Customer Reviews

Poetry of Love

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
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"Sexy," "sultry," "soulful" - I bet you think that I'm talking about jazz singer Angela Hagenbach's fashion-model-good-looks - but I'm not! I'm talking about her voice!!

Not only does Ms Hagenbach not look like anybody else, she doesn't sound like anybody else either. She has a rich, smokey alto voice with a little growl and grit in the lower register and a beautiful bell-like tone in the upper notes. She swings easily and she loves Brazilian rhythms - which are in ample evidence on the "Poetry of Love" - you'll find everything from a bossa nova groove in "Bittersweet" to an Afro-Cuban beat on "Dark Dreams."

"Poetry of Love" is an interesting mix of standards, songs like "Never Let Me Go," "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "It Might as Well be Spring;" some more obscure songs like Micheal Franks' "Tell Me About It;" and three original compositions by Ms Hagenbach setting poems by Phyllis Becker and Mark Schroer to music.

And what about the band? Ah yes, the band.... Ms Hagenbach is joined by at least 15 musicians, in various combinations, on this ten song set, including some "big name" jazzers: saxmen Don Braden and Jimmy Heath, trumpeter Clark Terry and guitarist Russell Malone - pianists Roger Wilder and James Williams, one or the other of whom is on almost every cut, do particularly nice work - but everybody involved in this project turns in an excellent performance.

The sonics are fine: Ms Hagenbach's voice is front and center and there's plenty of instrumental separation.

Bottom line: If you enjoy main stream vocal jazz with a little Brazilian seasoning - and you're ready for a singer who sounds like nobody else singing today - check out "Poetry of Love."

When I first heard this incredible beautiful woman, I couldn't believe my ears! First she grabbed my soul whith her voice, then she took my heart whith her eyes. I can't stop thinking - does this woman really exist?
And why not 5 stars? Only one reason, the songs doesn't really give her voice full space. Don't get me wrong, it's high class tunes, a pleasure to listen to, but they kind of set limits to her voice. The album "Weaver of Dreams" reveal more of the heavenly instrument she is blessed with!

But, the scale 1 to 5 has been changed for me. If this album got a 4 from me, the earlier 4 star album has gone down to 3 stars.

Angela, you are an angel!