Fay Claassen & David Linx & Wdr Big Band - And Still We Sing

Styles: Vocal, Big Band
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:01
Size: 129,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:32) 1. Sum It up (Disturbing the Peace)
(5:17) 2. Along Goes Betty
(5:48) 3. Waterfalls
(5:19) 4. Good Times
(5:55) 5. Tackle and Dabble
(6:30) 6. In a Sentimental Mood
(5:04) 7. Feel the Beat
(6:35) 8. J’me Prépare
(6:12) 9. I Will Build Myself a Nation (Biding My Time)
(3:43) 10. Rebirth

The Dutch vocalist Fay Claassen and her Belgian colleague David Linx sing some passages in unison, in others their voices cross or shine on their own. A congenial duo that harmonizes almost perfectly with each other, without a doubt, two all-round complementary timbres that already made for exclamation marks on the album “One Heart, Three Voices” with Diederik Wissels in 2005. But Claassen and Linx only experience the fine finishing touches through the dynamism of the WDR Big Band, which Magnus Lindgren navigates through ten songs. You never tire of singing the Song of Songs to this brilliantly nuanced body of sound, which is once again able to fully serve the two protagonists,without directing the spotlight on his famous soloists such as trombonist Andy Hunter or tenor saxophonist Paul Heller (Claassen's husband) at the right moments. Exciting: In the opener “Sum It Up (Disturbing The Peace)” the vocalists build a stable bridge from scat to rap in the form of spoken recitations. I would love to have more of it! Translate By Google https://www.jazzthing.de/review/fay-claassen-david-linx-and-still-we-sing/

And Still We Sing

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Fay Claassen - Close To You

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2020
Time: 48:36
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 112,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:20) 1. The Fool On The Hill
(4:20) 2. Sailing
(3:55) 3. If You Leave Me Now
(4:48) 4. Close To You
(3:28) 5. Got To Get You Into My Life
(5:13) 6. One Day I'll Fly Away
(4:42) 7. I Can't Make You Love Me
(4:34) 8. Killing Me Softly
(3:29) 9. Spinning Wheel
(5:16) 10. At Seventeen
(4:25) 11. The First Time I Saw Your Face

To Dutch and German Jazz aficionados Fay Claassen needs no introduction. Born in Nijmegen Fay is without doubt one of the Netherlands best know jazz vocalists and recipient of multiple Edison awards (known as the Dutch Grammys) as well as the prestigious German “Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik”, a “Golden Record Award” and the “Chet Baker Award”.

Fay has always been known for her wide repertoire choice and and her ability to fearlessly go where most would not dare. This recording titled “Close to you” is Fays latest release and once again is confirmation of this. “Close to You” was released earlier in 2020 follows her 2018 release “Dutch Songbook”, recorded with the WDR Big Band, that also reached into a treasure trove of material rarely touched by jazz artists.

“Close to You” (Wedgeview Music) features eleven spectacular arrangements of well known pop gems, largely from the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, including among others compositions by Lennon & McCartney classic “The Fool on the Hill”, Blood, Sweat & Tears “Spinning Wheel” and of course the title track, Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “Close to You”. Recorded at Wedge View Studios in the Netherlands the album features a large line-up of musicians including standard rhythm section comprising of Roeland Jacobs (Piano), Frans van Geest (Bass), Marcel Serierse (Drums) and Daniel de Moraes (Guitar). Strings, Woodwinds were conducted by Alexandrea Arrieche and most tracks feature guest performances from Hermine Durloo, Benjamin Herman, Antonio Serrano, Lo van Gorp, Teus Nobel, Peter Tiehuis and Karel Boehlee.

The album features spectacular arrangements by Roeland Jacobs that elevate these classic songs to a new level while at the same time paying full respect to the original. The musical performances throughout the album are excellent yet, in my opinion, it is Claassen’s vocal performances on this album that make this set a true winner.

Opening with Lennon & McCartney’s “The Fool on the Hill” the scene is set. Couched in an easy Bossa Nova feel with the occasional odd meter bar this track immediately grabs your attention and leaving the listener wanting more. Christopher Cross’s 1980 hit “Sailing” follows and while the arrangement does not diverge a great deal from the original it presents one of the finest vocal performances on the album. In particular I liked the treatment given to Bonnie Raitt’s “I can’t Make You Love Me”. This track is the most contemporary of the repertoire presented on the album and Jacobs arrangement underscores this. I particularly enjoyed the opening straight eighth string motif with Peter Tiehuis’ introduction to the melody, a great way to open without giving away the farm!

