Arabesque is an edgy, moody collection of songs to thrill the musical iconoclast. Classical purists might run for the hills but Danish jazz singer Cæcilie Norby has come up with some extraordinary settings that shed new light on familiar melodies by Rimsky Korsakov, Satie and Debussy, boldly applying her own astringent lyrical interpretations of the stories behind them.
The result is an impressionistic aural feast, punctuated by a burst of funky swing (“Bei mir bist du schoen”), a couple of Michel Legrand tracks and an inspirational take on Abbey Lincoln’s “Wholly Earth”. In short, Norby, who has been a pioneer of modern Nordic music, straddling the choppy territory between jazz and pop with her refusal to be categorised, has sharpened her maverick credentials and come up with an audacious concept. Just when you think you’ve pinned it down, the musical influence on each track shifts into new territory.
“The Dead Princess” takes Ravel’s haunting theme and turns it into an exploration of the character of the composer’s benefactress, Princess Winnaretta de Polignac. His “Pavane”, so evocative in any setting, is transformed into a brooding meditation on the power of music to arouse memories and sensations.
Norby isn’t the first musician tempted to take liberties with Rimsky Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” – prog rock band Renaissance built an entire album around it in the 1970s – but she treats it with great respect, her Arabian Nights-inspired lyrics swirling among the excellent accompaniment of musicians including pianist Katrine Gislinge, co-producer Lars Danielsson (on bass, cello and organ).
The percussion of Anders Engen and Xavier Devandre-Navarre is a crucial ingredient of Arabesque, fluid and driven, providing a great counterpoint to the fascinating texture of Norby’s voice. There is more than a hint of Berlin cabaret in her timbre – at times, comparisons with Ute Lemper are valid – but her phrasing is always contemplative and modern. Norby is more about the inner monologue than playing to the gallery.
Other highlights include “The Tears of Billie Blue”, a shimmering interpretation of Debussy’s “Claire de Lune”, and “No Air”, which turns Satie’s Gymnopédie into sultry, delicate soliloquy. There is also a Danish version of Legrand’s “Windmills of Your Mind” (“Hvirvelvinden”) and a bonus track, “How Oft”, a tribute to the singer’s father, Erik, who composed it. An absorbing landscape of an album.
The result is an impressionistic aural feast, punctuated by a burst of funky swing (“Bei mir bist du schoen”), a couple of Michel Legrand tracks and an inspirational take on Abbey Lincoln’s “Wholly Earth”. In short, Norby, who has been a pioneer of modern Nordic music, straddling the choppy territory between jazz and pop with her refusal to be categorised, has sharpened her maverick credentials and come up with an audacious concept. Just when you think you’ve pinned it down, the musical influence on each track shifts into new territory.
“The Dead Princess” takes Ravel’s haunting theme and turns it into an exploration of the character of the composer’s benefactress, Princess Winnaretta de Polignac. His “Pavane”, so evocative in any setting, is transformed into a brooding meditation on the power of music to arouse memories and sensations.
Norby isn’t the first musician tempted to take liberties with Rimsky Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” – prog rock band Renaissance built an entire album around it in the 1970s – but she treats it with great respect, her Arabian Nights-inspired lyrics swirling among the excellent accompaniment of musicians including pianist Katrine Gislinge, co-producer Lars Danielsson (on bass, cello and organ).
The percussion of Anders Engen and Xavier Devandre-Navarre is a crucial ingredient of Arabesque, fluid and driven, providing a great counterpoint to the fascinating texture of Norby’s voice. There is more than a hint of Berlin cabaret in her timbre – at times, comparisons with Ute Lemper are valid – but her phrasing is always contemplative and modern. Norby is more about the inner monologue than playing to the gallery.
Other highlights include “The Tears of Billie Blue”, a shimmering interpretation of Debussy’s “Claire de Lune”, and “No Air”, which turns Satie’s Gymnopédie into sultry, delicate soliloquy. There is also a Danish version of Legrand’s “Windmills of Your Mind” (“Hvirvelvinden”) and a bonus track, “How Oft”, a tribute to the singer’s father, Erik, who composed it. An absorbing landscape of an album.
Personnel:
Lars Danielsson (bass, cello, guitar, organ)
Xavier Desandre-Navarre (drums, percussion)
Anders Engen (drums, percussion)
Katrine Gislinge (piano)
Palle Mikkelborg (trumpet)
Cæcilie Norby (vocals)
Hans Ulrik (flute, clarinet)
Ulf Wakenius (guitar)
Bugge Wesseltoft (piano, synthesizer)
Tracklist:
01. The Dead Princess (Ravel/N.Cæcilie) 4.08
Lars Danielsson (bass, cello, guitar, organ)
Xavier Desandre-Navarre (drums, percussion)
Anders Engen (drums, percussion)
Katrine Gislinge (piano)
Palle Mikkelborg (trumpet)
Cæcilie Norby (vocals)
Hans Ulrik (flute, clarinet)
Ulf Wakenius (guitar)
Bugge Wesseltoft (piano, synthesizer)
Tracklist:
01. The Dead Princess (Ravel/N.Cæcilie) 4.08
02. Wholly Earth (Lincoln) 4.27
03. No Air (Satie/C. Norby) 3.58
04. No Phrase (Satie/C. Norby) 5.18
05. Bei mir bist du schön - 03:39 (Secunda/ Cahn, Sammy / Chaplin, Saul / Jacobs, Jacob)
06. The Tears Of Billie Blue (Debussy/N:Cæcilie) 5.30
07. Woman Of Santiago (Danielsson/N.Cæcilie) 3.40
08. Pavane Opus 50 (Fauré/N:Cæcilie) 5.41
09. Scheherazade (Rimsky-Korsakov/N.Cæcilie) 4.01
10. I Will Say Goodbye (Legrand) 4.48
11. Simple Theme (C.Norby/N.Cæcilie) 4.25
12. Hvirvelvinden/ The Windmills Of Your Mind (Legrand/ A.Bergman/B.Bergman/C.Norby) 3.36
13. Forever You (Danielsson/N.Cæcilie) 4.36
14. Nocturne (C. Norby) 3.53
15. How Oft (E.Norby/Shakespeare, Will) 3.00
ARMU 2288
ARMU 2288 (zippyshare)
03. No Air (Satie/C. Norby) 3.58
04. No Phrase (Satie/C. Norby) 5.18
05. Bei mir bist du schön - 03:39 (Secunda/ Cahn, Sammy / Chaplin, Saul / Jacobs, Jacob)
06. The Tears Of Billie Blue (Debussy/N:Cæcilie) 5.30
07. Woman Of Santiago (Danielsson/N.Cæcilie) 3.40
08. Pavane Opus 50 (Fauré/N:Cæcilie) 5.41
09. Scheherazade (Rimsky-Korsakov/N.Cæcilie) 4.01
10. I Will Say Goodbye (Legrand) 4.48
11. Simple Theme (C.Norby/N.Cæcilie) 4.25
12. Hvirvelvinden/ The Windmills Of Your Mind (Legrand/ A.Bergman/B.Bergman/C.Norby) 3.36
13. Forever You (Danielsson/N.Cæcilie) 4.36
14. Nocturne (C. Norby) 3.53
15. How Oft (E.Norby/Shakespeare, Will) 3.00
ARMU 2288
ARMU 2288 (zippyshare)