Showing posts with label Simone Kopmajer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Simone Kopmajer. Show all posts

Thursday, August 15, 2024

Simone Kopmajer - Hope

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2024
Time: 43:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 100,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:32) 1. Pick Yourself Up
(3:50) 2. Black Tattoo
(3:33) 3. Careless Whisper
(4:24) 4. Little Green Apples
(4:31) 5. What A Difference A Day Makes
(4:09) 6. Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay
(3:08) 7. Amsterdam
(4:19) 8. Old Devil Moon
(4:03) 9. Hope
(4:43) 10. As The Night Goes By
(3:20) 11. So Faengt Das Leben An

When Simone Kopmajer got together with Terry Myers (leader of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra) last year for a “Vienna Session” they didn’t expect to come out a whole new album. „HOPE“ contains brand-new original material in a smooth and relaxing, jazzy mood as well as cover songs like „Sitting on the Dock of the Bay“ (Otis Redding), „Careless Whisper“(George Michael) and jazz standards such as „Pick Yourself Up“, „What a Difference a Day Makes“ and „Old Devil Moon“!
https://www.simonekopmajer.com/news/2024/6/28/hqylv1t7p2b8gjbz880ukrm0ay4uqm

She has soul and a particular charismatic tone in her voice that gives each song that special something. Born in Schladming, Austria, Simone Kopmajer already achieved at a young age what many musicians, bands and ensembles dream of – the launch of a successful international career. In the United States, Japan and Southeast Asia, the singer is a household name for lovers of demanding and refined jazz music. She fills large concert halls, performs as the headliner of major international festivals and has sold thousands of CDs worldwide. Lo and behold, it seems as if only Austria is not quite aware of this outstanding and award winning singer.

In a time where everyone is complaining about declining CD sales, Simone Kopmajer managed the feat of selling more than 30,000 units of her album “Nothing’s Gonna Change” in Thailand last year. Not only is this a very impressive figure, in Thailand her release was also on the topof the list of the best-selling jazz albums of the year. Similarly impressive are the sales figures in Japan, where the Styrian-born musician made her breakthrough at an even earlier stage.

Her enthusiasm and love for music already kindled at a very early age. She began to sing at eight, with twelve she sang in the band of her father, who was a music school director and a big jazz fan, and at sixteen she was accepted at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, where she was immediately admitted due to her rare talent. During her studies, she was given the opportunity to work with many renowned artists such as Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan, Michele Hendricks, Jay Clayton and the New York Voices.

In the year 2000 she debuted in the U.S. and left a lasting impression among quite a few experts and connoisseurs of contemporary jazz music. Simone Kopmajer’s role models were the great voices of jazz and American show business, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Jon Hendricks, although over time the Styrian-born detached herself more and more from these influences to findher own musical language.

With her charisma and unbelievable talent, Simone Kopmajer manages to give her songs a very specific emotional, charming and in-depth note, which simply touches the people. Her sound is located somewhere between jazz, swing and tasteful pop. Although her music is very relaxed, flowing and elegant, it is also very playful and varied these multilayered facets distinguished her early off from similar formats and made her music all the more interesting.
With her debut album “Moonlight Serenade”, which was released in 2004 and produced by Todd Barkan, the award winning singer was able to land respectable successes, especially in Japan. As a consequence, the singer was able to steadily increase her popularity from one album to the next. Unfortunately her albums were not available in Austria for a very long time. In 2009 her album “Didn’t You Say”, recorded in collaboration with stars such as George Mraz, Houston Person, Victor Lewis and James Genus , finally also opened the gates to the domestic market.

The probably largest success of Simone Kopmajer’s carreer was with her fifth album “Nothing’s Gonna Change” in 2011, which, as already mentioned, made her a celebrated star in new realms such as Thailand.