“At Seventeen”, originally made famous by Janis Ian, is in my opinion one of the many highlights on this album. The combination of Fay’s vocal reading of the piece together with the Latin flavored arrangement and the contribution by Spanish Harmonica player Antonio Serrano converge to take this folk classic to a whole new level.

The album closes with, what in my mind is the true highlight of the album, “The First Time I saw your Face”. This song, originally written by Ewan MacColl for folk singer Peggy Seeger and of course best known for the 1972 release by Roberta Flack, has been one of my favorite songs for many years. Claassen’s performance on this album defies superlatives’, pure story telling at it’s best.

I would have to admit, based purely on the track list, this would not be an album that would normally end up on my playlist. Yet, after listening, once again I was reminded never to judge an album from preconceived notions. This album exudes class from the first note to the last. As stated above, the arrangements are spectacular as are the performances. The sonic quality of the recording is direct and balanced beautifully giving great clarity to the often complex layering.

What I particularly enjoyed with this album is its pure honesty, there are no science projects here, just great material beautifully arranged and featuring world class vocal performances. I can’t recommend this album highly enough.https://jazzineurope.mfmmedia.nl/2020/12/cd-review-fay-claassen-close-to-you/

Close To You

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Fay Claassen - Dutch Songbook

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:59
Size: 152,2 MB
Art: Front

( 7:36)  1. Find That Screw
( 6:53)  2. Aan De Amsterdamse Grachten
(10:38)  3. Reach for the Rose
( 8:35)  4. Is Dit Alles
( 5:47)  5. Zonder Jou
( 5:21)  6. Opzij, Opzij, Opzij
( 7:42)  7. Dat Mistige Rooie Beest
( 7:21)  8. Five Up High
( 6:03)  9. Keep Me in Your Dreams

This album is a live recording of vocalist Fay Claassen and the WDR Big Band conducted by Torsten Maass with its fantastic soloists at the "Jazz-Schmiede" Düsseldorf on November 28th, 2015. In November 2015, Fay was asked by the management of the WDR Big Band to put together a programme with music from the Netherlands. Fay had carte blanche to choose all the music and have it arranged for her and the WDR Big Band. The music is a selection of Fay's favourite songs by Dutch composers such as Herman van Veen, Benjamin Herman and Cor Bakker. https://www.propermusic.com/product-details/Dutch-Songbook-256818

Dutch Songbook

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Fay Claassen - Red, Hot & Blue: The Music Of Cole Porter

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:03
Size: 148.9 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[7:12] 1. I Get A Kick Out Of You
[5:13] 2. Easy To Love
[6:14] 3. Love For Sale
[5:40] 4. Ridin' High
[6:23] 5. Dreamdancing
[4:44] 6. Anything Goes
[5:41] 7. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
[6:34] 8. I Concentrate On You
[6:12] 9. All Through The Night
[3:08] 10. Too Darn Hot
[7:57] 11. So In Love

Fay Claassen: vocals; Ingmar Heller: bass; Olaf Polziehn: piano; Hans Dekker: drums.

With a virtual flood of female jazz vocalists seemingly appearing every year, it is a challenge to separate the wheat from the chaff. But anyway you slice it, Fay Claassen, one of European jazz's top singers, makes the cut. Graduating from the Conservatory of The Hague in 1997, she had a host of great teachers, including renowned jazz vocalist Judy Niemack. The rich-voiced alto learned her lessons well, with clear articulation and terrific tone to complement her urbane, sophisticated approach to singing, with no trace of her native Dutch accent.

Claassen's fifth CD is her first to focus solely on the works of a single composer. The 11 Cole Porter songs that she chooses are among his most popular, so she faces a considerable challenge to find a fresh approach to each of them. Fortunately, with the superb charts by Michael Abene and a potent trio—pianist Olaf Polziehn, bassist Ingmar Heller and drummer Hans Dekker—she is able to make them her own.

