SUSANNE ABBUEHL - Compass
ECM 674 3530
Susanne Abbuehl (voice); Wolfert Brederode (piano); Christof May (clarinet, bass clarinet); Lucas Niggli (drums, percussion); Michel Portal (clarinet)
Recorded 2003 &2004
Swiss/Dutch singer and composer, Susanne Abbuehl is an obvious choice as an ECM artist. Her music and aesthetic is perfectly in tune with Manfred Eicher and it therefore seems strange that her recordings have been few and far between. This current re-issue under the Touchstone banner was in fact her second album for the imprint following on from the well received April released in 2002. Indeed this follow up recorded in 2003/2004 then sat on the back burner, not finally being released until 2006. Capitalising on the strength of the earlier recording, and retaining the services of pianist Wolfert Brederode and Christof May on clarinets was a huge bonus, and the empathy and rapport between the three musicians is what makes this album such a joy.
Once again, Abbuehl's vision and choice of music/texts is broad in scope, and perfect in arrangements and execution. Abbuehl is therefore able to show, albeit modestly, her considerable talents as singer, composer and lyricist and does so without overpowering the listener or the music. Indeed, it this understated sense of everything she does that makes the words and music ever more powerful and poignant. If this were not enough, she does so by cleverly deploying the instruments at her disposal. Immediacy and intimacy are conveyed in two duos for voice and piano in 'Don't Set Sail' with text from the Ming dynasty poet, Feng Meng-Lung and 'In The Dark Pine-Wood' and just one of four texts by the Irish poet and author, James Joyce for which Abbuehl provides the music. This intricacy of touch is also heard on two pieces based on Luciano Beiro's "Folk Songs" with Abbeuhl stripping the instrumentation to voice and the clarinets of Christof May and Michel Portal on 'Black Is The Color...' and 'Lo Fiolairé' with the interplay between all three musicians utterly captivating.
The poetry and prose-poetry of James Joyce is again heard on the delightful 'The Twilight Turns From Amethyst' and 'Bright Cap And Streamers' , and like the aforementioned 'The Dark Pine-Wood' all come from Joyce's work Chamber Music. This affinity and skill that the singer has for James Joyce's text, and how they can be applied to music is again brought to the attention on 'Don't Set Sail' from the novel Finnigans Wake which has been described as one of the most difficult works of fiction in the English language. In Abbuehl's hands though the message and the music come through loud and clear.
All this is delivered with a purity of tone in the vocals that are testament to her training as a classical singer yet retain a flexibility of tone, nuance and inflection that make her a perfect interpreter of the lyric or text. As if to confound expectation, she also show her prowess as a lyricist in setting words to contracting and compositions by Sun Ra and Chick Corea in declamatory and delightful interpretations by turns of 'A Call For All Demons' by the former, and ;'Children's Song No 1' by the latter.
A fascinating glimpse into the world of a unique artist, and a perfect introduction to the work of Susanne Abbuehl as we await a new recording, and prior to investigating her other ECM recordings, April and The Gift.
ECM 674 3530
Susanne Abbuehl (voice); Wolfert Brederode (piano); Christof May (clarinet, bass clarinet); Lucas Niggli (drums, percussion); Michel Portal (clarinet)
Recorded 2003 &2004
Swiss/Dutch singer and composer, Susanne Abbuehl is an obvious choice as an ECM artist. Her music and aesthetic is perfectly in tune with Manfred Eicher and it therefore seems strange that her recordings have been few and far between. This current re-issue under the Touchstone banner was in fact her second album for the imprint following on from the well received April released in 2002. Indeed this follow up recorded in 2003/2004 then sat on the back burner, not finally being released until 2006. Capitalising on the strength of the earlier recording, and retaining the services of pianist Wolfert Brederode and Christof May on clarinets was a huge bonus, and the empathy and rapport between the three musicians is what makes this album such a joy.
Once again, Abbuehl's vision and choice of music/texts is broad in scope, and perfect in arrangements and execution. Abbuehl is therefore able to show, albeit modestly, her considerable talents as singer, composer and lyricist and does so without overpowering the listener or the music. Indeed, it this understated sense of everything she does that makes the words and music ever more powerful and poignant. If this were not enough, she does so by cleverly deploying the instruments at her disposal. Immediacy and intimacy are conveyed in two duos for voice and piano in 'Don't Set Sail' with text from the Ming dynasty poet, Feng Meng-Lung and 'In The Dark Pine-Wood' and just one of four texts by the Irish poet and author, James Joyce for which Abbuehl provides the music. This intricacy of touch is also heard on two pieces based on Luciano Beiro's "Folk Songs" with Abbeuhl stripping the instrumentation to voice and the clarinets of Christof May and Michel Portal on 'Black Is The Color...' and 'Lo Fiolairé' with the interplay between all three musicians utterly captivating.
The poetry and prose-poetry of James Joyce is again heard on the delightful 'The Twilight Turns From Amethyst' and 'Bright Cap And Streamers' , and like the aforementioned 'The Dark Pine-Wood' all come from Joyce's work Chamber Music. This affinity and skill that the singer has for James Joyce's text, and how they can be applied to music is again brought to the attention on 'Don't Set Sail' from the novel Finnigans Wake which has been described as one of the most difficult works of fiction in the English language. In Abbuehl's hands though the message and the music come through loud and clear.
All this is delivered with a purity of tone in the vocals that are testament to her training as a classical singer yet retain a flexibility of tone, nuance and inflection that make her a perfect interpreter of the lyric or text. As if to confound expectation, she also show her prowess as a lyricist in setting words to contracting and compositions by Sun Ra and Chick Corea in declamatory and delightful interpretations by turns of 'A Call For All Demons' by the former, and ;'Children's Song No 1' by the latter.
A fascinating glimpse into the world of a unique artist, and a perfect introduction to the work of Susanne Abbuehl as we await a new recording, and prior to investigating her other ECM recordings, April and The Gift.