It is safe to say that Simone Kopmajer is on her way to the very top. With the ability to constantly raise her musicto the next level, we may assume that there is yet a lot more to come and it will be excitingto see where the journey will still take this exceptional singer. (Michael Ternai) www.simonekopmajer.com

Personnel: Simone Kopmajer - vocals; Terry Myers - tenor saxophone; Paul Urbanek - piano, organ; Karl Sayer - bass; Reinhardt Winkler - drums

Hope

Monday, February 13, 2023

Simone Kopmajer - With Love

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:18
Size: 144,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:15) 1. The Look of Love
(4:40) 2. How Wonderful You Are
(5:36) 3. Until It's Time for You to Go
(4:46) 4. I Can't Make You Love Me
(2:31) 5. Opposites Attract
(4:36) 6. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
(3:01) 7. Cold Cold Heart
(3:16) 8. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter
(5:06) 9. For Once in My Life
(4:06) 10. Take It All In
(5:15) 11. Everything Happens to Me (feat. Sheila Jordan)
(4:52) 12. Tell It Like It Is
(4:38) 13. You Don´t Know Me (feat. John Di Martino)
(4:33) 14. Over the Rainbow

Simone Kopmajer’s new album “With Love“ was produced by John Di Martino, Reinhardt Winkler & herself.

The trio brought Simone’s vision of an intimate but rich sound to a point. Wonderful string arrangements played by Grammy Winning NY string quartet are surrounding her subtle vocals. “With Love” is a mix of old time classics, love songs and for the very first time two original compositions, definitely Kopmajers most romantic album in her incredible career on which she is proving again her different facets as a musician and vocalist.

Accompanied by Harry Allen, John Di Martino, Boris Kozlov, Reinhardt Winkler, Gottfried Gfrerer & Wesley Amorim , Simone Kopmajer turns her sensual vocals to songs like “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart“ (Bee Gees), “Cold Cold Heart“ (Hank Williams and the legendary “Over the rainbow“.

Another highlight on the album are the guest appearances of jazz legend Sheila Jordan and John Di Martino. With love is a must have for every fan and fan to be! http://www.simonekopmajer.com/bio

Personnel: Simone Kopmajer: Vocals; Harry Allen: Tenor Saxophone; John Di Martino: Piano; Boris Kozlov: Bass; Reinhardt Winkler: Drums; Wesley Amorim: Guitar; Gottfried Gfrerer: Guitar; Sheila Jordan: Vocals; Sara Caswell: First Violin; Tomoko Akaboshi :Second Violin; Benni von Gutzeit: Viola; Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf: Cello

With Love

Friday, October 15, 2021

Simone Kopmajer, Paul Urbanek & Reinhardt Winkler - Soulmates

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:34
Size: 126,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:32) 1. All Along The Watchtower
(3:17) 2. Brazil
(3:54) 3. The In Crowd
(3:53) 4. All You Need Is Love
(3:54) 5. The Beat Goes On
(4:56) 6. Imagine
(4:38) 7. What's Going On
(4:32) 8. Angie
(3:48) 9. Never Said
(3:25) 10. Time After Time
(3:04) 11. But Not For Me
(3:34) 12. Jeepers Creepers
(6:02) 13. Time

A cool-toned Austrian jazz vocalist, Simone Kopmajer sings in flawless English. She had classical piano lessons starting at the age of eight and at 12 began playing saxophone. She performed in a youth big band and sang regularly in her father's band as a teenager. At 17 she studied with Sheila Jordan, who encouraged her. Kopmajer also studied with Mark Murphy, Jay Clayton, and Michele Hendricks. Since earning a Masters from the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria, Kopmajer has toured the Netherlands twice with the Euro Big Band, appeared at European jazz festivals, and recorded three CDs: Moonlight Serenade (for the Japanese Venus label), her best-known set Romance (for Zoho), and her privately released Taking a Chance on Love. Each CD emphasizes her own fresh versions of standards.~Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/simone-kopmajer-mn0001897290/biography

Personnel: Simone Kopmajer - vocals; Paul Urbanek - piano, keyboards, keyboard-bass; Reinhardt Winkler - drums; Patrice Héral - percussion, background vocals; Herfried Knapp - upright bass; Beate Wiesinger - bass

Soulmates

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Reinhardt Winkler - Let's Face the Music

Styles: Jazz
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:07
Size: 112,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:21) 1. Don't Be That Way
(4:22) 2. Let's Face the Music and Dance
(1:58) 3. Let the Drums Speak I
(4:32) 4. Mr. Bojangles
(4:17) 5. Beatrice
(3:44) 6. Lucky Mojo
(5:19) 7. Emily
(1:42) 8. Let the Music Speak II
(4:35) 9. Idaho
(4:50) 10. Poinciana
(4:35) 11. Flamingo
(3:47) 12. Why Should I Care?

Famous standards played by a remarkable ensemble lead by drummer Reinhardt Winkler.

Reinhardt Winkler: I've known most of the songs of my new album for a long time. As a child, I got my first jazz records and all the songs were on it. I fell in love with this music, the sound, the instruments, the vibe, I just liked everything. Over the years I've always stayed tuned to these particular songs and some of them have become my absolute favourites. So I decided to record these songs with musicians I appreciate so much. https://www.propermusic.com/cr73526-let-s-face-the-music.html

Personnel: Reinhardt Winkler - Drums; Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone; Simone Kopmajer - Vocals; John Di Martino - Piano; Boris Kozlov - Bass; Wolfgang Puschnig - Alto Saxophone

Let's Face the Music

Friday, July 24, 2020

Simone Kopmajer - My Wonderland

Styles: Vocal 
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:12
Size: 128,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:23)  1. My Wonderland
(3:43)  2. Voce E Eu (You and I)
(3:43)  3. Something New
(4:15)  4. A Man and a Woman
(3:30)  5. Why Don't You Do Right
(5:22)  6. Caravan
(4:28)  7. A Tinge of Yellow
(4:07)  8. In a Mellow Tone
(4:31)  9. Europa (Manana)
(3:14) 10. So Danco Samba
(3:25) 11. Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
(4:38) 12. Batida Diferente
(5:50) 13. A Trembling Moon (Clair De Lune)

"My Wonderland" is Simone Kopmajer´s new solo album containing a 12-song set that presents 4 new originals alongside some of the most beautiful Latin Classics (Voce E Eu, So Danco Samba,...) and covers of songs written by Santana and Burt Bacharach. Simone´s sensual voice accompanied by the leader of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra jazz saxophonist Terry Myers, pianist Paul Urbanek, guitarist Martin Spitzer, bassist Karl Sayer and drummer Reinhardt Winkler makes this album a “must-have“ for all Latin/Bossa Nova fans. http://www.simonekopmajer.com/concerts

My Wonderland

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Simone Kopmajer - My Favorite Songs Disc 1, Disc 2

Album: My Favorite Songs Disc 1

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:18
Size: 118,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:07)  1. Didn't You Say
(4:30)  2. Come Fly with Me
(4:29)  3. I've Never Been in Love Before
(3:39)  4. How Do You Keep the Music Playing
(3:26)  5. You Don't Call Me
(4:15)  6. Mighty Tender Love
(4:40)  7. Exactly Like You
(3:27)  8. I Dream of You
(4:38)  9. Shoes
(4:20) 10. The Morning Sun
(3:37) 11. Jeepers Creepers
(6:06) 12. Time


Album: My Favorite Songs Disc 2

Time: 62:49
Size: 145,0 MB

(3:22)  1. Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You
(4:25)  2. Can't Take My Eyes off You
(5:19)  3. Just the Way You Are
(3:35)  4. How Sweet It Is
(4:13)  5. Blue Bayou
(4:35)  6. The Best in You
(6:05)  7. Wichita Lineman
(3:20)  8. That's Why You Go Away
(5:00)  9. Kiss
(4:40) 10. What's Going On
(5:04) 11. Have You Ever Seen the Rain
(2:58) 12. Whatever Happens (Reprise)
(5:36) 13. Lately
(4:33) 14. Rolling in the Deep