She savors Abene's bluesy treatment of "Love For Sale," bringing out the sexy nature of its lyrics as she tackles it at an almost crawling tempo. She shows her romantic side in the lighter-hearted rendition of "Dream Dancing," lagging just a bit behind the beat. The quirky staccato introduction to "Anything Goes" is a refreshing modern touch, though it quickly gives way to a swinging post-bop setting. While Claassen is also an accomplished scat singer, she doesn't overdo it, unlike her previous Two Portraits of Chet Baker (Jazz 'N Pulz, 2006). ~Ken Dryden

Red, Hot & Blue: The Music Of Cole Porter

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VA - New Jazz Divas: The Greatest Modern Female Jazz Singers

Size: 181,7+181,6 MB
Time: 78:07+78:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front & Back

CD 1:
01 Diana Krall - This Can’t Be Love (4:27)
02 Youn Sun Nah - Jockey Full Of Bourbon (3:39)
03 Terez Montcalm - Docteur (4:04)
04 Fay Claassen - Conception - Deception (4:12)
05 Mina Agossi - Ghost Of Yesterday (4:00)
06 Lisa Simone - Autumn Leaves (5:14)
07 Dee Alexander - Letter From Home (5:57)
08 Manuel Rocheman - Nature Boy (3:42)
09 Bireli Lagrene & Gipsy Project - What A Little Moonlight Can Do (3:31)
10 Remi Sciuto - Black Bird (2:18)
11 Olivier Hutman - What Did They Say Today (4:53)
12 Muriel Zoe - Have A Good Time (3:26)
13 Michel Benita - Oh Love (3:35)
14 Veronique Hermann Sambin - Pwomes (3:26)
15 Monica Shaka - Moon And Sand (5:32)
16 Maria Laura Baccarini - I've Got You Under My Skin (5:17)
17 Stephy Haik - It's Over (5:08)
18 Solveig Slettahjell - What Is This Thing Called Love (5:38)

CD 2:
01 Stacey Kent - Too Darn Hot (3:25)
02 Robin McKelle - Something's Gotta Give (3:08)
03 Norah Jones - Tennessee Waltz (4:18)
04 Jacky Terrasson Trio - Walk On By (2:39)
05 Rene Marie - Them There Eyes (5:15)
06 Ida Sand - Ain’t No Sunshine (3:40)
07 Laika Fatien - Just Say Goodbye (4:19)
08 Catia Werneck - Chegando No Rio (4:31)
09 Anne Ducros - God Bless The Child (Feat. Jacky Terrasson) (4:42)
10 Charlotte Wassy - Your Goal (5:20)
11 Cæcilie Norby - Diamonds & Gold (3:47)
12 Melanie Dahan - Star Eyes (Feat. Manuel Rocheman) (4:56)
13 Clotilde Rullaud - Fragile (6:48)
14 Louisa Bey - Everything Is Broken (4:45)
15 Viviane Ginape - You Must Believe In Spring (3:07)
16 Sinne Eeg - What A Little Moonlight Can Do (5:16)
17 Bugge Wesseltoft - Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover (4:59)
18 Seth Kallen - My Sweet Darling (2:58)

New Jazz Divas CD 1
New Jazz Divas CD 2

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Fay Claassen - Luck Child

Size: 122,6 MB
Time: 49:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Luck Child (A.K.A. Sandbox) (4:00)
02. One Trick Pony (3:32)
03. Song Of Life (4:05)
04. Blackbird (5:03)
05. Fay (3:22)
06. In A Sentimental Mood (4:54)
07. Finding You (3:54)
08. When Love Is New (4:46)
09. Oh Shenandoah (3:45)
10. Miniature No. 7 (0:57)
11. A House Is Not A Home (3:17)
12. God Bless The Child (4:25)
13. Cinema Paradiso (3:23)

With this album Luck Child a long-standing wish of jazz singer Fay Claassen is fulfilled. It is an ode to youth and beauty with a mix of old and new songs. This compilation album consists mostly of songs that she has been singing for many years but never recorded before. Famous and beloved songs by like Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Burt Bacharach and Ennio Morricone are presented alongside new compositions by Paul Heller.

