kinzaza's Last.fm Journal

Of powerful women

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 21:59:56 +0000

Когда в среду вечером мы прощались с Шаан из Kosheen, она после долгих обниманий сказала мне очень серьезно "You're a powerful woman". Я ответила - "I just wanna be like you".

Прежде чем я ударюсь в лирику, вкратце опишу нашу незабываемую среду 19-ое. Шаан сейчас работает со своим старым другом Саймоном, и их выступление должно было состояться в рамках фестиваля zvuki.ru. Мы с друзьями про концерт прознали еще задолго до того, как появилась информация, списались через майспейс с Саймоном и договорились 19-ого встретиться. Все это планировалось очень долго и нервно, оговаривалось с везущим их промоутером... В нужный день все запланированное конечно же screwed up, начиная с факин faq-кафе, от которого теперь остались крайне неприятные впечатления. И тем не менее, все вышло просто замечательно, потрясающе, восхитительно, незабываемо и т. д. А в конечном итоге ВСЕ - я, семеро моих подруг, Шаан, Саймон и двое их музыкантов - теперь уже официально остались счастливы:)

Пришло, наконец, время и большое желание выложить всё, что у меня накопилось от общения и слушания этой женщины.

Сказать, что она удивительна - ничего не сказать. Попробуйте представить, что видите её в первый раз: тут кривовато, там толстовато, прическа странновата...

Она открывает рот - и всё. Где кривовато? Где толстовато? Да она просто очаровательна. Её улыбка, её добрые глаза, одно слово - и ты чувствуешь, что знакома с ней всю жизнь. И с этой офигительной улыбкой она встречает и обнимает тебя как старую подругу.

Она с удовольствием расскажет тебе о своем сыночке, с грустью в глазах и голосе - о том, почему она разошлась со своим последним бойфрендом (этому товарищу нужно непременно вправить мозги; если что, в лицо я его помню хорошо, а Бристоль - город маленький), будет показывать фотографии своей кошечки, собачки, своих друзей и со своего дня рождения, непременно поинтересуется как дела у мамы (She won't be coming to the gig, unfortunately... She's at home learning English. She was upset when she saw you and couldn't have a word with you! - It's OK, mums don't need to talk much to understand each other... My mom speaks tooo much... apparently.)

Девушка совершенно без комплексов. Когда мы ходили по ГУМу, она в полный голос подпевала какой-то песне, звучавшей в одном из магазинов, на Красной Площади подходила к туристам и предлагала сфотографировать их на фоне Кремля, в метро довольно уселась в вагоне, одев на голову только что купленную шапку-ушанку, на Маяковской, увидев молодых военных, радостно подбежала сфотографироваться в их компании. И всё это в чьем-нибудь другом исполнении могло бы вполне выглядеть нелепо - по крайней мере, в Московской среде, - но у неё было столько удовольствия на лице, что мы только смотрели на неё и восхищались)

А в б2, когда мы кормили их после саундчека, речь зашла о валлийском языке, и она бац - и выдала нам песню на валлийском. Про то, что голос у неё обалденный и ни на какой записи не передаваемый, я молчу. ~~Про то, что песня была как две капли воды похожа на "Если б не было зимы в городах и селах..." тоже.~~

Она широчайшей души человек. На всё хорошее она непременно отреагирует таким же хорошим. И всем, что в ней есть положительного, она делится во время своих выступлений. Наверное одно из самых больших удовольствий для неё - когда люди тепло принимают её и её песни. И она готова еще больше стараться и еще больше выкладываться, чтобы нам еще больше понравилось.

Вчера как раз писала Саймону, что моим highlight концерта был исполненный ими кавер на песню Джона Мартина "Head and Heart". Первая же строчка - There's just no way to say how much I love you - (...) так, тут у меня неожиданно оборвалась мысль, ладно, опускаем. В общем, первая строчка.

А вторым хайлайтом было наверное, когда Шаан, оттанцевав на сцене с организаторами феста под сет 4hero, спустилась потанцевать с нами. Это наверное был апофеоз того вечера. Черт, опять мысль оборвалась...

Ну вот, в общем... Когда мы с ней и с Саймоном в тот вечер прощались, мы стояли наверное вшестером около минуты в обнимку и молча.

А на следующий день Шаан прислала нам смс из аэропорта. Она была такая теплая и душевная, полная благодарности и чего еще там, что (я разослала её всем), некоторые из нас плакали.

Кстати, Саймон сегодня в ответ написал, что их хайлайтом в тот день было общение с нами.

Им действительно будет, что вспомнить у себя в Бристоле-Кардиффе. Им помогут подаренные нами четыре большие новогодние коробки конфет и постеры с советскими лозунгами, которыми их басист задался обклеить всю их студию :)

Мм, а про Саймона-то тоже я бы немало наговорила. То ли они там, валлийцы, все такие, то ли вокруг Шаан такие же люди, как она собираются, - в общем Саймон - просто прелесть. Он, может поскромнее ~~и постарше~~, но такой же милый-премилый и добрый. "Simon, are you cold?" - (c улыбкой) "Y-y-y-es".

В общем, в очередной раз я убедилась, что все, что я о Шаан помнила (после Бристоля, Москвы летом, Амстердама), все правда. Бесконечно удивительная, приятная и очаровательная женщина, общение с которой доставляет офигительное удовольствие и радость. На этот раз мое мнение полностью разделили все мои любимые подружки. Приятно :)

Sian Evans Sian Evans & Simon Kingman Kosheen John Martin

Kosheen @ Anson Rooms, Bristol 05/05/2007

Sun, 13 May 2007 21:13:57 +0000

Eventually here, in Moscow, with sore throat and ears hurting but terribly happy and longing to share the story about the Kosheen gig in Bristol.

//The photos are here http://flickr.com/photos/elmirino/sets/72157600200032387/ //

Bristol is a wonderful city, I mean, you can only wonder whom you might meet on the street.

I managed to meet Kosheen singer Sian two times (not including the gig itself). First I saw her just a few meters from the building where the Anson Rooms were, a couple of hours before the gig. You can’t imagine what a fantastic woman she is, actually. She was sitting on a stone flab, her legs crossed, in trainers and hurriedly worn big sweater, waiting for a taxi home (as she told me later), she was just like other bristolians walking by and not realizing that they’re passing the leader of the band which owns gold records and hundred thousands of fans through the world. At first I was frightened to come up to her, worrying that I might bother her or what not – but finally I did.

That was for good. When Sian saw me, she smiled, I told her my name which she endeavored to pronounce, and then when I said to her that I came from Moscow to see them that day, her eyes flashed and she said in surprise “You’re joking!” We’ve been standing and chatting for some 15 minutes, during which I was kissed and hugged by her endless times, I think, for every single thing that I said to her :). And then, when I called my mom to take a picture of us, all hugs and kisses came down on her as well. The fact that my mom was very poor in English, didn’t confuse Sian – they immediately got along very well. Sian is truly a very sincere person. Sincerely she was apologizing for not wearing make-up and being in casual clothes when my mom was taking picture of us. Sincerely she was happy to get a little present from me – a handmade t-shirt, made on the night before the flight to UK. How she treats people, simply amazed me (I’m not even talking about my mom!) Finally I said I had to go (to get place in the queue to the gig))), she promised to come out after the gig for a while and we said good bye to each other.

Now, about the gig. Yes it was THE gig. In terms of energy and intensity of dancings no other performance I’d ever saw could be compared to this one. Everyone from the front row to the outskirts of the hall was dancing madly. Even my bulky camera didn’t prevent me from grooving too, it was hitting my body so hard, that I found a cutest bruise on my waist the other day, but, man, how proud I am of it!

Damage was the powerful set opener, followed by the current single Overkill and Catch, which roused deafening squealing and crazy dancing, and then Chances, which tends to be no less powerful than Catch.

Then we were allowed to recover a little during Avalanche, but after that kosheen threw on us their dear old resistish dnb in Suicide, Empty Skies and Hide U. They were followed by Guilty, Hungry and, unexpectedly, Ages, which was cut into two verses but was performed by Sian so soulfully, that the audience was stunned. It’s actually quite difficult when you’re being thrown from dancing into meditation and then being forced to move up again! After Ages went Resist, quite of the same mood and also a rare song in Kosheen’s set lists.

