Customer Reviews

Sings Salvadore Poe

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I went to buy the new Norah Jones CD (OK, I am influenced by Amazon's Top 10) when I saw this CD on the listening rack. So I listened. And listened. And than I bought it. How come she is still so relatively unknown? Well, the unique characteristics of her voice are probably not everybody's cup of tea but she has such superb qualities that she deserves much more attention. She is every bit as good (although very different) as Norah Jones or even Dianna Krall. She can't get a better voice but she surely needs a better publicity agent. And one more thing...her voice, timing and tempo are so unique that the type of songs she sings influences the quality of the overall experience greatly. Poe's songs are just perfrect.

Yummi. A Lisa Ekdahl album is a happening. In the first place, this is NOT a jazz album, no sir. It's an italian bossanova album (written and composed by Mr Poe), and what a perfection this is. This is the only album where Lisa's voice goes "with" the music, i.e., singer flows voice, soul and mood (and you can imagine body!) with music. If you have listened to "Back To Earth" or "When Did You Leave Heaven" you know what I mean: Lisa sings Jazz with that angellical-almost-childish voice "against" the bass and drum and only saved by the piano, but don't get me wrong: the whole ensemble is of a perfection difficult to attain, and no aggressivity whatsoever can be found (quite on the contrary). These albums reflect a perfect tempo, voice and band are apart but are felt together and surely with a complicity rare to be found. I've read comparisons to Diana Krall and Norah Jones. For God's Sake, stop mixing compote with honey, though both are sweet... Diana Krall sings with the music, no contrast from that perspective and Norah Jones drowns in the music, tames the piano. Back to "Sings Salvadore Poe", this is a very coherent and homogeneous album that soothes your soul. As a starter, listen to "Daybreak" (nothing to do with Beth Orton's Daybreaker - excelent), following listen to the jazzy "How Many More Times" and go immediately to "The Color of You". Astounding. You're prepared for the rest of the album (or just play it from the beginning). Oh, and your life will change. How? You'll run to get everything from Lisa. And will start discovering the Scandinavian-jazz-gate. And what a wonderful discovery that will be!!!

Taks Lisa!

Singers like Lisa Ekdahl make it impossible for me to understand Diana Krall's popularity. Lisa Ekdahl is cooler, smoother, and unlike Ms. Krall - Lisa Ekdahl actually has emotion in her voice when she sings. Some have argued that Diana Krall has sex appeal on her side. Look at the cover of this disc, Lisa Ekdahl is a knock out.

She has often been compared to Blossom Dearie. I suppose that's because her voice is a bit girlish. I do adore Blossom, but Blossom's voice at times was Betty Boopish, perfect for some sort of animation. Lisa Ekdahl's voice is colourful without being weird.

The music on this album is more comparable to Bebel Gilberto. Lisa is the Swedish version. The album starts off wonderfully with "Daybreak", "Rivers Of Love" and "Sunny Weather". "The Color of You" and "Since You've been Gone" are also standouts.

But then at about track ten, the melodies all start to sound the same. If each song is listened to individually, they're wonderful moments of love and longing. As a whole though, the songs blend into a homogeneous yawn inducing clump.

So why the four stars? Because of her wonderful voice. Because some of Salvadore Poe's songs still have me humming. Because 10 great songs are hard to come by. I reccomend that you start the cd at song one and stop at ten, or start at five and go to fifteeen or some other variation. Trust me, she's worth it.

I don't understand the criticism over Lisa's girlish voice--that IS EXACTLY why I love her singing--because she sounds like a lovely angel, not some jaded or wary mortal. Lisa expresses emotions perfectly, while I find other jazz singers tend to hide their emotions and sings with a "pokerface." Lisa's vocal techniques are also abundant--having an angelic voice doesn't mean she lacks technique or experience. Her expressiveness is right up there at Billie Holiday's level.

As an African American who has family members in Jazz music going all the way back to the 1920s, I have to say her album is vary good. She takes our culture (Jazz Music) to another place!

Thank-You

Her voice is not suited for any kind of balads but these bossanova written by her husband is perfect for her. I have heard her singing in her native language (swedish) and, in my opinion, her voice sounds much more natural. It is a shame Lisa is not that popular in America.

i'm a fan of female jazz vocalists. silje nergaard, the krall, karin allyson and even stacy kent being a few of my favourites but THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST.

This was recommended by a friend and when i first heard it, i got tingles just from the mood it exudes and lisa ekdahl's angelic voice. its like a small girl voice but it goes so well in this CD. i also have her "when did you leave heaven" album and i reckon the bossanova touches in "sings salvadore poe" complements her voice so much better.

it is 4years on and this CD still give me tingles. its just so beautiful.

p.s. though i have to say, my silje nergaard recommendations were much better received than this one.