Luck Child

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Fay Claassen & Trio Peter Beets - Live At The Amsterdam Concertgebouw

Size: 117,9 MB
Time: 50:28
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Just One Of Those Things (2:56)
02. I'm Old Fashioned (3:08)
03. When Sunny Gets Blue (6:28)
04. The Song Is You (4:04)
05. Poor Butterfly (4:15)
06. 'S Wonderful (2:33)
07. Zon In Scheveningen (4:19)
08. I've Got The World On A String (4:05)
09. Meditation (5:32)
10. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (4:06)
11. Detour Ahead (3:40)
12. Summertime (5:16)

When asked who would be the successor to her throne, the world renowned jazz vocalist Rita Reys always pointed out Fay Claassen as the only Dutch vocalist who would be able to fill her elegantly swinging shoes. Those who know that Rita Reys was once honoured with the title ‘Europe’s First Lady of Jazz’ at the prestigious 1960 Juan-les-Pins Jazz Festival will realise just how important Reys’ kind words have been to a young singer like Fay Claassen. So it was only logical that after Reys’ sad demise in 2013, it was Fay Claassen who teamed up with Rita’s last working band, The Peter Beets Trio, featuring guitarist Martijn van Iterson, bass player Ruud Jacobs and, of course, the swinging virtuoso pianist Peter Beets himself. Their first gig together took place in 2014 at the famous Amsterdam Concertgebouw, a date that was recorded live to capture the spontaneous, pure and thrilling vibe that filled this sacred building of music with the spirit of Holland’s greatest jazz singer ever. For all of those who missed this very special occasion, there is the album Fay Claassen & The Peter Beets Trio live at the Concertgebouw. Claassen and the Trio combine their improvisational skills resulting in an unsurpassed synergy and musicality. From the first note on it is evident that Beets and his men have paid their dues playing superb renditions of the standard jazz repertoire for many years.

MC
Ziddu

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Fay Claassen - Rhythms & Rhymes

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:57
Size: 119,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:38)  1. Con Alma
(4:37)  2. What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?
(4:58)  3. Wild Is Love
(6:30)  4. La Belle Dame Sans Regrets
(5:56)  5. It Never Entered My Mind
(7:14)  6. Peace On Earth
(4:13)  7. If You Go Away
(4:55)  8. Seven Steps To Heaven
(3:52)  9. Once Upon A Summertime
(2:59) 10. Começar de Novo

Contrary to what the more Manhattan-centric individuals in the jazz world would have us believe, European jazz vocalists don't have to record in the Big Apple to be legitimate a singer can find plenty of first-class improvisers to work with in places like Stockholm, Paris, Oslo, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam. So even if Fay Claassen had never crossed the Atlantic Ocean and opted to work in Europe exclusively, the Dutch singer would have a lot to be proud of. That said, Claassen did herself a nice favor when she traveled to the New York City/Northern New Jersey area in the early 2000s and recorded her second album, Rhythms and Rhymes, which was released in Holland on the Jazz 'N Pulz label. The American musicians who join Claassen on this CD include, among others, Toots Thielemans, guitarist Mike Stern, pianist Kenny Werner, trombonist Steve Davis, and vibist/marimba player Joe Locke an impressive cast, certainly, and one that obviously understands where Claassen is coming from as a singer. 

Although Claassen swings, she isn't an aggressive or forceful sort of vocalist her post-bop outlook is urbane, sophisticated, elegant, and refined. And thankfully, she has sympathetic accompaniment whether she is turning her attention to Jacques Brel's "If You Go Away," Michel Legrand's "Once Upon a Summertime," or Miles Davis' "Seven Steps to Heaven." Claassen sings in perfect English most of the time, although she is equally expressive when she detours into French on Sting's "La Belle Dame Sans Regrets," and Portuguese on Ivan Lins' "Comecar de Novo." Clearly, Rhythms and Rhymes is a solid and memorable document of Claassen's visit to the northeastern United States. ~ Alex Henderson  http://www.allmusic.com/album/rhythms-rhymes-mw0000034868

Rhythms & Rhymes

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Fay Claassen & The Milennium Jazz Orchestra - Specially Arranged for Fay

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:43
Size: 134,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:19)  1. Very Early
(4:57)  2. Just One of Those Things
(7:11)  3. Nature Boy
(4:22)  4. But Not for Me
(7:34)  5. Love For Sale
(8:30)  6. When We Were One
(7:02)  7. Speak Low
(7:22)  8. Giant Steps
(5:22)  9. A House Is Not A Home

Not only was Frank Sinatra an incomparable singer, he was a smart one too, employing only the finest arrangers (Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Gordon Jenkins, Axel Stordahl) and musicians to bring out the best in every note he sang. On her third album for Jazz Impuls, Fay Claassen takes a cue from Ol’ Blue Eyes, using as her back-up crew the world-class Millennium Jazz Orchestra and commissioning superlative charts by conductor / music director Joan Reinders. Claassen has a handsome mid-range voice, and it’s clear that she has worked hard on her delivery, her pacing and her diction (the program consists of five standards plus tunes by Bill Evans, Johnny Griffin, John Coltrane and Burt Bacharach / Hal David, all sung and often scatted in letter-perfect English).

