Search - Gretchen Lieberum :: Brand New Morning

A NEW SENSATION

04/24/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just listened for the third time in a row to an amazing new cd by Gretchen Lieberum. This album is sophisticated and cool, with enough trip-hop influence to attract a younger crowd, in addition to old jazz heads like me. While the musicianship is top notch--reminiscent of what used to be know as cool jazz when I was comin' up--and the songs play like your favorite collection of short stories, the real surprise is Lieberum herself. I'd say she is one of the finest female vocalists to come down the pike in a long time. Her voice has the seductive tones and range of an older, experienced jazz singer, with the cool style of a Sade or Anita Baker. Check it out. I think Gretchen Lieberum is here to stay."

Instant classic

Enrique Torres | San Diegotitlan, Califas | 02/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you check out the other reviews you'll see that as of now there are 16 of 17 with 5 stars and the only exception being 4 stars. It has been said but bears repeating that this artist is one of exceptional talent and definitely overlooked in the world of female torchsingers. What seperates Gretchen is her suttle phrasing, heartfelt sultry interpretations and distintively soulful articulation which is well beyond her young age. Her mastery of the genre is amazing considering she is so young. It is too early to make comparisons but think of the greats and she reminds you of the best of them. I first heard her interviewed on the net, was impressed with her clarity and respect for those that came before her and then sought out a free sample of her music. I was instantly hooked after hearing "Brazen Girl" which I played over and over and had to have more.Take a listen to the opening track and you'll be hooked too.The arrangements on the disc are cool jazz with electronic influences for a tasty trip-hop-jazzy tecture that underlies the smooth vocal stylings of songwriter Gretchen Lieberum. The utilization of Latin percussion, South American flute and cello provides for an eclectic mix that resonates classy world music. Examples of the modern influences include contributions on turntables by Cut Chemist on various tracks alongside accoustic piano while GL wails soothingly and soulfully. One of the strengths besides the great singing and arrangements are the lyrics she has laid down. Again the themes reveal and are the vechicle for a songstress musically mature well beyond her years. The track "Dear Marie" opens with soft accoustic backgrounds slowly building momentum as GL begins telling a tale of an underpaid factory worker worker whose lot in life is only a temporary .GL sings of everyday people and everyday pain; it's also about the common good that can be found in a bad situation. She sings of love and frustration, hope and renewal or as she says in the "Method To The Madness" acting out as someone is pulling the strings or are we just"fireflies caught between fire and ice?"All the songs are written by GL except for Sting's "The Bed 's too Big Without You" of which she reinterprets in her own sultry sytle accompanied by muffled horns and the jazz standard "For All We know." The song entitled "Weather Page" opens with accoustic guitar as GL begins harmonizing to cello with an underlying thumping bass. The anology of a distant lover looking at his weather page is painted beautifully. "Lost our Way" is one that ponders the posed question by GL as a Miles Davis like trumpet soars intertwined with scratching by Cut Chemist for a very interesting song.This is a feel good album. This disc has been a constant on my rotation for months now and it only sounds better and better. Do yourself a favor and discover a new talent that should be around for years to come. Move over Diana Krall and all the others, there is a new kid on the block who has studied the ghosts of the past and evokes their collective spirit, her name is Gretchen Lieberum and she is here to stay."

Perfection!

Michael Joseph | Los Angeles | 08/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is an example of the best, and the worst, of the music industry. The CD itself is fantastic, but the push to get it heard is about 1% of that given to tripe performed by less talented, but more "commercial" artists.With that gripe out of the way, let's talk about this CD. It sets the mood of walking into a smoky, dim-lit bar with a blue gel lighting a woman with world-weary eyes perched on a stool in front of a microphone, backed by musicians who have been doing this their whole lives, and can't even comprehend another way.Gretchen's vocals are superb, and spot-on. On top of that, I have neve heard, in my 57 years of listening to all kinds of music, a better collection of back-up musicians. Everyone on this CD hits every note perfectly, and there isn't a single note that's where it shouldn't be, or single note more than is what's called for. This CD could have been released as TWO CD's - one, Gretchen's vocals, and the other, just the backing musicians. Together, they make as good a CD as you could possibly ask for. It has also been well produced (as opposed to overproduced, as is too common).If you purchase this CD, you will not be sorry."