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  | JAROMIR HONZAK ~ BLOOD SINGS
ANIMAL MUSIC 033 (Barcode: 8594155996049) ~ CZECH REPUBLIC ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion
Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012
This is the seventh album by Czech Jazz bassist / composer / bandleader Jaromir HonzakFind albums by this artist recorded with Norwegian (resident in Denmark) vocalist Sissel Vera PettersenFind albums by this artist, Czech keyboardist Vit KristanFind albums by this artist and guitarist Josef StepanekFind albums by this artist and Polish drummer Lukasz ZytaFind albums by this artist. The album is dedicated to the songs by American singer / songwriter Suzanne VegaFind albums by this artist and nine out of the ten pieces on the album were written or co-written by her. The remaining piece is an instrumental improvisation credited to Honzak, Pettersen, Kristan and Zyta.
The music is a somewhat Jazzed up interpretation of the songs by Vega, which retains the melancholy and delicate melodic lines of the origin. The arrangements are very modest and subdued, preserving an intimate climate and respectfully remain within the Pop idiom, without trying to transform the songs into overtly Jazz language, which I personally find very commendable. Even Pettersen, known for her experimental vocal techniques, stays pretty “conventional” for the entire duration of the album.
As beautiful and heartfelt the music on this album is, I personally fail to see the “added value” it offers over the original material performed by Vega, which is often more expressive at its “naked” minimalist delivery. There is plenty of beautiful music and superb performances herein, as expected, and the album easily holds its ground, but is somewhat less challenging and exciting than the rest of Honzak’s recorded legacy. The a.m. improvised piece is, for me, the highlight of the album and I wish more of such music was included on this album.
Overall this is an elegant piece of music, which pays tribute to a sublime songwriter and should keep both the Jazz and more sophisticated Pop listeners very happy.
| | Updated: 16/02/2021Posted: 16/02/2021 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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