Somewhere in the middle of the concert Sian began to smile contentedly and started boasting. “I see here so many people which are dear to me, - she said. – This is my son, I love you dear! Oh and here is my boyfriend, we are getting married very soon! Yeah, yeah, congratulations to us!” Also, while performing one of the songs, she recognized me in the crowd and threw me a kiss from the stage. No comments :)

Then, the guys absolutely unexpectedly played one of their b-sides Get it Right and, god, how perfect does this song sound live! Even though Sian funnily forgot half the lyrics. The official part of the set was closed by Wish You Were Here and the anthemic All in My Head, sung all together without any false note from start to end. Sian was trying not to burst to tears and was crying I love you to the audience.

Now let me tell in a few words about the bristolians. They are very cultured. They even chill very culturedly. They’re very good singers. And when they’re demanding encore, they stamp their feet and desperately hit the iron partition which separates the audience from the stage, crying. Which gives the effect of the stadium, as if it were not Anson Rooms, but Wembley.

When the audience was calling for Kosheen, the greatest thing was, people were mostly shouting not “We want more”, they were screaming “BEAU-TI-FUL” in a friendly choir. The band appeared soon and performed Wish and (!) second time Catch, which didn’t take place during any other Damage Tour concert – it was kind of a gift to the audience, thankfulness to everybody who was there in the crowd.

Then after the gig I came up to Sian again, she recognized me (she even remembered my name!) and hugged again. Actually, she treated me like I was her relative or friend. She introduced me to her boyfriend, Loo, which was probably the most outstanding thing happened that day. Loo is just as nice and cute as Sian, he told me so many sweet words I was blown away XD They really look perfect together and the nicest thing was, they even signed together my copy of Damage! After another bunch of kissing and hugging we finally said goodbye to each other and me and my mom walked home, happy and contented from head to feet.

Just a few more words. You know I’m not a very good writer. Especially in English. I can’t build beautiful phrases which could somehow repeat again,

what a beautiful voice Sian has

how this voice, powerful and solid, beautifully lies over the sound of the instruments, and, once started singing, she needn’t try to press down on her voice to be heard

how incredibly she stretches the words “You will bleeeed” till the very chorus (this line is altered by a sound effect on the record)

how professionally and strongly she hits the high notes in Chances

how clearly she sings Resist

and how I wish they’d hire a sound producer for all this beauty not to be lost on the record, as it has been so far

and also

what an amazing and kind person she is, a person to whom the whole audience is crying that she is beautiful

what a wide soul she has

and how I wish only good things happened to her. Because she’s the first to deserve them.

Coldcut live in Moscow IkraClub on October, 14

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 16:14:21 +0000

i repeat and repeat, only one phrase, it was fooking gorgeous! i probably wasn't the biggest Coldcut fan before the show but now I AM. i thought it would be no more than another gig but it turned out to be THE gig of the Autumn for me. So much energy and drive, vibes, so incredible! I don't know whether it was a special effect or not but the floor seemed to be vibrating and the strong beat was coming right from your feet up into you and this simply made everyone dance. The huge part of the show made the videos appearing at the background showing us both kids cartoons, presidents Bush and Putin, as well as outtakes from some old movies, everything corresponding to the music brilliantly.

My favorite part of the show was probably [track
artist=Coldcut]more beats + pieces[/track], in particular the moment when the sample from Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf began to play. I usually don't like any classics modern interprtations but the guys made this one perfectly, and it sounded live much more impressive than on the record.

Last thing i want to mention is that the guys themselves were so nice and friendly, smiling at constantly appearing shouts Let us play! from the audience, and of course everyone managed to come to them after the gig, get this

and thank them personally for the greatest show for the past few months. :)

A few video clips

The opening:

Don't remember what

Walk A Mile:

True Skool:

Timber:
Coldcut

Turin Brakes

Sat, 14 Oct 2006 10:19:10 +0000

Turin Brakes is what i'm obsessed with at the moment. With their album "JackInABox" in particular. I'm in love with every single track and sound on it. I like how people taf their songs, like "here comes the sun do-do-do-do" or song i wish would be about me etc. And that's what describes best their music, so sincere, melodic and lively.
My first great-and-late dicovery since Kings of Convenience, who btw sound pretty similar to Turins.

