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Stefanie Schlesinger :: Angel Eyes by ENJA Records 
NJA Records Total time: 50'06Stefanie Schlesinger (vocal), Wolfgang Lackerschmid (vibes, gramorimba) Bob Degen (piano) John Lee (bass) Karl Latham (drums) Roger Squitero (percussion) Slide Hampton (trombone) Hendrik Meurkens (harmonica) Johannes Faber (trumpet) An academically trained "diploma singer", Stefanie Schlesinger appeared in musical and opera productions and also premiered solo works of contemporary classical music before turning to jazz. Thanks to her technical skills and unusual sensibility for melodies and lyrics, the 27-year-old provides a charm that is all her own. Schlesinger even masters difficult and rare songs with a tender and natural flow. Critics loved her ENJA debut, "What Love Is", calling Schlesinger "an extremely gifted young vocalist" (Jazz Podium) and "a considerable talent" (Applaus). German magazine Stereoplay read: "This voice convinces with a mixture of magic and melancholia. Evocative ballads, rich in warm colors, are Stefanie Schlesinger's forte." On her new album "Angel Eyes" Schlesinger goes one step further than most of her singing colleagues. She not only presents highly promising new material (written mostly by her musical director and vibes player Wolfgang Lackerschmid) but also offers standard songs in unusual and most surprising arrangements. Who has ever before heard the old torch song "Angel Eyes" in a bluesy 5/4 time or Michel Legrand's "The Way He Makes Me Feel" (from the film "Yentl") as a grooving R&B waltz? But whatever the setting, Schlesinger is able to turn sophisticated melodies into thrilling ear-catchers without losing her special sense for details. And she also sings in Italian and German. However, "Angel Eyes" is not just an album of a good singer plus band. It is an album packed with great solos and brilliant instrumental moments due to the united forces of some living legends in jazz, among them trombone champion Slide Hampton, piano wizard Bob Degen and harmonica master Hendrik Meurkens. So there is a lot of music happening even between the vocal parts. published 30.06.2005© 2005 jazz news :: home page |
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