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San Francisco [Fleurine]

Fleurine
1 disc

1. Love Marks
2. E Se
3. Tatuagem
4. Memories in Black and White
5. Encontro
6. Anoiteceu
7. Roses, The
8. Behind Closed Doors
9. Tempestade
10. Spring-Buds Through the Snow
11. Passagem
Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 281182
Credits

Producer Robert Sadin; Robert Sadin
Engineer Clark Germain; Dave Darlington
Personnel: Fleurine (vocals); Erik Friedlander (cello); Chico Pinheiro (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Freddie Bryant (guitar, acoustic guitar); Chris Potter (alto flute, bass clarinet, woodwinds, saxophone, tenor saxophone); Brad Mehldau (piano); Doug Weiss (acoustic bass); Gilad (percussion).
Audio Mixers: Robert Sadin; Dave Darlington.
Recording information: Bass Hit Studios (02/12/2007-02/14/2007); Sear Sound Studios, New York, NY (02/12/2007-02/14/2007).
Photographer: Christopher Drukker.
Arrangers: Robert Sadin; Chico Pinheiro; Brad Mehldau; Freddie Bryant.
Fleurine is an important jazz singer who was originally from Holland. She attended the Amsterdam School of High Arts Music Conservatory during 1990-1994. A versatile performer, she toured Cuba with trumpeter Roy Hargrove in 1996, recorded a ballad-oriented duo album with pianist Brad Mehldau, recorded her lyrics to songs by top jazz musicians (including those of Thelonious Monk, Joshua Redman, and Tom Harrell) in 1995, and moved to the United States in 1998. One of her albums, Fire, features her turning pop-oriented material into jazz. San Francisco differs from her previous work in that it is an exploration of Brazilian music, including the songs of Chico Buarque, Chico Pinheiro, and Francis Hime plus a lone number ("Memories in Black and White") from Antonio Carlos Jobim. Some of the selections feature her English lyrics though she also sings in Portuguese. Fleurine has a soft and haunting voice that is well suited to this material. Her backup group, which never includes more than four musicians and has a duet number apiece with guitarist Freddie Bryant and pianist Brad Mehldau, is quite sympathetic with Chris Potter's three appearances (each on a different instrument) adding to the date's variety. San Francisco is a program of subtle music that is quietly infectious. ~ Scott Yanow
Critic Reviews

Down Beat (p.86) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Fleurine's pliant, glinting voice leaps post-bossa samba's widening emotional chasms, as she rebounds from a sad affair on 'Love Marks,' and indulges in raw revelation on 'Behind Closed Doors.'"
JazzTimes (p.125) - "[T]he angelic Fleurine, whose voice can only, paradoxically, be described as sturdily fragile, has transformed her lifelong love of Brazilian music into a salute to three favorite composers....The results are nothing short of splendiferous."