One thing that surprises me is how come Jackinabox is the least popualar of the three albums made by the guys? I listened through Ether Song and the Optimist lp a few times but wasn't impressed much.

Kings Of Convenience live @ Bridgelounge, St. Peterburg, July, 8

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 08:51:23 +0000

Hehe it still seems like a dream, but this

signed by Eirik makes sure that it really happened;)

Just in a few words. I had to make a 10 hour way to St. Petersburg to see KoC playing the gig in Bridgelounge club. However, thie event turned out to be much more thanjust a perfrmance. First the guys played in the club itself (well, it isn't even a club, just a few large white tents with a restaurant arranged inside).

However, Erlend & Eirik were obviously not prepared for a +30 C degrees at 10 pm in a North-West city, and after having played about 8 songs (including Misread, Know How, I'd Rather Dance With You, Cayman Islands, Toxic Girl, I Don't Know What I Can Save You From and a few new songs) Eirik suggested leaving the tents and going to the beach nearby.

On the way to it, I we talked with Eirik, he was rather impressed to hear that me and my friend came from Moscow just to see them and signed me the album;)

Following my example, a lot of fans then surrounded Eirik and he had to stop, while Erlend went farther and sat on the sand not far from the water, and about 20 people sat around him in circle. First he we were talking for a while, then he played royksopp's Remind Me and after that I suddenly said "Erlend, let's sing something altogether! Maybe Homesick?" - "Ok, - he answered, - but not altogether, let's do it you and me!" omg that was something really fantastic. i was so nervous that forgot a few words at the beginning and i don't really have an outstanding voice and all, but i think in general our lil *duet* was a success, and many people then joined us;) While we were singing the last part of the song (beginning with "A song for someone to need somewhere...") we were looking straight into each other's eyes and it was so amusing, I was trying to realize that THIS was happening for real and here is me and here is Erlend Oye right in front of me! When we finished, he smiled to me and nodded approvingly.

After a while Eirik joined our lil company and they played another couple of songs. The Erlend left us and went for a walk along the road near the shore, while we were talking with Eirik. We talked about everything - about the norwegian writer Erlend Loe, about countries where KoC had recently been to...

At half past midnight Eirik said "Guys, I think it's time to go" and we went slowly back to place we came from. There, a long procedure of Goodbyes started. We taught Eirik to do it in a Russian way, with shaking hands and kissing 3 times. From me Eirik actually get 4 kisses, one was meant to be passed to Feist. He promised me to send greetings to her too (Yeah, sure, I'm seeing her right next week in Paris!") and also promised that next time they'll come to Moscow and take Feist with them. I think my mission was done then, and I went away, still a little bit shocked but madly happy and satisfied.

Don't trust the name of the band - Erlend and Eirik can hardly behave as Kings or as superstars (who they are, in fact:). They're just 2 simple guys, awfully nice and open to everyone. And they really made everyone happy that wonderful night.

PS video for Cayman Islands, Kings of Convenience live;) http://www.sendspace.com/file/ng1vtg

It's 111 mb but it's a must have/see;)

I think 2006...

Fri, 9 Jun 2006 18:41:51 +0000

…is gonna be a fruitful year.

It already is, in fact. We already heard from Zero 7 (despite I can’t say that I liked their new album, tracks with Sia are pretty good), Madita and Mozez (the heroes of my earlier post), Skye (for me her solo album wasn’t something completely outstanding as it is for many people, but I can’t deny it’s just good music:), Gare du Nord (almost the same as with Zero 7. Their ’06 album “Club Gare Du Nord” has many nice tunes but after their masterpieces from previous albums, “Excellounge Bar” and “Sold My Soul”, the album sounds rather pale).

