Customer Reviews

All That Jazz: The Best Of Ute Lemper

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I had initially been made aware of Ute Lemper's incredible talent by her cd featuring the music of composer Kurt Weill. While the work was impressive I didn't exactly run out to make any quick puchases of that disc. A nice enough cd but perhaps too Germanic for my tastes. Who knows!? Well, once again another drastic over-sight on my part! Fortunately with her cd of songs by Edith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich "Illusions" I was simply awed by the honesty and the sheer power of her ability to project a self-confidence that I found almost inspiring....to say nothing of slightly erotic! Add to that her simply peerless performance and I became an instant fan! So with the release of "All That Jazz: The Best Of Ute Lemper" I was, for once ahead of the curve...so to speak.

That being said..." All That Jazz" is a marvelous introduction to one of the real, truly great cabaret singers of our time. Singing fluently in English, German and French she effortlessly touches upon so many different styles, giving each the consideration and respect they deserve. The music is at once campy, fun, daring and most of all just a little "naughty". Which, I suspect, is what good cabaret singing should be. And make no mistake...these are truly difficult songs to attempt. A good assortment are 'signature' songs by some of the world's greatest singers i.e. Lotte Lenya, Edith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich and performing them takes a woman of considerable character and, how to say, chutzpah! But obviously she more than holds her own and perhaps manages just a liitle more than that! Personal highlights are "Careless Love", "Don't Tell Mama" and "La Vie en Rose". Plus, a wonderful version of "The Special Girlfriend" a song that really brings home how 'diverse' Ute truly is. Simply put this artist lays herself bare with every selection and, other than Holly Cole, I know of no other singer who takes the risks that Ute Lemper does!

All in all a wonderful cd for putting on in the evening with a glass of wine and one or two mischevious thoughts. So enjoy and think of me when you're nearing the end of that glorious bottle of wine. Who needs illusions....we all do!

This album is an ESSENTIAL C.D. for ANYONE with good taste in music. Ute Lemper's wonderfully dramatic voice is highlighted on tracks such as 'My Ship'(a Kurt Weill classic) and 'All That Jazz' (from Lemper's stunning prtrayal of Velma Kelly in the hit musical Chicago). One C.D. surely cannot capture the enormous range of styles that this artist has to offer, but her fresh sound and intensely powerful voice is surely an excellent starting point, a door into the world of Weimar Cabaret (Kabarett), and Kurt Weill.

I purchased this CD quite by accident and am I glad I did! Ute Lemper has a great voice and her interpretation of Kurt Weill is unique and first rate. I actually like it better than the classic treatment by Lotte Lenya. Her singing of Surabaya-Johnny is mesmerizing. This CD is a good introduction to the artistry of Ute Lemper.

Whether this you will find this to be "The Best of Ute Lemper" will depend on your taste. What is not debatable is that this is an excellent CD. It contains a sprinkling from much of Ute's repertoire, even including a Paul Celan song from the brilliant but too seldom heard Michael Nyman Songbook. Ute fans will already own a lot of this stuff but you can't have too much of a good thing can you?

I was first made aware of the talents of Ute Lemper on the London cast recording of Chicago. Her unique vocal style was incredible, and her portrayal of Velma Kelly was amazing. I knew that she was a singer, and my friend told me to get her album, All That Jazz, because she adored it and thought that I would as well. I bought it right before I went on vacation to Florida, and could not put it down for the entire time that I was there. I now understand why she is regarded as one of the supreme interpreters of the music of Kurt Weill, Marlene Dietrich, and Edith Piaf. I have never heard a lot of these songs before (in fact, I'd only knew of four songs from the entire C.D.), and I would ot choose any other artist to be my first exposure to them. This is, truly, an incredible C.D.

I watched her concert at Joe's Pub in Lafayette Street, New York back in 1999, and this compilation closely approximates the songs she performed in that terrific concert. She is one great performer in every sense of the word, and there's something just so utterly sensual about her entire act, and choice of music. If you enjoy powerful vocalists who know exactly what it is they're singing about, this is a very substantial collection.

Great compilation for the car, the living room, or quiet moments when you cannot believe just how wonderful all of Ute's work is.

This was the first album by Ute Lemper that I ever bought. I was browsing in a CD-store and found it. I remembered her as a guest in Roger Water's live concert "The Wall". Looking at the song listing I discovered some versions of "Cabaret" themes and songs by Piaf and Dietrich, and that was all I needed to buy it. While listening I found a changing woman, a great performer with a great versatile voice going from revivals of Cabaret tunes from the 30's and 40's, arias from Weill's operas and a song written by Michael Nyman especially for her. In this album you can find some "rarities" like her soundtrack participations (including the outstanding pop version of "Mon leggionarie") and "Don't tell Mama"(from the play "Cabaret", only available in another really hard to find CD called "Life is a Cabaret"). This is a great compilation, even though after listening more of her, one might think there are a few songs missing.

I discovered Ute Lemper through a Canadian concert in honour of Piaf. Since getting this disc via Amazon, I am convinced that I should try to get more of her works. She is terrific.

Ute is an amazing interpreter with an incredibly versatile voice. This collection showcases these attributes and is a great starter for those who are fairly unfamiliar with Kurt Weill, Berlin cabaret, Piaf/Dietrich, or all of the above.