Beguiling
Karl W. Nehring | Ostrander, OH USA | 07/04/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I often got sent recordings by jazz vocalists, but I seldom recommended any in the pages of The $ensible Sound. Quite frankly, most of them are pretty tired. As soon as I auditioned April, however, I knew that it was going to get an enthusiastic review, because this release is fresh, different, and very, very beguiling.
Vocalist Abbuehl is backed by Wolfert Brederode on keyboards, Christof May on clarinet and bass clarinet, and Samuel Rohrer on drums and percussion. The sound of the instruments adds greatly to the overall musical effect of the album, with the spare piano sound (along the lines of Marilyn Crispell), haunting clarinet sound, and the subtle percussion sound providing a perfect musical complement to Abbuehl's vocals. Many of the texts are by e.e. cummings, and there is music by Carla Bley, Prabha Atre, and even an arrangement of "'Round Midnight."
Yes, I know that this sounds awfully artsy and pretentious, but believe me, it works. Not only is this a richly entertaining set, it is recognizable as jazz. How exciting it is to hear somebody doing something new and different that still feels firmly rooted and recognizable. Abbuehl and her cohort have made a sparkling gem of a recording, captured in a setting of crystal-clear sound by ECM engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug."