel an incredible sense of the vastness of emotional sound. The melodic line is indescribably beautiful, and when sung with the grace of a first-rate soprano — transcendent. I’m fond of Renata Scotta’s interpretation. Continued...

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- “One Good Man” — Janis Joplin. I cover this song with as much panache and downright raw emotion as I can muster. Why? Because it plays true — like a life unfolding.



- “The Busy Woman’s Blues” — Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers. There’s just something about a big band sound with a lustrous voice that hooks me. It’s lush, it’s tough, it’s sly ... it’s a killer song. I wish I’d written it. [no video/stream available -- click for mp3 sample via Amazon]

- “Dakota” — Stereophonics. I am in love with this song. It makes me want to put my arms out and just spin until I make myself sick or dizzy or both.



- “Between Planets” — The Jesus and Mary Chain. I discovered this song at age 11, and I am still listening to it today. That says something about it — I’m not sure what, but something.



- “My Man” — performed by Billie Holiday. Her voice is her life. Layers of shadow and light, despair and playful hope. She sang painfully honest lyrics without apology and I respect that. I try to sing lyrics like this — to embody a song and breathe life to it through sung word.

Continued...

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Want to make a Weekend mix? Email features@nhregister.com.

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