I’ve already got my favorite album of 2006 so far – “Lunatico” by Gotan Project. They put in this album everything I love about music – good vibes, strong beats and piano. Btw I’m seeing them live on June 25 and, mygod, I already know it’s gonna be fab.

However, the most interesting things are still going come.

First, Muse. =>You<= can repeat zillion times that “Supermassive Black Hole” sounds like (plz forgive me) Britney Spears, it’s still one of the best tunes I’ve heard from the rock world since the beginning of ’06. And the best that I could expect from Muse, of course! However, I must admit, I already listened to the whole new album and it’s not as impressive as Hole is, but I’ll keep listening.

Second – tadadam – Kosheen! Finally!! As their official website says, the new album’s already finished and the UK and Europe tour are being penciled out. The album’s called Damage and is going to be released in late summer (still no one can be sure this won’t be postponed). Some of the new tracks – Overkill /the potential first single/ and Freaks Of Nature – can be heard on www. kosheen.com, while Guilty can be easily found in the web. You know, after 3+ years of waiting for this album I feel so proud of myself, I’m amazed by how patient I am and how strongly I devoted to my first and (now I can say) everlasting love!

Then, Bent are definitely gonna make me happy with their new album, some tunes from which can be heard now on their Myspace page. Now we can see, they moved far away from downtempo and want to be a band, not 2 DJ’s. Although I’m a bit frustrated about the fact that they’re not tending to make any new “Private Road” and “Swollen”, I will accept their new stuff too.

Finally, there’s an event that will, sure, make this 2006 complete. For me, at least. In September Gary Burton and Chick Corea are coming to Moscow!!! It was something that I even didn’t let myself dream of, but omg, it’s true!!! But September is far far away now, let’s concentrate on satisfying and pleasant present.

Hey, maybe I forgot someone? :)

Podcast vol. 3

Sat, 8 Apr 2006 15:00:45 +0000

For those of you who's still interested:)

http://jellybean.russianpodcasting.ru/5936.html

For those who don't speak Russian:

скачать = download
слушать = listen

For those who wants to know the playlist.

Michel Camilo - A Song For My Father (6:03) - Thru My Eyes
The Brad Mehldau Trio - Day Is Done (9:26) - Day Is Done
Chick Corea - King & Queen (6:06) - The Ultimate Adventure
Hiromi - Edge (5:19) - Spiral
Jeff Lorber - State Of Grace (4:03) - State Of Grace
Fred Hersch & Bill Frisell - My Little Suede Shoes (5:33) Songs We Know
The Bob James Trio - Downtown (5:29) Take It From The Top
Keith Jarrett - When I Fall In Love (7:25) Inside Out

For... all: enjoy;)

Of Bach and DJs

Sun, 5 Mar 2006 17:19:08 +0000

The thing that I'm experiencing at the moment is called "cultural shock" and the reason for it is, too many electronica performers gone live’n’jazz.

Well, it started out with Herbert. Or Matthew Herbert. Or Doctor Rockit. In fact, it's one guy. I became interested in him once I've heard a remix he's done for dZihan & Kamien's track "Before". the thing is, Herbert, due to a rare illness (he can't assimilate some sorts of information) can't learn to use computer and makes his music using a sampler and every thing that gets into his hands, including pots and shoes:) That's why his music, though usually considered electronic, have such a NATURAL sound! But Herbert decided to become even more natural and gathered The Matthew Herbert Big Band. No samples, no electronica, only live instruments. He really made it to jazz, though I still can't get rid of a feeling that the instruments that he used are not trumpets, pianos and drums, but some tings stolen from the kitchen. :)

Download - The Matthew Herbert Big Band "Everything's Changed"

Next, for a moment, let me gosh about The Quantic Soul Orchestra. There's been a lot of noise about this project and Quantic itself around last.fm and I finally decided to have a look at it. Not to say that I wasn't impressed but after several plays of both albums I still wasn't remembering any particular composition from them. The impression is very similar to one I got from listening to Down To The Bone's "From Manhattan To Staten". The problem is - 2 albums of one beat, that finally makes feel bored. Then, however, I chose another way of lsitening to QSO - just let it play from start to end, doing at the same time my usual routine, like I usually behave with piano jazz albums. And it worked - I love both albums now!!! And, btw, their cover of "Feeling Good" is pretty well-done:)