''My Favorite Songs'' is Simone Kopmajer´s first "Best Of" album, a collection of songs from her last 12 recordings. The Double-LP features artists such as George Mraz, Victor Lewis, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Houston Person and many more on a 32-song set that presents songs from ''The Great American Songbook'', originals and exquisite covers of songs made popular by Frank Sinatra, Ray Orbison and Bill Withers. She has soul and a particular charismatic tone in her voice that gives each song that special something. Born in Austria, Simone Kopmajer already achieved at a young age what many musicians, bands and ensembles dream of - the launch of a successful international career. In the United States, Japan and Southeast Asia, the singer is a household name for lovers of demanding and refined jazz music. She fills large concert halls, performs as the headliner of major international festivals and has sold thousands of CDs worldwide."~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/My-Favorite-Songs-SIMONE-KOPMAJER/dp/B07YMF29CS


Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Simone Kopmajer - Daydreaming

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 25:23
Size: 58,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:30)  1. If We Never Met Again
(4:04)  2. Crazy Moon
(3:35)  3. Day Dreaming
(4:04)  4. Cat Song
(3:56)  5. Time And Time Again
(2:40)  6. Travelling To You
(3:30)  7. You Can Kiss Me

With all audiophile music lovers in mind, Simone Kopmajer presents Daydreaming. It includes brand-new original material in a smooth and relaxing jazzy mood as well as cover songs like Aretha Franklin’s “Day Dreaming”, Merle Haggard’s “Crazy Moon” and Pat Metheny’s masterpiece “Travels” in the vocal version “Travelling to You”. 

The original songs on Daydreaming are the result of Simone’s long-time and fruitful song writing collaboration with lyricist Karolin Tuerk. As a premiere, however, S.K. has brought out the pianist in herself and played all piano parts on this recording. http://www.simonekopmajer.com/news/2017/12/11/6u46n2uv8h7azmxupfn3a9nhj67lqc

Daydreaming

Sunday, September 2, 2018

Simone Kopmajer - Spotlight on Jazz

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:41
Size: 149,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:52)  1. Spotlights
(5:08)  2. Pennies from Heaven
(3:26)  3. You Don't Call Me
(4:15)  4. Mighty Tender Love
(6:46)  5. Poinciana
(3:58)  6. Dig That Riff
(6:58)  7. Remember Jeannie
(4:07)  8. Struttin' with Some Barbecue
(4:40)  9. Exactly Like You
(4:37) 10. A Gift from Buddy
(4:20) 11. Stompin' at the Savoy
(4:28) 12. We're Goin' In
(4:01) 13. Mood Indigo
(3:02) 14. Dig That Riff (Remix)

A cool-toned Austrian jazz vocalist, Simone Kopmajer sings in flawless English. She had classical piano lessons starting at the age of eight and at 12 began playing saxophone. She performed in a youth big band and sang regularly in her father's band as a teenager. At 17 she studied with Sheila Jordan, who encouraged her. Kopmajer also studied with Mark Murphy, Jay Clayton, and Michele Hendricks. Since earning a Masters from the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria, Kopmajer has toured the Netherlands twice with the Euro Big Band, appeared at European jazz festivals, and recorded three CDs: Moonlight Serenade (for the Japanese Venus label), her best-known set Romance (for Zoho), and her privately released Taking a Chance on Love. Each CD emphasizes her own fresh versions of standards. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/simone-kopmajer-mn0001897290/biography

Spotlight on Jazz

Friday, March 31, 2017

Simone Kopmajer - Good Old Times

Size: 109,0 MB
Time: 46:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Till There Was You (3:56)
02. Lost In Love (4:20)
03. Reality (4:37)
04. Heart Of Gold (3:06)
05. That's Why (You Go Away) (3:22)
06. First Of May (4:25)
07. You're My Everything (5:08)
08. Have I Told You Lately (5:38)
09. Have You Ever Seen The Rain (3:35)
10. Lost Stars (4:20)
11. The Morning Sun (4:22)

"Good Old Times" is Simone´s new solo album in the spirit of her bestseller "Nothing´s Gonna Change". The album features guitarist Jean-Paul Bourelly, pianist Paul Urbanek, bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma and drummer Reinhardt Winkler on a 11 song set that presents covers by Neil Young, The Bee Gees, Van Morrison and many more.

