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The Love List

Kaya Bruel
1 disc

1. My Funny Valentine
2. Still Around
3. Lullaby
4. Good Man Is Hard to Find, A
5. You Go to My Head
6. Fortune of Love
7. Feminine Wiles
8. What a Waste
9. Make a New Start
10. Waves of Joy
11. Love to Lose
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Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 8082
Credits

Producer Kaya Bruel
Engineer Andreas Hviid; Ole Kibsgaard
Personnel: Kaya Bruel (vocals); Ole Kibsgaard (guitar, dobro, banjo, keyboards); Flemming Agerskov (tenor saxophone, trumpet); Jesper Riis (horns); Jacob Christoffersen Trio, Jacob Christoffersen (piano, organ); Jesper Bodilsen (bass instrument); Jonas Johansen (drums); Rune Harder Olesen (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Lars H. Nissen.
Recording information: Sun Studio, Copenhagen, Denmark (02/2008); Workmen's Hut (02/2008).
Arranger: Jesper Riis.
Danish singer Kaya Bruel is one of the rare vocalists who can cross over between jazz and pop while remaining convincing in both fields. The expressive alto is backed by a group of talented Danish musicians, including keyboardist Jacob Christoffersen, bassist Jesper Bodilsen, and drummer Jonas Johansen. Opening with a popular standard like "My Funny Valentine" is a distinct challenge, because there are so many excellent versions around, yet Bruel's sensitive treatment features clear but not excessively emotional vocals, with sparse effective backing by her trio. Trumpeter Flemming Agerskov is added for her warm rendition of another time-tested standard "You Go to My Head," sung at slightly faster a tempo than most vocalists. Her interpretations of two songs by rocker Tom Waits include a reverent "Lullaby" and the campy, old-fashioned "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" that is conversational in part. The remainder of the release is devoted to Bruel's originals, highlighted by the touching ballads "Fortune of Love" and "What a Waste" (the latter accented by Agerskov's muted horn), though the overdubbed vocals in "Make a New Start" work against it. While some of her compositions have a pop flavor, her music is anything but mundane. ~ Ken Dryden