Showing posts with label Thomas Fonnesbaek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thomas Fonnesbaek. Show all posts

Monday, July 12, 2021

Sinne Eeg, Thomas Fonnesbæk - Staying in Touch

Styles: Vocal, Post Bop
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:43
Size: 114,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:26) 1. Spring Waltz
(4:14) 2. Too Close for Comfort
(5:54) 3. Orphans
(3:46) 4. Take Five
(4:49) 5. The Streets of Berlin
(4:14) 6. The Long and Winding Road
(4:54) 7. How Deep is the Ocean?
(1:38) 8. Just One of Those Things
(7:45) 9. Round Midnight
(6:15) 10. Those Who Were
(2:43) 11. The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines

Born in Lemvig, Denmark, jazz singer Sinne Eeg graduated from the Music Conservatory of West Jutland in 2003, and subsequently studied with American jazz singers Janet Lawson and Jay Clayton in New York City. “I learned a lot from studying music intensively at the music conservatory,” she explained. “But I think a lot of my musicality comes from my childhood and teenage years where I was exposed to so much music and great music teachers. Jazz was a big part of my upbringing. I played in several local big bands (alto saxophone) when I was a teenager, and I learned a lot about the structures and phrasing of the music.”

During her musical upbringing, Eeg gravitated toward singers with lower, richer voices, like Julie London, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Cassandra Wilson and Dianne Reeves. “Of course I studied all the great traditional jazz singers like Billie, Ella, Carmen, Anita and Sarah at the conservatory,” she said. “But it was also nice to have someone contemporary to look up to like Cassandra and Dianne, who respected the tradition of jazz singing but also had a fresh approach to it.” She recalled a seminal gig as a professional singer that helped launch her career. “It was a three-month engagement in Shanghai. They flew the whole band over from Denmark to play at The House Of Blues And Jazz six nights a week. During those three months I learned so much about performing in front of an audience and working with a band.”

After putting in her time for years on the road, performing at small clubs and cafes, Sinne won her first Danish Music Award for her album “Waiting For Dawn” in 2007. Her dark vocals and modern interpretation of Nordic jazz touched audiences all over Europe and Asia. Since then, Sinne has released several prize-winning albums, including her solo album “Dreams” from 2018, recorded in New York City with Scott Colley, Joey Baron, Larry Koonse and Jacob Christoffersen.

In early 2020 Sinne released one of her biggest projects ever: “We’ve Just Begun”, a winning collaboration with the 19-piece Danish Radio Big Band and her 9th album overall. The record was produced by André Fischer (Diane Schuur, Nina Simone, Natalie Cole) and mixed at the acclaimed Capitol Studios in Los Angeles by the legendary Al Schmitt (Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Ray Charles). The album has received countless international rave reviews, hovered high for many weeks on the American JazzWeek Top 50 chart, and continues to enjoy frequent airplay in all radio markets.

Sinne has many loyal fans in the US, Scandinavia and Asia, especially China and Japan. She is poised for a major breakthrough in the US, where she regularly tours. She has performed with American jazz icons including Larry Goldings, Peter Erskine and Ken Peplowski; and at storied jazz clubs including Green Mill in Chicago and Birdland in New York. The Danish songstress is versatile, equally comfortable fronting big orchestras in concert halls as well as smaller ensembles in intimate jazz clubs. Everywhere she sings Tokyo, Copenhagen, Los Angeles or Madrid audiences are mesmerized by her incandescent phrasing and scatting, all with natural, perfect pitch.