The Good Old Times

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Simone Kopmajer - Didn't You Say

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:05
Size: 143,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:07)  1. Didnt You Say
(3:50)  2. Baubles, Bangles And Beads
(3:49)  3. Ghost In This House
(4:29)  4. Ive Never Been In Love Before
(6:19)  5. Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered
(4:30)  6. Come Fly With Me
(4:06)  7. S Wonderful
(4:25)  8. Forgetting To Breathe
(4:41)  9. Pathway Out Of The Darkness
(5:12) 10. Everything Must Change
(5:00) 11. Kiss
(3:35) 12. How Sweet It Is
(4:35) 13. Tennessee Waltz
(3:20) 14. Dont Explain

A cool-toned Austrian jazz vocalist, Simone Kopmajer sings in flawless English. She had classical piano lessons starting at the age of eight and at 12 began playing saxophone. She performed in a youth big band and sang regularly in her father's band as a teenager. At 17 she studied with Sheila Jordan, who encouraged her. Kopmajer also studied with Mark Murphy, Jay Clayton, and Michele Hendricks. Since earning a Masters from the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria, Kopmajer has toured the Netherlands twice with the Euro Big Band, appeared at European jazz festivals, and recorded three CDs: Moonlight Serenade (for the Japanese Venus label), her best-known set Romance (for Zoho), and her privately released Taking a Chance on Love. Each CD emphasizes her own fresh versions of standards. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/artist/simone-kopmajer-mn0001897290/biography

Personnel:  Bass [Upright, Electric] – Richie Goods;  Drums – Tim Horner;  Guitar – James Chirillo (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11);  Piano, Producer – John Di Martino;  Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Tim Ouimette (tracks: 4, 5, 7);  Vocals, Producer – Simone Kopmaje

Didn't You Say

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Simone Kopmajer - Romance

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:20
Size: 123,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:41)  1. How Do You Keep The Music Playing?
(4:02)  2. A Blossom Fell
(4:11)  3. We Kiss In A Shadow
(5:30)  4. Calling You
(5:47)  5. Whatever Happens
(5:48)  6. Exactly Like You
(5:28)  7. Someone To Light Up My Life
(5:40)  8. A Time For Love
(5:21)  9. Where Or When
(4:54) 10. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)
(2:57) 11. Whatever Happens (Reprise)

Romance is the debut CD by Austrian singing wunderkind and Mark Murphy protege Simone Kopmajer, who sings with a maturity that belies her age of 23. Two things that immediately struck this listener were Kopmajer's good taste and her acute ear. By acute ear, I mean her sensitivity to what is going on around her musically, for Simone Kopmajer is not just a singer, she is a musician who just happens to sing.  She starts off her album with "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?," a song that in most incarnations is presented as sheer schlock. But Kopmajer keeps things understated and never gets ahead of the rhythm section. This is a singer who understands that the best way to swing is to lay back of the beat a little. This rhythmic patience is seen in all of her performances on the album and is illustrative of a very gifted and mature musician. She has definitely taken to heart the lessons taught by her mentor, Mark Murphy. Pianist's John di Martino's arrangements are ideally suited to Kopmajer's vocal talents. I especially like his arrangement of "Exactly Like You," which features a bass line taken from Miles Davis' "All Blue." Of course, it only makes sense to feature the bass prominently when you have at hand the services of the incomparable George Mraz. Di Martino's scoring expertise is likewise featured in "The Way You Look Tonight," which gets a Latin makeover with an impressionistic chordal intro. Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander was another ideal choice for this album. His musical sensibilities perfectly match Kopmajer's. His solos on "We Kiss in a Shadow" and "Where or When" are nothing short of magnificent. Kopmajer also knows her way very well around Brazilian music. She gives an excellent interpretation to Jobim's "Someone to Light Up My Life" ("Se Todos Fossem Iguais a Voce") and the bossa nova arrangement of "A Blossom Fell." And given her flawless and unaccented English, it wouldn't be too surprising if someday she does the same with the original Portuguese lyrics. Simone Kopmajer is a first-rate talent and a gifted musician, and her singing is a real joy to behold. Judging from this album, we're going to be hearing a lot from her in the future.~ William Grim https://www.allaboutjazz.com/romance-simone-kopmajer-zoho-music-review-by-william-grim.php