Download - The Quantic Soul Orchestra "Feeling Good"

And now to the culmination. Yesterday evening I finally grabbed the dZihan & Kamien Orchestra CD "Live In Vienna" in my lil greedy hands. And yes, it's the best that happened to me after the discovering of Kings Of Convenience. I've listen to dZihan & Kamien music a lot, but couldn't imagine what they sound live like. I can't even describe it in words, but I was impressed sooo much as I've really seen them live. Now to the details. Vlado Dzihan (from Bosnia) and Mario Kamien (from Switzerland) met in Vienna where they both were continuing their classical (!) music education. And I think this is the main thing that influenced their creativity. Not music itself, but its mentality. Every their composition sounds extremely clever and properly-done, classically-made, I'd say. For "live in Vienna" record the guys hired an orchestra of 22 musicians and what they've all made is a wide and wild combination of sounds of styles from all over the world. Deep energetic basses make every composition sound powerful and deep, strict beats take you off your seat and make you dance, soulful trumpets make it funky, fragile piano tunes charm you. The band begins with a up-tempo funky "After", while eastern sound of strings and some unidentified flute-alike instrument sends you right to Middle East countries in "Thrill" and "Just You And I" and when you hear "Ford Transit", you immediately imagine an advertisement of < :)) > Ford making its way through a Lebanese desert. Then go some trip-hoppy romantic stuff with Ma.Dita's vocals on "Drophere" and nu-jazz "Basmati" with both, sampled vocals and live keyboards. But the biggest shock was what the guys have done to their classic (attention!) chillout hit "Homebase". It's nearly bossa nova! Latin rhythms, groovy piano, all I could do is just open my mouth. And admire. And that's not all. There's also a funky-disco "Slidingdub" on the album and, finally, one of my all-time fave, "Airport", whose new version just prooved, that it's a masterpiece. Haha, I just remembered my Mum passing by when this track was playing on the radio. She stopped and wondered: "Hey, isn't it a Joe Sample's "Soul Shadows" remix, hah?" Omg seems like that's all about the album. I can't believe it's over.

For this not to be only words, i uploaded the best tracks for you. And the original and live versions of "Homebase" to compare:)

Homebase live
Homebase original
Airport live
After live

I suppose the thing that makes dZihan & Kamien stand out in this wide variety of nu-jazz/electronica projects is that they are, first of all, not DJs but musicians. Educated musicians. Which prooves my opinion that you can't be a good DJ not being learned to play Bach.

Speaking about live recordings, it can't be denied that even listening to them brings a great energy and the emotions of the whole audience having attended the performance. And here is a track to prove it. The composition is by the great pianist Keith Jarrett, ir was recorded in Koln 30 (!) years ago. /don't worry, Keith now is alive and happy and full of energy:/ It's a part of the concert which he composed himself. I heard it accidentally on last.fm radio and... fell of my chair. If you respect me, listen:) It's the best pianist ever.

Here

I heard it through the grapevine (not about Marvin:)

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 20:58:14 +0000

Due to lack of music-informed friends I have to make discoveries myself. And it turns often into the thing that Russians call “to open America” – discovering obvious.

I don’t remember how, but a few days ago I decided to have a look on Erlend Oye. Great guy, so amusing and so charming!:) I stated with his Unrest and on the 5th track I felt that the voice is deadly familiar to me. After typing the name into Google I realized it’s the guy, singing on my favorite Royksopp’s tracks Remind Me and Poor Leno.

Next, While listening to Erlend's DJ Kicks album, I bumped into song If I Ever Feel Better by Phoenix. This is truly one of my childhood’s songs and I mentally thanked Erlend for this recollection. And turned into listening to Phoenix. Rather funny guys, sometimes the lyrics seemed a bit silly though. Anyway I think they knew about it, “Everything means EVERYTHING Can't understand a word Half of the stuff I'm sayin'”. That honesty moved me deeply:)

Then, I found out that Erlend is the vocalist of Kings Of Convenience, band, that I’ve been ignoring for 2 years. Oh stupid me, I didn’t know what I was missing! Their Riot On Empty Street is now my “album of the week” and seems to become the “album of the month”. I know now that I simply was missing easy and positive music.

