Canaille call their music “creative jazz,” but even a quick listen to “Potential Things” proves that to be too limiting a label. The music found herin is glorious, as lush and groovy as the best pop, as expansive and meditative as jazz.

“Francophonie” opens the set with a space jazz groove, with a killer horn chart tha tmanages to sound Latin and James Bond soundtrack at once. Tha groove is sliced a bit sharper for “Vincent Massey,” a quick track that nonetheless allows the tenor sax of Colin Fisher and Nick Buligan’s trumpet to fuse with composer, sax player and band founder Jeremy Strachan along a killer melodic line. There is also the noirish “Early Bedtime,” the furious semi-bop of “Good Bits” and the frantic insanity of “Dock Boggs.” “Restoration” “Summer Hair” allow bassist Mike Smith and drummer Dan Gaucher to step forward and lead tunes from a more of a rhythmic base.

“Potential Things” is a joyful and raucous ride through music played with love and fun. This is a band that must be hot live; the combination of fun and serious skills are a rare and deadly combination. Toronto’s Canaille sure have chops to spare, and the heart to ensure that all their potential will be realized sooner or later. 8/10 -- Mike Wood (10 February, 2010)