Claassen has to stay on her toes to avoid being upstaged by the MJO and those sparkling arrangements by Reinders, and it’s to her credit that she is able to hold her own and remain squarely in the spotlight. Claassen is comfortable at any tempo, equally charming on ballads (“Very Early,” “Nature Boy,” “A House Is Not a Home,” “When We Were One”), flag-wavers (“Just One of Those Things,” “Love for Sale,” “Giant Steps”) or anything in between (“But Not for Me,” “Speak Low”). Reinders’ charts combine the buoyancy and brilliance of Riddle or May while leaving ample room for solos, with Jan Wessels’ flugel especially impressive on “Love for Sale” and “Giant Steps.” Others who help brighten the scenery include pianist Hans Kwakkermaat and bassist Bart Tarenskeen (“Very Early”), tenor Gerlo Hesselink and drummer Niek van Wiggen (“One of Those Things”), Kwakkermaat again (“When We Were Young”), trombonist Jeroen Rol (“Speak Low”) and baritone Job Helmers (“Giant Steps”). 

But the album was Specially Arranged for Fay, and Ms Claassen returns the compliment by showing on every selection that she’s a talented young singer who is definitely on an upward curve. Reinders’ charts fit her like a glove, and vice versa. Add the MJO and the upshot is one of the better big-band-with-vocalist (or vocalist-with-big-band) albums of the year. ~ Jack Bowers  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/specially-arranged-for-fay-fay-claassen-jazz-impuls-review-by-jack-bowers.php

Personnel: Joan Reinders, conductor, arranger; Fay Claassen, vocals; Willy van Diepen, alto, soprano sax, flute; Gerard Grobben, alto, soprano sax, clarinet; Gerlo Hesselink, tenor, soprano sax, flute, clarinet; Martin van der Horst, tenor, soprano sax, clarinet; Job Helmers, baritone sax, bass clarinet; Rini Swinkels, Jan Wessels, Bert Fransen, Erik Hilferink, Herman Nijkamp, trumpet, flugelhorn; Jeroen Rol, Henri Gerrits, Gert Nijenbanning, trombone; Eric Westerink, bass trombone; Hans Kwakkernaat, piano; Bart Tarenskeen, bass; Niek van Wiggen, drums.

Specially Arranged for Fay

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Ilja Reijngoud Quartet feat. Fay Claassen - The Shakespeare Album

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:30
Size: 194,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:19)  1. Sonnet 32
(6:33)  2. Sonnet 89
(7:59)  3. Sonnet 22
(6:24)  4. Sonnet 106
(0:49)  5. Introduction
(7:34)  6. Sonnet 36
(6:42)  7. Sonnet 18
(6:43)  8. English heart
(6:43)  9. Helas
(5:25) 10. Canzonet
(7:15) 11. Never Alone

This album is a live recording of a concert given by the Ilja Reijngoud Quartet with Fay Claassen, in which the texts of William Shakespeare take center stage. The best-known and best-loved sonnets of Shakespeare have been set to music by Ilja with much devotion and care. Inspired by two marvelous poems from the pen of Oscar Wilde, Ilja composed two additional songs to complete this album.

Amongst his credits as a composer, Ilja won the prestigious Thelonius Monk/BMI Award in 2003. Besides writing for both jazz and classical musicians and ensembles of international allure, (Ben van Dijk, Henri Bok, the Metropole Orchestra, the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw to name but a few), Ilja has always harbored a desire to write music for vocalists. For many years now, Fay Claassen has been Ilja's favorite jazz singer. The sound of her voice is unique, clear and honest. In 2006 Ilja invited her to perform five sonnets arranged for his quartet. After that first concert in Amsterdam, more performances followed (North Sea Jazz Festival 2007, theater tour 2008-2009).