Here the journey could probably end. But not this time. The woman’s vocals on track Know How was again deadly familiar. Omfg, it is Feist! And Ialos replayed a few times her album. That’s all.

Considering what I’ve been writing here about, a lil sum-up: I 1) found a great CD I can’t stop listening (of course, I heard the other album, Quiet Is The New Loud, too and liked it but the second is much better); 2) Listened to a band that I haven’t heard for some 4 years; 3) Completely changed my condescending attitude to Feist!:)

In other news, I’m driven by French music now. I started with Coralie Clement and her brother Benjamin Biolay. And I can’t decide whom I like more. Coralie is a true French chanteuse, I’m in deep love with her album Salle De Pas Perdus, with each particular song. And Benjamin is a… he some why reminds me Serge Gainsbourg;) I’m sorry, I wanted to say many things but I’m through.

Female vocals (w downloads)

Mon, 6 Feb 2006 11:23:23 +0000

Next thing I must confess in, is that I’m very cynical about female singers. You won’t find many of them in my overall top. Not because I’m not into them, but because I’m very exacting to them. Oh me cruel thing, these girls need to be perfect and completely outstanding for me to listen to them. So the today post is about female vocalists I love.

Firstly I’ll mention those who I’m not going to write about. It is Bebel Gilberto, because everyone knows Bebel Gilberto and how amazing she is. I don’t need to tell that again. I’ve already written about Diana Krall, see her in my post “Jazz (and not only) piano players”. I’ll only repeat that she’s great in both – playing and singing. And no Feist here. Cuz her talents are over-estimated. Though her one Evening is a cool and very catching song. Then, you won’t find here Katie Melua (for the same reason as Bebel) and no Ellas and Sarahs here. You know why;)

/Note: Here and further it’s only my humble opinion/

Sian Evans (Kosheen)

That lady is the reason for all these difficulties, that other girls need to overcome to reach my Top. Kosheen is my all-time fave, for the past 5 years. Once I saw Sian on TV (it was [Hide U video), I… was irritated greatly. Everything in her, in Kosheen and their music annoyed me. But that lasted for about a week, and soon I became really addicted to them. And my love to Sian grew stronger and stronger, with Kosheen’s new singles, videos, new album, then with their gigs I’ve seen. It was just a lil bit of history, now to the present. Everything that Sian does, is absolutely awesome. Her voice is colorful, deep and full of power. Once I hear her voice or her singing, my heart starts to melt. Her acting during performances brings a great positive energy to the audience. Lyrics, that she writes, are deep and not easily understood. Everyone gets his own thoughts about what she’s speaking about, and that mystery of the words, when no one except Sian, can explain properly, omfg, it’s just awesome!!! My idol.

Download Kosheen - Wasting My Time (Acoustic)

Sia

This love came from my Mum, actually. Once she heard Sia’s Blow It All Away long-long ago on one radio station, it impressed her a lot. The thing is that this song was played right at 00:00 between Sunday and Monday, right after the end of The Dave Koz Radio Show. So, every Sunday we waited for that song and listened with great pleasure. Later Sia’s album came, that r’n’b-oriented Healing Is Difficult and a true singer-songwriter production, Colour The Small one. Both miss some thing, but both are very beautiful. Aha, now why I like Sia. Like my Mum told, “she’s the only one of her kind”. And that’s damn right! Find me another Sia and I… we’ll decide what to do, but I’m pretty sure, you won’t be able;) Her voice is so unlike anyone’s else, so distinctive and so beautiful, that it doesn’t even matter what she sings. It’s my opinion that she’s not skilled enough in songwriting, so the songs on both albums seem to be kinda unfinished. Still you won’t notice it ever, while SHE is singing them.