Sinne Eeg is not only a brilliant vocalist; she is also a great songwriter. Her talent for writing and composing won the prestigious Danish Carl Prize 2018 for Song Of The Year, “Aleppo”, included on her album “Dreams”. Sinne has received numerous accolades, including four Danish Music Awards, the Danish Radio P2 Jazz Prize, the Ben Webster Prize, the French Prix Du Jazz and Queen Ingrid’s Honorary Grant, personally awarded by Queen Margrethe of Denmark. https://www.highresaudio.com/de/artist/view/35462fa1-ee13-4058-a5a2-d7a156f161a4/sinne-eeg-thomas-fonnesbaek

Personnel: Sinne Eeg (vocals), Thomas Fonnesbæk (bass) + Live Strings #3, 5 & 10: Andrea Gyarfas Brahe, Karen Johanne Pedersen (violin), Deanna Said (viola), Live Johansson (cello); Jesper Riis (string arrangements)

Staying in Touch

Monday, April 13, 2015

Sinne Eeg & Thomas Fonnesbaek - Eeg / Fonnesbaek

Size: 98,1 MB
Time: 41:10
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Willow Weep For Me (5:14)
02. Taking It Slow (4:41)
03. Evil Man Blues (3:15)
04. You Don't Know What Love Is (4:59)
05. Summertime (4:24)
06. Body And Soul (5:04)
07. Beautiful Love (3:22)
08. Come Rain Or Shine (6:30)
09. Fellini's Walts (3:37)

With the very first notes on this remarkable album, the question arises why the duo combination of vocal and bass is such a rare treat. Only a few albums exclusively present this musical constellation that allows so much space for creativity and spontaneity. Some may be acquainted with Sheila Jordan’s work with bassists Steve Swallow, Harvie Swartz and Cameron Brown – or Jordan’s duo with Norwegian bassist Arild Andersen on the fine 1978 album SHEILA. When approached with technical and musical virtuosity, it is a constellation that works. Sinne Eeg and Thomas Fonnesbæk command their own natural and distinguished place on the short list of vocal/bass duos. The album marks a charming musical engagement between two virtuosic and original artists, bringing the best out in each other in fresh and congenial interpretations of classic evergreens.
One of Scandinavia’s most talented and popular vocalists, accompanied by an experienced and virtuosic bassist. They gave us a small taste of their duo work on Sinne Eeg’s latest album FACE THE MUSIC, and on EEG FONNESBÆK, they unfold their artistry throughout a full CD. Eeg constantly pushes herself toward new horizons. She never rests in rehearsed working routines. The restrictions of the duo format present a challenge that is rewarded with an exceptional musical freedom. It takes guts to perform a whole concert or record a whole CD only accompanied by a bass, but Sinne Eeg is attracted to the rich resonance of the bass and its rhythmic and harmonic drive. She embraces the sound of the bass much like the bassist caresses the strings. Sinne Eeg sings without the time-keeping of a drummer or the chords of a pianist while still retaining all her artistry and interpretive powers. Sinne and Thomas listen intensely and inspire each other and take chances. And isn’t that what jazz is all about – spontaneity, communication and interpretation?

Sinne Eeg is a cherished jazz vocalist with a list of fine recordings to her name. In 2007 she released WAITING FOR DAWN, and since then audiences and critics alike have agreed in their enthusiastic reception of her recordings and performances. She tours successfully internationally, and has received numerous awards including the DR P2 Jazz Prize (2009), and three Danish Music Awards for WATING FOR DAWN (2007), DON’T BE SO BLUE (2010) and FACE THE MUSIC (2014). In 2014 she was awarded the prestigious Ben Webster Prize and in 2015, 60 French critics paid their tribute with one of Europe’s most distinguished awards, Academie du Jazz, for FACE THE MUSIC. The world has truly discovered this great Danish vocal talent. Danish bassists have a special star on the international jazz firmament.
One of the most remarkable among the many new names is Thomas Fonnesbæk. He plays with virtuosic technique, melodic intuition, and an exquisite sound that is reminiscent of the deceased Danish jazz giant Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. Fonnesbæk appears on more than 100 albums, and he has worked closely with jazz pianist Thomas Clausen, whose group he joined in 2006. He has been a member of Swedish pianist Lars Jansson’s Trio since 2009, and he is a popular accompanist for visiting international musicians. In 2014 he released SOUND OF MY COLORS - his debut as bandleader.

Eeg / Fonnesbaek