Fay's beautiful voice gives new life to Shakespeare's texts, connecting the old literature with contemporary jazz. The quartet and Ilja's compositions act as solder between the lyrics, building a musical frame that together with the ancient poetry forms a surprising fit.  http://www.russiancdshop.com/music.php?zobraz=details&id=20564&lang=en

Personnel : BEETS, Marius (bass); CLAASSEN, Fay (vocal); HELLER, Paul (tenor saxophone); ITERSON, Martijn van (guitar); REIJNGOUD, Ilja (trombone); SERIERSE, Marcel (drums); Ilja Reijngoud (Trombone)

The Shakespeare Album

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Fay Claassen - With A Song In My Heart

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:28
Size: 147,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:24)  1. I'll be seeing you
(5:20)  2. Cancao no Paiol em Curitiba
(3:33)  3. He was too good to me
(4:26)  4. Without a song
(4:28)  5. A flower is a lovesome thing
(4:49)  6. If I ever loose my faith in you
(4:22)  7. Everything I love
(3:44)  8. Nem um Talvez
(4:58)  9. Pannonica
(6:23) 10. Everybodys song but my own
(4:31) 11. Little girl blue
(4:14) 12. Blue alert
(3:46) 13. This is new
(4:46) 14. With a Song In My Heart
(3:55) 15. For all we know

Fay Claassen was born in 1969 in Nijmegen The Netherlands. Before she devoted herself to singing, she followed courses at the academy of ballet. Subsequently she studied at the academy of acting after which she finally opted for singing. She completed her study at The Royal Conservatory in The Hague in Holland with remarkable distinctions for jazz-timing and vocal improvisation. Fay Claassen graduated in 1997 from the Royal Consevatory of The Hague with two special endorsements for Jazz timing and Jazz improvisation. Some of her teachers were: Rita Reys, Deborah Brown, Frans Elsen, Racheal Gould, James McGray, Marjory Barnes and Judy Niemack. After her conservatory period she appeared as vocalist in different groups and toured through different countries in Europe. Her first recording ‘Simply Be’ was released with a band together with the saxophone player Carolyn Breuer. She was guest in different groups ‘The Tony Overwater V-Group’, Loet van der Lee Group, ‘Big Moves’ and ‘The Amsterdam Jazz Quintet’. With this last formation she recorded on the album ‘Playground’. Just after the release of the first album of her own she was asked to be part of a tour through Japan with ‘The Historical Dance Theatre’ in which she performed as a dancer and singer After her conservatory period she appeared as vocalist in different groups and toured through different countries in Europe. Her first recording ‘Simply Be’ was released with a band together with the saxophone player Carolyn Breuer. She was guest in different groups ‘The Tony Overwater V-Group’ and ‘The Amsterdam Jazz Quintet’. With this last formation she recorded the album ‘Playground’.

In 1999 Fay Claassen was chosen by ‘The Jazz Impuls Foundation’ as their first selected musician. This foundation supports and promotes jazz musicians deserving wider recognition and produced in that year with Fay Claassen her first own album (‘With a Song in my Heart’ CHR 70096). This album almost instantly nominated for an Edison-Award and was received with highly enthusiastic reviews. It was the first step to a real break-through.

In 2000: Fay featured on the North Sea Jazz Festival (The Hague) with the Tony Overwater group. She became a teacher at the Conservatory of Rotterdam (CodArt).

In 2001: her second album was recorded in New York (‘Rhythms and Rhymes’BMCD 380) with: Toots Thielemans (mouth hrp), Kenny Werner (piano) and Mike Stern (Guitar). A few months later she recorded ‘Specialy Arranged for Fay’ (BMCD 381) with the Millenium Jazz Orchestra, conducted by: Joan Reinders. Conductor and composer Joan Reinders is responsible for the beautiful work on this album. Fay taught at several workshops and Master Classes at Conservatories throughout the country. In 2001, as the only European vocalist, she was chosen and invited by the Selection Committee of The International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) to perform in Los Angeles in 2002. She appeared in several concerts in the ‘Music Village’ jazzclub in Brussels with the Ivan Paduart Trio.

In 2002: Fay toured through China with Ivan Paduart and she was engaged in her promotional tour after the release of her 2nd CD ‘Rhythms and Rhymes’. Fay toured through Portugal and featured on the Jazz Festival of Funchal ( Madeira). This year she was asked to teach at the conservatory in Porto (Portugal). Fay performed in many theatres and clubs in European countries, and the U.S.A.

