Melodic, rhythmic and sensual represent frequent descriptions of the very special married team of keyboardist Sonny Daye and vocalist Perley Rousseau, one of the most popular and exciting musical attractions in the Capitol District.

They engagingly perform the timeless standards of the great American songbook composers like Irving Berlin and the Gershwins, compelling jazz classics by legends like Charlie Parker and John Coltrane as well as irresistible Brazilian melodies by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Ivan Lins, among others.

Perley’s beautifully rich voice, with the emotional power, swing and improvisational feel of a true jazz singer, also enunciates English lyrics with bell like clarity and Portuguese lyrics with an authenticity that leads Brazilians hearing their CD’s to mistake her for a native. She does all this with a captivating effervescence and saucy stage presence, effectively accented by an intriguing assortment of exotic instruments.

Sonny’s very facile, slightly percussive keyboard work and appealing arrangements are also key components of their crowd pleasing presentation. Depending on the venue, they sometimes also utilize the extraordinary percussionist Brian Melick, with his dozens of fascinating instruments, or an excellent compliment of musicians on bass, drums and saxophone to create an even fuller array of possible dynamics, colors and shadings.

Their website, www.sonnyandperley.com, provides a good deal more information, including their two CD’s, Love Dance and East of the Sun.

Tom Pierce, The Jazz Observer

The piano/vocal duo of Sonny & Perley is one of a handful of jazz acts that can say with confidence they are working steadily. A look at the itinerary of the Albany-based pair reveals an average of about 200 dates per year, an impressive number for most regional acts, jazz or otherwise. There are a few practical reasons why these musical soulmates work so much. For one, the duo format allows them the flexibility to take weekday one-nighters, traveling light and keeping the price right. Another is that, in addition to being a fine pianist, Sonny maintains a second career in the booking business as "Sonny Daye, Inc." --- it helps when you know how to get the gigs. The main reason the couple plays out so much, however, becomes evident upon hearing East of the Sun: They deliver the goods.

Perley Rousseau is a stylish and expressive vocalist whose eclectic repertoire runs from Songbook favorites to the more modern Braziliana of Milton Nascimento and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Her interpretations of the Jobim book are especially impressive: she avoids falling into the breathy, now-clichéd Astrud Gilberto style, opting instead for a fuller open style of her own. A major strength is her ballad singing, demonstrated here in a poignant rendition of the Billie Holiday vehicle, Detour Ahead, which is done in a bolero style.

The multi-instrumentalist Daye, who also plays drums professionally, is a lyrical, percussive player unafraid to improvise freely---often a challenge for the duo accompanist. For East of the Sun, the couple employs the trio of guitarist John Hilton, electric bassist Tommy Ford, and drummer Mike DeMarco. Hilton and company, also from the Albany area, are a good match for Sonny and Perley’s music, as they’re equally at home with the Latin grooves and straight-ahead jazz material.

Burlington jazz fans have probably already noticed that Luenig’s is a regular stop for Sonny & Perley. They played there several evenings this fall and will be back after the start of the new year.

Richard Maye - 7 Days Weekly Newspaper