‘Just as you are’ by the Kristin Berardi Band is Eastside Radio’s album of the week.

If you are looking to play something that will bring a smile to your face then the search is over as this week’s featured album at the station is an album that is full of joy. On last week’s Album of the Week show we played a track featuring Kristin Berardi which was ‘Ode to Oli’, now this week it is time for Berardi to take centre stage as we focus on her latest release.

Originally from the country town of Koumala in North Queensland Berardi has well and truly established herself within the Jazz community of Australia and the world, known for her lovely voice she brings pleasure to the ears. Having toured Australia and Europe and played at numerous Jazz events and festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival where she supported Al Jarreau and George Benson, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival and many more. Picking up plenty of awards and nominations along the way Kristin’s career is only getting bigger and bigger which means her album collection is expanding as well.

Released on the 11th of March this year, however it was actually first recorded before her last album was released ‘Where or When’ which got her a nomination for a Jazz Bell Award. On the this album we get to her from Greg Coffin on piano, Carl Morgan on guitar, Brett Hirst on bass, Tim Firth on the drums and of course Kristin Berardi singing with her powerful voice. As we are brought on a journey from experiences that Berardi and friends have encountered in life there is happy tones but there is also some tones that come from times of heart ache.

Featuring original compositions by the band themselves there is also some nice covers added to the mix such as Duke Ellington’s ‘Just squeeze me’ a song that was first released back in 1941 Berardi really makes it her own, being able to transfer from high notes to low notes it really shines through in this one as it starts off nice and mellow like the original and then Berardi shows us her powerful voice as she rises throughout the track. Half way through we are greeted with a nice piano solo by Coffin which breaks it up nicely for Berardi to come back in and finish it off on an uplifting tone.

Another cover that is beautifully done, that is quite a daring one to do as so many of the greats have done it in the past such as Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday to name a few is the famous Jazz standard ‘Body and Soul’, here Berardi and her band do a wonderful job, on the album they use a live in concert version of the track and what a concert it must have been to attend as the passion gone into these words are as deep as they are meant to be and as smooth as only a great Jazz singer like Kristin Berardi herself could do.

An album that showcases the talent that is coming out of Australia and that proves that the young artists of today still love to cover the golden oldies and do an excellent job with them is this one right here. As Berardi’s career into the music industry is growing at a fast pace as she is currently touring the country with this album. Kristin also passes on her talents to the next generation of musicians as she was once a student at the Brisbane Conservatorium of Music she now teaches there and also travels around the country giving guest lectures. If you want a record to brighten up your day with stunning vocals and a talented band then get a hold of ‘Just as you are’ and give it a listen it is sure to put a smile on ones face.

Track Listing