Personnel: Simone Kopmajer, vocals; John di Martino, piano and all arrangements; George Mraz, bass; Tim Horner, drums; Eric Alexander, tenor sax

Romance

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Simone Kopmajer - Moonlight Serenade

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:10
Size: 164,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:55)  1. Tea For Two
(4:55)  2. Fragile
(3:43)  3. L-O-V-E
(3:47)  4. For No One
(5:08)  5. Save Your Love For Me
(6:05)  6. I've Grown Accustomed To His Face
(4:04)  7. I'm Through With Love
(4:19)  8. Autumn Leaves
(4:19)  9. What A Diff'rence A Day Made
(5:31) 10. The Nearness Of You
(5:08) 11. Besame Mucho
(4:12) 12. Like Someone In Love
(4:23) 13. Peace
(6:07) 14. Moonlight Serenade
(3:26) 15. Stompin' At The Savoy

A cool-toned Austrian jazz vocalist, Simone Kopmajer sings in flawless English. She had classical piano lessons starting at the age of eight and at 12 began playing saxophone. She performed in a youth big band and sang regularly in her father's band as a teenager. At 17 she studied with Sheila Jordan, who encouraged her. Kopmajer also studied with Mark Murphy, Jay Clayton, and Michele Hendricks. Since earning a Masters from the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria, Kopmajer has toured the Netherlands twice with the Euro Big Band, appeared at European jazz festivals, and recorded three CDs: Moonlight Serenade (for the Japanese Venus label), her best-known set Romance (for Zoho), and her privately released Taking a Chance on Love. Each CD emphasizes her own fresh versions of standards. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/artist/simone-kopmajer-mn0001897290/biography

Personnel:  John Di Martino (piano);  Hans Glawischnig (bass);  Philipp Kopmajer (drums);  Simone (vocals).

Moonlight Serenade

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Simone - Essential Best

Size: 165,3 MB
Time: 71:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front & Back

01. Moonlight Serenade (6:03)
02. Stompin' At The Savoy (3:26)
03. This Can't Be Love (3:28)
04. The Way You Look Tonight (4:21)
05. Emily (3:51)
06. We Kiss In A Shadow (4:04)
07. Taking A Chance On Love (2:58)
08. If (3:52)
09. Imagine (7:04)
10. Everything Must Change (7:18)
11. Let's Fall In Love (5:17)
12. Moon Glow (5:24)
13. The Waters Of March (4:08)
14. I Can't Give You Anything But Love (4:32)
15. I'm Confessin' (5:25)

Japanese compilation includes 9 unreleased tracks recorded for previous albums, "Romance", "Taking A Chance On Love", and "Let's Fall In Love".

It was Simone’s idea to take the great songs of different generations and put all together in what could be considered a level playing field. «I love to sing the great jazz standards,» the 20-something Austrian native tells me, «but, great as they are, I don’t want to sing them exclusively.» Thus she mixes it up–going seamlessly from the music of Prince and Motown to that of the Gershwins and Rodgers & Hart. She varies between the old and new, which is entirely logical considering that virtually all of them are considerably older than she is. She also includes music from both Broadway and Nashville–also a logical choice considering that New York and Tennessee are roughly equidistant from Vienna.