Download Sia - Blow It All Away

Rad

Don’t worry, it’s not a name, just an abbreviation of Rose Ann Dimalanta. It’s a very nice American singer and piano player (mainly funky jazz). I liked the harmony in her music, especially in her compositions Time To Change and Long Journey Home. She doesn’t try to impress anyone, to jump over herself, she’s just singing, very sincerely and lightly.

Download Rad - Time To Change

Viktor Lazlo

Yeah, she’s a lady! A Belgian vocalist. She sings in English, in French, both awesome. She’s got that right sense of how to make music easy but very soulful. She can perform pop, and it will sound like the classiest pop ever. Songs about love haven’t been better in anyone else’s interpretation. I especially mark out Lazlo’s album Loin De Paname, where all her skills are shown in brightest colours. Listening to her, I really feel easy “like Sunday Morning”, maybe because she doesn’t have any outstanding voice or that stuff. A true diva.

Download Viktor Lazlo - Not The House

Shelby Lynne

When Shelby was 16, she saw how her father shot Shelby’s mother and then killed himself. What can you expect from this woman now? She’s very close with her listeners, she sings only about her life, describes her feelings in full colours, her voice comes right out of her soul. And this voice is full of bitterness and, at the same time, hope. Speaking about her music, it’s a very interesting mixture of soul, blues and country, these sounds easily attract people. All this makes me think sometimes that talent is a hidden skill getting out in critical situations.

Download Shelby Lynne - Leavin'

Judith Sephuma

This is a rather unknown singer from South Africa. And her songs are full of that African sun, warmth and spirit. She sings about innocent and carefree childhood, playing hide’n’seek, times when “girls were girls” and about the world full of joy. And she makes you believe it. Really, she can. Ah, and it’s rather jazzy btw!:)

Download Judith Sephuma - Are You Still There

Jane Monheit

This young lady has a truly angel’s voice. But maybe the thing is that with all these innovations, attempts to invent something new in singing, these huge variety of female singers, we just forgot the sound of real academic vocals, thus hearing it suddenly from a twentysomething year old pop-looking girl brings such a pleasure. Next thing is that these wonderful vocals are used in mainly jazzy music. Jane’s great in singing ballads, bossas, standards, oh, in all. Actually, she’s got too many ballads, while up-tempo songs are much brighter in her performance. Anyway, if you want to find something for your ear’s relaxation, have a look at Jane.

Download Jane Monheit - Honeysuckle Rose

Nnenna Freelon

Finally, let’s return to jazz. In my opinion it’s the brightest jazz singer of the 21st century. Her greatest skill is a wonderful sense of humor. Young, charming and smiling Nnenna. Even a zillion times covered Nature Boy can sound like a just written song in her interpretation. So, my respects to her for: a highly-professional singing, a natural sense of swing, and… for enough strength to make a sole tribute to 2 legends – Stevie Wonder and Billie Holiday (oh that reggae “All Of Me” cover, it drives me mad:)))

Download Nnenna Freelon - Nature Boy

Norah Jones

No no no, I’m not gonna tell you who she is, don’t worry. But if you are tired of her solo albums, check out what Norah’s done with The Peter Malick Group. These records were made before Nora became famous, but have been released only a a couple of years ago,and I find them much better than her solo works. Norah, please sing more of this brilliant bluesy stuff!!! Khe-khe, what am I… So, the album is The Peter Malick Group featuring Norah Jones – New York City (2000). Only 6 compositions on it, but each is what they call a thriller. Songs with Norah Jones are also featured on Malick’s album Chance & Circumstance, which also has songs performed by Mercy Malick, Peter’s daughter. Not worse than Norah, not to say even better!

Download The eter Malick Group feat. Norah Jones - New York City

~The end~

And, of course, some recommendations.

Nnenna Freelon – Tales Of Wonder (A tribute to Stevie Wonder)
Rad – Make Every Second Count
Judith Sephuma – A Cry A Smile A Dance
Shelby Lynne – Suit Yourself
Viktor Lazlo – Hot & Soul
Sia – Colour The Small One
And for the real beauty of Sian’s voice check out the song I Can’t Believe It’s Over, on Bent’s CD Ariels.

Enjoy! Cheers!