“Singer/songwriter, pianist and sought-after vocal tutor Caitlin Smith is probably best known for her lounge jazz trio The Fondue Set, which has gigged extensively throughout the country. On Aurere, she is joined by a crack-team of players.

“It’s surprising that Aucklander Caitlin Smith hasn’t attracted interest from a major label. …. With songs as insightful and compelling as ‘Ugly Duck’ or the equally lovely ‘I am Joe’s heart’ and ‘Penelope’. As a below-the-surface songwriter, she’s got a voice to match and stretches it with ease to skit and flit over the funky, ambitious gymnastics of ‘Comfort song. …. Impressive”.

The Listener by Eleanor Black
19-25 February 2005
When established singers such as Anika Moa, Nesian Mystik and members of the Datsuns need help finding their voice, they call Caitlin Smith. Her spine-tingling backing vocals fea¬ture on albums by everyone from Ben Lummis to Concord Dawn. She’s spent seven years gigging solidly, winning fans and critical [...]

Time Out, CD Reviews by Graham Reid. JAZZ: Graham Reid takes a journey to locate that rare beast, local jazz. If not exactly an endangered species, local jazz is certainly a rare animal. Being a minority music, major labels shy away from it, so its survival has depended on true believers such as Kiwi-Pacific (which was once active in jazz, recording Sustenance and Frank Gibson’s original Jazzmobile) and particularly Ode, whose back-catalogue of albums by Brian Smith, Gibson, Mike Nock and many others is perhaps overdue for reissue.

“This album has been a long time coming from the legendary singer for the Fondue Set. ‘Aurere’ is the first CD of original tunes from Caitlin, performed with her five piece jazz / funk band, The Caitlin Smith Group.