Simone takes an evocative country-folk song associated with Alison Kraus, and, with her stunning voice and the combined musicality of herself and co-producer/pianist John di Martino, makes it into something even more special. «I was driving from one show to another in the States, when I heard it on the car radio.» she reports, «I couldn’t get all the details, but I eventually figured out what the song was. Before I could find the sheet music, I wrote out the chords myself.» It’s a beautifully sung and even haunting performance–in more ways than one.

The new CD also includes three excellent original songs, my favorite of which is «Didn’t You Say.» «It’s about these men that promise you all kinds of things, and then in the end, they don’t deliver anything.» She tells me it’s inspired by real relationships, and I tell her she’s too young to be so cynical. However, the Count Basie-style beat provided by the combination of di Martino and ace rhythm guitarist helps negate any possible ill will, and «Didn’t You Say» turns out to be a real romper after all.

Meet a fresh, young singer from Austria, whose US debut in the year 2000 was hailed as "captivating“. Jazz legend Ira Sullivan calls her “a great young talent” with a big future in Jazz.

Simone, now 25 years old, grew up in a family of musicians and started to sing, in her father's band when she was 12. At the same time she studied piano, though singing remained her first love. Early on, she entered and won various talent contests and even made appearances on television in her native land, Austria. As a young performer, she twice toured the Netherlands with the “Euro Big Band” and later appeared in several International Jazz Festivals.

Influenced by some of the great American vocalists, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Jon Hendricks, Simone has developed into a true Jazzsinger, a singer who uses a wide variety of rhythms and excels in her very individual style of scatting. Laurie Antonioli says that “Simone is an excellent musician, with soulful and hip improvising. She digs in and isn't afraid to take risks with the music”.

Simone received her Masters Degree from the University for Music and dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria where she had the opportunity to work with such Jazz luminaries as Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan, Michele Hendricks, Jay Clayton and the New York Voices.

Essential Best

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Simone Kopmajer - The Best In You

Size: 132,5 MB
Time: 56:40
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Blue Bayou (4:13)
02. Shoes (4:38)
03. All The Words Are Gone (5:10)
04. The Best In You (4:35)
05. Inseparable (3:29)
06. Lucky Mojo (3:49)
07. Up Here On The Rooftop (3:55)
08. Wichita Lineman (6:05)
09. I Dream Of You (3:27)
10. A Perfect Love (5:54)
11. Stay (4:09)
12. Our Love Is Light (6:07)
13. Mr. Wonderful (1:06)

It was Simone’s idea to take the great songs of different generations and put all together in what could be considered a level playing field. «I love to sing the great jazz standards,» the 20-something Austrian native tells me, «but, great as they are, I don’t want to sing them exclusively.» Thus she mixes it up–going seamlessly from the music of Prince and Motown to that of the Gershwins and Rodgers & Hart. She varies between the old and new, which is entirely logical considering that virtually all of them are considerably older than she is. She also includes music from both Broadway and Nashville–also a logical choice considering that New York and Tennessee are roughly equidistant from Vienna.

Simone takes an evocative country-folk song associated with Alison Kraus, and, with her stunning voice and the combined musicality of herself and co-producer/pianist John di Martino, makes it into something even more special. «I was driving from one show to another in the States, when I heard it on the car radio.» she reports, «I couldn’t get all the details, but I eventually figured out what the song was. Before I could find the sheet music, I wrote out the chords myself.» It’s a beautifully sung and even haunting performance–in more ways than one.

The new CD also includes three excellent original songs, my favorite of which is «Didn’t You Say.» «It’s about these men that promise you all kinds of things, and then in the end, they don’t deliver anything.» She tells me it’s inspired by real relationships, and I tell her she’s too young to be so cynical. However, the Count Basie-style beat provided by the combination of di Martino and ace rhythm guitarist helps negate any possible ill will, and «Didn’t You Say» turns out to be a real romper after all.

