“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”.
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.
NZ Herald, SMOKING: Jazz singer plans to quit performing at smoky bar by Angela Gregory
13th August 2003
Jazz singers may seem synonymous with smoky bars, but for one Auck¬land performer the combination is too much.
The owner of Parnell cigar bar Cuba says he will have to close if pro¬posed smokefree legislation is passed, but jazz [...]
NZ Herald, Workplaces by Liane Voisey
30th July 2003
Name: Caitlin Smith
Age: 31
Job title: Jazz singer and voice coach I
Working hours: Long. 20 hours performing and rehearsing a week, 37 hours of teaching, plus admin and travel to and from gigs
Employees: Studios, bars, private students Pay:$20,000-$50,000
Qualifications needed: None, although an academic course on contemporary performance is [...]