This is the debut album from Ms Roemer, who has musical influences from jazz, folk, art song and choral work. She was born and raised in Germany and she has always written songs and poems. She studied science in Germany and singing in the USA, where she gained a Master of Music qualification and she has performed on the Brooklyn NY music scene.
Most of the words and music on the CD are by Ms Roemer, except for Turrentine's Sugar, which is arranged by our singer; Manchmal, Deine Hande and Dark Night of the Soul have lyrics which are based on other poems; and the final track is by Duke Ellington.
The music is well-played by the instrumentalists, pleasantly understated and delicate, which suits the rather gentle songs, which reflect 'the many dimensions of humanness and character', as quoted from the notes provided. However I found this album somehow difficult to get to grips with. The voice was pleasing to listen to but I couldn't make out some of the words being sung. I consider that the album needed more variety of interpretation. It would have helped if the lyrics had been provided, which they often are when the songs are originals.
I played the CD twice, which reviewers don't usually have time to do, and I enjoyed it better the second time, so perhaps it needed to be heard more than once or twice. Each track deals with a relationship; for instance track 2 is about the singer's mother, who is ever present in spirit, a slow tune sung freely against light drums and delicate cymbals, ending with notes from the bass which sound like a heartbeat. Turrentine's Sugar was one of the most jazz-like tracks, with solos for sax, piano and bass, but I wanted the voice to make more of the rhythmic possibilities of the song, instead of the rather dreamy interpretation that I heard. Perhaps this style of interpretation is a tendency of European singers.
The
CD is available on Sunnyside Records from the usual suspects.
Ann Alex
Kristiana Roemer (vocals); Addison Frei (piano); Alex Claffy (bass); Adam Arruda (drums); + Gilad Hekselman (guitar track 1); Ben Monder (guitar tracks 5,6,7); Dayna Stephens (sax tracks 3,8); Rogerio Boccato (percussion track 2)
House
Of Mirrors; Beauty Is A Wound; Virgin Soil; Deine Hande; Dark Night Of The
Soul; Manchmal; Lullaby For N; Sugar; Duke Ellington's Sound Of Love
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