April 14, 2005 - The Daily News, Halifax, NS.

EAR ON THE EAST

Didn't miss a beat
After a break for family, singer-songwriter returns to music
JAKKI ROGUE
"TAKE A LOOK AT THIS"
BY SANDY MACDONALD

It's been a long and winding road that brought singer-songwriter Jakki Rogue to her new collection of songs.

"I call it life's system of detours," says Rogue, the second best-known singer from Hopewell, Pictou Co. (after George Canyon) Born in northern Ontario, where her Latvian grandfather settled to escape the post-war refugee camps, the singer grew up in St.Catharines (where she shortened her name from Rognvaldson to the saucier and more pronounceable Rogue).

She migrated east in the 1970's, part of the "back-to-the-land" rush. With her partner Jimmi Wood, they found a plot of land, a plow horse and a communal lifestyle that fit the times.

Through the late '70s and '80s, Rogue sang with Wood in the country-rock outfit Little Smoke. She toured through the region, placed a couple of songs on the radio and performed at outdoor festivals and on television. But in the late '80s, Rogue took a break to raise her two children. "Now my kids are grown, and they're old enough that I can pursue my own dreams," says Rogue.

With an aim to rekindle her music career, Rogue compiled several of the songs she's written over the years. Her plan to record that material came into focus two years ago, thanks in part to fellow Pictou county musician Dave Gunning. The busy artist was operating his own Riverfront Studios (co-owned with George Canyon), and Rogue was teaching music lessons in the same building in New Glasgow. "Dave and George were around quite a bit and they'd remembered the Little Smoke albums and encouraged me to get back in the udio."

Gunning recorded a half dozen bed tracks in his studio, but as his own schedule became blocked, Rogue shifted the sessions to Don Chapman's studio in Dartmouth with guitarist Rick Edgett producing. The album covers a wide swath of the music Rogue has performed over the past 25 years, from country-folk to light pop-rock, swinging country and East Coast-flavoured ballads. She covers Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now, slowed down and accompanied by Edgett's acoustic guitar and the rhythm section.

Rogue brings an assured singing voice to the project and the session playing is impressive through the dozen tracks, with contributions from bassist Jamie Gatti, fiddler Ray Legere, drummer Don Chapman and Dave Gunning. Cheryl Edgett, Floyd King and George Canyon chip in with backing vocals.

Some of Rogue's material trips into lyrical cliche. But her optimism shines through, as Rogue rolls up her sleeves to get back to business. "It's a rebirth but it's a continuance. I took a sabbatical and learned how to live." "For me, songwriting has been like music therapy 101. A lot of these songs are quite personal...but I wanted to share what I've learned."

Rogue launches her new disc with a special performance Saturday, April 16, at Stayner's Wharf. Among the guests expected are Dave MacIsaac (guitar and fiddle), Louie Benoit (guitar), Gerry Carruthers (piano) and Cathy Porter (percussion). Showtime is 9:30 p.m. Cover is $3.