WHO SHE IS: The veteran Canadian chanteuse whose smoky voice, sultry style and eclectic taste have secured her a permanent place of honour at the forefront of the nation's jazz-pop scene.

WHAT THIS IS: Shade, her latest release, is another loose concept affair a la 1995's Tom Waits tribute Temptation or 2000's love-song set Romantically Helpless. This year's theme: Temperature, light and shadow. Backed by her confidently swinging, endlessly groovy combo, Cole displays her light, cool touch on a set dominated by smart 'n' sophisticated reinterpretations of weather and sun-themed standards like Irving Berlin's Heatwave, Cole Porter's Too Darn Hot and Bill Barnes' Something Cool. A gorgeously downtempo version of Brian Wilson's God Only Knows adds a dash of contemporary flavour to the affair.

WHERE & WHEN SHE PLAYS: Cole caps off this year's Winnipeg Jazz festival with a closing-night show next Saturday, June 21, at Centennial Concert Hall. Tickets are $49 & $39 at Ticketmaster.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO: Because on the longest day of the year, a little of Holly's Shade should cool things down quite nicely. (More on Holly Cole)

Track Listing
1. Heat Wave
2. Something Cool
3. Too Darn Hot
4. God Only Knows
5. A Cottage For Sale
6. We Kiss In A Shadow
7. It Never Entered My Mind
8. Manhattan
9. Moonglow
10. Almost Like Being In Love
11. The Midnight Sun
12. Lazy Afternoon