The St. Louis-based jazz vocalist Erin Bode’s second album builds on the American Songbook interpretations of her first release with a collection of self-penned originals, as well as covers of Paul Simon’s “Graceland,” Simply Red’s “Holding Back the Years,” and the standard “Alone Together.” Her accompanying trio provides a supple, subtle accompaniment on this down-tempo set of ballads....
Silje Nergaard (born June 19, 1966 in Steinkjer, Norway) is a Norwegian pop and jazz vocalist based in Oslo. While her music early in her career (e.g. Si det, si det from 1985) may have had a distinct pop feel, she has since moved on, and virtually all of her later releases consist of jazz-oriented tunes.
Silje Nergaard has, within the last six years, established herself as one of the most original & most interesting artists working within the European jazz arena. Her 2003 release, ‘Nightwatch’ (2003, Universal Music), is her eighth album. Recorded in Oslo, Norway & Stockholm, Sweden, Silje Nergaard further develops her unique brand of strong melodic jazz in sophisticated arrangements, flavored by a captivating voice....
Vocalist Lizz Wright delivers jazz that harks back to such luminaries as Nina Simone and Abbey Lincoln on her debut Verve release, Salt. Still in her early twenties, Wright has a warm, dusky voice reminiscent of Cassandra Wilson and similarly to Wilson seems interested in tackling an eclectic mix of jazz standards, traditional folk, and R&B. Early on, a folky afterglow-Latin version of “Afro Blue” takes center stage followed by the gorgeous “Soon as I Get Home,” which betters the version from The Wiz. Wright fairs equally well as a songwriter with about half the album filled with her soaring, bluesy ballads. There is a melancholy yet positive ’70s vibe that eminates from songs like “Fire,” which resonates lyrically as well as melodically much like the personal/sociopolitical writing of another of Wright’s obvious inspirations, Terry Callier. Perhaps a little too low-key to register very high on the pop radio scale, but invested with enough sanguine emotionality and chops to make Salt easily recommended to fans of the neo-soul movement....
Viktoria Tolstoy (born 1974, née Kjellberg) is a Swedish jazz singer who is said to have never taken a single singing class. She is the daughter of Erik Kjellberg, and the great-great-granddaughter of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy....
“The Chairman of the Board” died in May of 1998, yet his music sounds as vital and relevant today as ever. Released on the 10th anniversary of his death–in coordination with a slew of DVD releases commemorating the singer’s acting career as well as an official U.S. Postal Service stamp–NOTHING BUT THE BEST provides an excellent look at Sinatra’s tenure at the Reprise label. Among the album’s 22 vintage cuts are classics such as “The Way You Look Tonight,” “Luck Be a Lady,” “Strangers in the Night,” and “My Way.” The disc also contains a bonus track in the previously unreleased recording of “Body and Soul.” Diehard Sinatra fans will likely own most of this material, yet as a greatest hits set (albeit covering the Reprise years only) NOTHING BUT THE BEST lives up to its title....
This is the most controversial of all Billie Holiday records. Lady Day herself said that this session (which finds her accompanied by Ray Ellis’ string orchestra) was her personal favorite, and many listeners have found her emotional versions of such songs as “I’m a Fool to Want You,” “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” “Glad to Be Unhappy,” and particularly “You’ve Changed” to be quite touching. But Holiday’s voice was essentially gone by 1958, and although not yet 43, she could have passed for 73. Ellis’ arrangements do not help, veering close to Muzak; most of this record is very difficult to listen to. Late in life, Holiday expressed the pain of life so effectively that her croaking voice had become almost unbearable to hear. There is certainly a wide range of opinion as to the value of this set. [The 1997 CD reissue adds two alternate takes of “I’m a Fool to Want You,” part of which were used for the original released rendition, plus the stereo version of “The End of a Love Affair” (only previously released in mono) and examples of Lady Day rehearsing the latter song, including a long unaccompanied stretch....
Christmas probably sounded a lot like this in Hoboken, circa the late 1930s: A skinny kid with a huge voice leading friends through favorite carols like “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Greensleeves.” Fast forward and that skinny kid is no longer just another voice in the crowd. All ears are turned his way as he croons through a whole new set of Christmas standards, from “The Christmas Waltz” to “I Wouldn’t Trade Christmas.” Sinatra is in fine voice on this 13-song set, which boasts some of the better arrangements you’ll hear on a seasonal album....
Ում անունն է հայկական բանակ?
Susan Boyle
Katie Melua
Delerium