In 2003: she is invited on Jazz Festivals among which The North Sea Jazz Festival, where she performed for the third time. 2002 was also the year in which she performed as a guest on the Life CD recording ‘A night at the Music Village’ (Brussels) BMCD395, with Ivan Paduart and his trio, other guests were: Toots Thielemans (mouth harp), Bert Joris (trompet) and Toon Roos (saxophone). Fay participated in the Jazz Concours of Juan Les Pins (France), toured with Ivan Paduart through Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Madeira. She participated in the Robeco Jazz Concert Series in the Concert Hall of Amsterdam with Ivan Paduart. Other guests were: Marjory Barnes and vocal group’ Jazzed to the Max’ Fay constantly proves to be an all-round performer who is constantly widening her horizons. The concert in 2003 at the Museum of Altenburg (Leipzich), where she interpreted poems of Lucebert, show this exploration urge..

In 2004: Fay hastoured through Portugal and France. She participated in the cd tour of Ivan Paduart Sextet in France and Luxembourg. Was the star guest at a concert in L 'Opera de Lyon with David Linx and Diederik Wissels. Performed at all the main city theatres of the Netherlands in Duo concerts with pianist Marc van Roon. This performance was part of the concert series of Jazz Impuls. In these series she also toured with the Millenium Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Joan Reinders.

Fay in 2005: is performing during a cd tour, ‘A Tribute to Chet Baker’ with Jan Menu, Hein van de Geyn and John Engels. The CD release of ‘A Tribute to Chet Baker’ is expected in September 2005. She performed as special guest on the extraordinary CD ‘One Heart, Three voices’ from David Linx and Diederik Wissels. Fay is touring in Portugal, Sweden aswell as in France and Belgium. In the last two countries she will contribute to the David Linx, Diederik Wissels and Maria Pia de Vito project. They will be promoting the beautiful album they recorded together:‘One Heart, Three voices’.

Apart from the special sound of her voice Fay stands out as a singer being able to improvise as an extremely versatile instrument. During the last few years Fay is considered by many jazz-critics as worlds fastest upcoming jazz vocalist and she recorded with many very well known jazz musicians as Mike Stern, Kenny Werner, Toots Thielemans, Joe Locke and Steve Davis on her second album ‘Rhythms and Rhymes’, An album with a mix of Jazz and World Music. And Bert Joris, Barry Harris, Marc van Roon and others. The last few years she has been touring with her band and now she is working on her new repertoire of the next Cd: ‘Return to Paradise’ which will be released soon. Fay is asked to teach jazz-singing in vocal improvisation programs at three different conservatories in different countries. One of them is in Porto (Escola Superior de Musica e Artes do Espectaculo), where she succeeded Maria João. She teaches master classes for second phase students on the Conservatory of Amsterdam and The Hague and is a regular teacher at The Rotterdam conservatory. http://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/musician.php?id=12071#.Uo5jtuJc_vs

With A Song In My Heart

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Fay Claassen & WDR Big Band - Sing!

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:11
Size: 149,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:31)  1. Tight
(5:45)  2. Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby
(6:37)  3. Throw It Away
(5:35)  4. A Felicidade
(4:32)  5. You Turn Me On
(3:13)  6. Cover Me
(5:27)  7. Be Cool
(4:27)  8. Umhome
(6:04)  9. A Good Man Is Hard to Find
(5:25) 10. A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing
(6:49) 11. Tea for Two
(6:41) 12. Everything Must Change

The sixth CD for Dutch jazz vocalist Fay Claassen teams her with vaunted arranger Michael Abene and the vaunted WDR Big Band-Cologne. They do a collection of standards, covers of pop tunes, Brazilian music, straight-ahead jazz, and ballads. What is remarkable for this team is the way Abene's charts work in consistent counterpoint with Claassen's lyrics, as if they are deep in close-up conversation. But even more than the give and take of vocalist vis-à-vis the instrumental component, Claassen's singing is outstanding in subtle, less demonstrative ways. 

When she interprets Betty Carter's famous tune "Tight" with a slight Billie Holiday tinge or a light bossa take of Abbey Lincoln's "Throw It Away," she changes the music while making it her own, sans excess. It's that distinction with a difference but not over the top that brands Claassen a class act. She's also stretching beyond just covering jazz standards, interpreting songs by such diverse writers as Louis Jordan, Miriam Makeba, Joni Mitchell, and Björk. Perhaps still obscure worldwide, Fay Claassen remains one of the very best singers in Europe, influenced by music on American shores. ~ Michael G.Nastos   http://www.allmusic.com/album/sing!-mw0002028526

Sing!

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