Meet a fresh, young singer from Austria, whose US debut in the year 2000 was hailed as "captivating“. Jazz legend Ira Sullivan calls her “a great young talent” with a big future in Jazz.

Simone, now 25 years old, grew up in a family of musicians and started to sing, in her father's band when she was 12. At the same time she studied piano, though singing remained her first love. Early on, she entered and won various talent contests and even made appearances on television in her native land, Austria. As a young performer, she twice toured the Netherlands with the “Euro Big Band” and later appeared in several International Jazz Festivals.

Influenced by some of the great American vocalists, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Jon Hendricks, Simone has developed into a true Jazzsinger, a singer who uses a wide variety of rhythms and excels in her very individual style of scatting. Laurie Antonioli says that “Simone is an excellent musician, with soulful and hip improvising. She digs in and isn't afraid to take risks with the music”.

Simone received her Masters Degree from the University for Music and dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria where she had the opportunity to work with such Jazz luminaries as Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan, Michele Hendricks, Jay Clayton and the New York Voices.

The Best In You 

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Simone Kopmajer - Live At Heidi's Jazzclub

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 66:01
Size: 151.2 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[5:15] 1. Tea For Two
[3:50] 2. It Don't Mean A Thing
[9:41] 3. Besame Mucho
[5:24] 4. Shoes (From Paris To Rome)
[5:19] 5. Love Will Keep Us Alive
[3:34] 6. Lucky Mojo
[3:51] 7. How Do You Keep The Music Playing
[5:59] 8. What A Difference A Day Makes
[4:09] 9. (If You Can't Sing It) You'll Have To Swing It (Mr. Paganini)
[4:43] 10. Imagine
[8:13] 11. Caravan
[5:57] 12. Kiss

Simone has worked with jazz giants such as George Mraz, Houston Person, Dick Oatts, John di Martino, Victor Lewis, James Genus,... and has played at well known Jazz Festival all over the world.

Daughter of a family of Austrian musicians, Simone began singing with her father's band and studying piano and voice at age twelve. Over the last years, she rose up through the various systems of support for jazz in Europe - talent competitions, officially-subsized orchestras and festivals. She studied formally in Graz, Austria, where two of the foremost jazz vocal educators, Mark Murphy and Sheila Jordan, have long-term teaching residencies, made her US debut in 2000, and has worked all over the world.

Simone Kopmajer - vocals; Ron Teixeira - piano; Rabbit Simmons - bass; Reinhardt Winkler - drums; Terry Myers - tenor sax, clarinet.

Recorded at Heidi´s Jazzclub on the 7th of April 2012

Live At Heidi's Jazzclub

Monday, March 17, 2014

Simone Kopmajer - Emotion

Size: 134,6 MB
Time: 57:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Vocal Jazz/Pop
Art: Front

01. Valentine (2:59)
02. Emotion (3:45)
03. Go (3:54)
04. Sleepwalk (3:20)
05. Change The World (3:51)
06. Hello (4:14)
07. I Can't Tell You Why (4:11)
08. You're Still The One (4:07)
09. Words (3:51)
10. Rollin In The Deep (4:32)
11. Can't Help Falling In Love (4:46)
12. Lately (5:35)
13. You Raise Me Up (3:27)
14. Stairway To Heaven (5:16)

A cool-toned Austrian jazz vocalist, Simone Kopmajer sings in flawless English. She had classical piano lessons starting at the age of eight and at 12 began playing saxophone. She performed in a youth big band and sang regularly in her father's band as a teenager. At 17 she studied with Sheila Jordan, who encouraged her. Kopmajer also studied with Mark Murphy, Jay Clayton, and Michele Hendricks. Since earning a Masters from the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria, Kopmajer has toured the Netherlands twice with the Euro Big Band, appeared at European jazz festivals, and recorded three CDs: Moonlight Serenade (for the Japanese Venus label), her best-known set Romance (for Zoho), and her privately released Taking a Chance on Love. Each CD emphasizes her own fresh versions of standards.

Emotion