JULIA WERUP - The Thrill Of Loving You
Stunt Records STUCD 20032 & STULP20031
Julia Werup (v); Sven Eric Lundeqvist (p); Johnny Aman (b); Thomas Blachman (d) Copenhagen August 2019.
Born in Sweden, now resident in Denmark, Ms Werup has worked as a DJ, live performance poet and in -house music performances. This is her first album as a jazz singer, linking up with her partner Thomas Blachman who plays drums and adds electronic programming to some tracks. Blachman told her he thought she was a naturally gifted jazz singer, and he may well be right. Her voice is soft focus and winsome on these tracks creating a mood of sombre but expressive, low key jazz. Blackbird is the opening selection, and she is suitably lucid and inventive, but she really comes to life with straight readings of the jazz musician’s favourites, The Touch Of Your Lips and The Thrill Is Gone. Both selections are ideal for her relaxed, little girl lost approach, well supported by Ludeqvist’s piano, delicately lyrical and the solid support from bass and drums. There are no fast, up-tempo pieces on offer here, all tracks are quiet and reflective making this an ideal record for late night or relaxation time listening. Providing, of course, that you just want to relax with the music and not have too much excitement!
Take Five is taken at ultra- slow tempo and puts a new slant on the Brubeck/Desmond classic. After that Julia tackles Gloomy Sunday with a very melancholy, laid back delivery. Blachman switches to electric bass on Born To Be Blue but again the vocal is soft focus and on the sombre side. Her ethereal, gentle approach, together with the sympathetic support of her sidemen makes this a fresh, original take on some familiar jazz material. The electronic effects on a few tracks are, I would suggest, surplus to requirements and adds nothing useful to these vocals with rhythm. The blue based tracks and the ballads all work extremely well. Julia says she ended up with these songs ‘because I have a dark side.’ Maybe, but she does them very well and listeners will enjoy them I think, as long as they are not feeling down or depressed. Music for quiet, reflective hours.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
Stunt Records STUCD 20032 & STULP20031
Julia Werup (v); Sven Eric Lundeqvist (p); Johnny Aman (b); Thomas Blachman (d) Copenhagen August 2019.
Born in Sweden, now resident in Denmark, Ms Werup has worked as a DJ, live performance poet and in -house music performances. This is her first album as a jazz singer, linking up with her partner Thomas Blachman who plays drums and adds electronic programming to some tracks. Blachman told her he thought she was a naturally gifted jazz singer, and he may well be right. Her voice is soft focus and winsome on these tracks creating a mood of sombre but expressive, low key jazz. Blackbird is the opening selection, and she is suitably lucid and inventive, but she really comes to life with straight readings of the jazz musician’s favourites, The Touch Of Your Lips and The Thrill Is Gone. Both selections are ideal for her relaxed, little girl lost approach, well supported by Ludeqvist’s piano, delicately lyrical and the solid support from bass and drums. There are no fast, up-tempo pieces on offer here, all tracks are quiet and reflective making this an ideal record for late night or relaxation time listening. Providing, of course, that you just want to relax with the music and not have too much excitement!
Take Five is taken at ultra- slow tempo and puts a new slant on the Brubeck/Desmond classic. After that Julia tackles Gloomy Sunday with a very melancholy, laid back delivery. Blachman switches to electric bass on Born To Be Blue but again the vocal is soft focus and on the sombre side. Her ethereal, gentle approach, together with the sympathetic support of her sidemen makes this a fresh, original take on some familiar jazz material. The electronic effects on a few tracks are, I would suggest, surplus to requirements and adds nothing useful to these vocals with rhythm. The blue based tracks and the ballads all work extremely well. Julia says she ended up with these songs ‘because I have a dark side.’ Maybe, but she does them very well and listeners will enjoy them I think, as long as they are not feeling down or depressed. Music for quiet, reflective hours.
Reviewed by Derek Ansell
