There’s a comforting touch to the music of Paloma Sky. That’s quite apparent in their debut album, Hold On to Me. The Toronto jazz-pop quintet has been working hard on this first offering for some time now. It features ten tracks spearheaded by bandleader and trumpeter Marie Goudy. She is the primary arranger and has a unique approach to writing and recording. She approaches songwriting as if she were writing a novel. Goudy works towards establishing a harmonic and melodic “setting” while also using unexpected harmonic shifts that act as “plot twists.” You could say they catch you by surprise. Some of Goudy’s primary songwriting influences include Stevie Wonder, Maria Schneider, and Kenny Wheeler. As an album, Hold On to Me is a real showcase for the vocal talents of lead singer Jocelyn Ba...