The Guardian (PEI)

By: Doug Gallant

Posted Friday, Jun. 30, 2006

Music fans will want to make a beeline for Not a Straight Line

It doesn't take long to get hooked on Treasa Levasseur.

Three songs into her first full-length CD, Not A Straight Line, and I was anxiously scanning the Internet in search of any articles that would provide some insight into this Winnipeg-born artist whose small frame houses such a big, brassy voice.

Levasseur, who now calls Toronto home, is a richly talented singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose powerhouse pipes have landed her gigs singing everything from old-school funk, soul and rootsy blues music to freestyle hip-hop and rock.

With a voice that is one-part Merry Clayton, one-part Etta James and one-part Dusty Springfield I don't imagine there's anything she could not take on and do well.

When not doing her own thing, she can currently be found fronting a roots act called Lil Jimmy's Chicken Pickers or playing any of several instruments in Corin Raymond's band The Sundowners.

You get a pretty good idea of just how versatile Levasseur is on Not a Straight Line, a 10-song set that sees her nail everything from barroom blues and heart-wrenching ballads to gospel-influenced rockers and big, bad funk reminiscent of the heyday of Sly & The Family Stone.

She wrote all but one of the songs on this set and that one she co-wrote with guitarist/mandolin player

David Baxter, who also produced the album and assisted with the arrangements.

Several well-seasoned players joined Levasseur in the studio for Not a Straight Line, most notably harmonica player Carlos del Junco, Kevin Fox, who played cello, drummer/percussionist Michelle Josef and legendary keyboard player Richard Bell whose credits include sessions with everyone from Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan to Bruce Cockburn and The Band. Hawksley Workman makes an appearance on backing vocals.

It's an impressive set from an artist who has got a lot to offer.

Choice cuts on this indy release include Asking Me To Give You the Blues, Learn to Let Go, One, If I Sang It Pretty, Singing Emma and the title track.

(Rating 3 1/2 out of 5 stars)

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