È piuttosto complesso pensare ad una notevole jazzista così lontana dalla patria naturale di questa musica, così lontana dalle sensazioni calde che, nella maggioranza dei casi, avvolgono queste atmosfere. Eppure ormai da anni se dovessi pensare alle donne che mi hanno maggiormente emozionato, musicalmente parlando, metterei davanti a tutte almeno tre scandinave. Tra queste Silje Nergaard, ed in particolare questo cd di standard e non solo.
Accompagnata da un ottimo trio (pianoforte, basso, batteria) e da vari ospiti, tutti rigorosamente al di sopra del parallelo di Copenaghen, la Nergaard riesce certamente a sciogliere il ghiaccio che la circonda, ed a regalarci momenti molto caldi. La voce non è roca e profonda come ci si aspetterebbe da una cantante jazz che sembra aver molto studiato Ella Fitzgerald e Sarah Vaughan, ma anzi è alta e con un timbro particolare, che strizza l'occhio più a qualche diva pop che non a questi mostri sacri. Infatti altre sue produzioni sono più orientate al pop che al jazz, sofisticato, ma pop.
Nel disco le classicissime Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered, Don't Explain e Dream A Little Dream nella quale simula la celeberrima versione di Ella & Louis almeno due ottave sopra, facendosi accompagnare nel canto da Heine Totland e ironizzando su certe musicalità che mi hanno fatto pensare a Marylin Monroe. Carino anche il rifacimento al rallentatore di If You Love Somebody di Sting, molto ben congegnato, come anche You're Kind di Paul Simon. Le altre composizioni originali sono tutte di buon livello e soprattutto egregiamente suonate dal trio, rinvigorito a volte da un ottimo sax ed altre da una piccola dose di archi, senza mai esagerare.
L'ho vista in un video registrato al North Sea Jazz festival dell'Aia del 2004, cantava con il trio di sua maestà Tord Gustavsen, per me uno dei migliori pianisti in circolazione, e sono rimasto molto ben impressionato dalla sua bravura e professionalità.
Elenco tracce testi e video
02 Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (05:25)
I'm wild again
Beguiled again
A whimpering, simpering child again
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I
I couldn't sleep
And wouldn't sleep
When love came and told me I shouldn't sleep
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I
I lost my heart
But what of it?
He is cold I agree
He can laugh, but I love it
Although the laugh's on me
I'll sing to him
Each spring to him
And long for the day when I'll cling to him
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I
I lost my heart
But what of it?
He is cold I agree
He can laugh, but I love it
Although the laugh's on me
I'll sing to him
Each spring to him
And long for the day when I'll cling to him
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I
05 What's New (02:25)
What's new
How is the world treating you
You haven't changed a bit
Handsome as ever I must admit
What's new
How did that romance come through
We haven't met since then
Gee but it's nice to see you again
What's new
Probably I'm boring you
But seeing you is grand
And you were sweet to offer your hand
I understand, I do
Pardon my asking what's new
Of course you couldn't know
I haven't changed
I still love you so
06 The Waltz (04:10)
Strike up the band let it play
Love songs to haunt me and I will stay
But when it comes to a waltz
Both words and music will ring false
For you waltzed in and spun my world
Around in dizzy dance I swirled
But suddenly you waltzed away from me
Those violins, they must go
So no careless hand with a bow
May play on the strings of my heart
And make me remember how lovers part
How you waltzed in and spun my world
Around in dizzy dance I swirled
But suddenly you waltzed away from me
Strike up the band let it play
Whatever it chooses and I will say
Play me a waltz if you will
I'll sit here and listen waiting until
My love returns to take my world
And spin it 'round in dizzy swirl
Where girl loves boy and boy loves girl
And feet don't touch the ground
08 For All We Know (03:05)
Sweetheart the night is growing cold
Sweetheart my love is still untold
A kiss that is never tasted
Forever and ever is wasted
For all we know
We may never meet again
Before you go, make this moment sweet again
We won't say good night until the last minute
I'll hold out my hand
And my heart will be in it
For all we know
This may only be a dream
We come and go like a ripple on a stream
So love me tonight, tomorrow is made for some
Tomorrow may never come
For all we know
09 Shame on You (04:44)
It doesn't really matter where you're coming from
It's no concern of mine where you are bound
Your move from a to b is basic geometry, the shortest line is me
Spare me lengthy tales of pain and misery
Of how you once were lost but now are found
I wasn't searching, just remember who from who between two points in time
Shame on you
Expecting me to go along with all you do
Shame on you
Go play your game of hide and seek with somebody new
I'm just another port of call along the way
Another landing place but that's all right
Let's forget the whys and wherefores
And get on with saying my goodbyes
Shame on you
Expecting me to go along with all you do
Shame on you
Go play your game of hide and seek with somebody new
Watch my lips, hear what they're saying
I will spell it out
Keep those mind games you love playing
They're not what I'm about
Shame on you
Expecting me to go along with all you do
Shame on you
Go play your game of hide and seek with somebody new
11 Dream a Little Dream (03:14)
Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
Birds singin' in the sycamore tree
Dream a little dream of me
Say nighty-night and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm as blue as blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me
Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
Stars fading but I linger on dear (I linger on)
Still craving your kiss (craving your kiss)
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
12 Don't Explain (04:34)
Hush now, don't explain
There's nothin' to gain
I'm glad you're back
Don't explain
Hush now, don't explain
What is there to gain
Skip that lipstick
Don't explain
You know that I love you
And what love endures
All my thoughts are of you
I'm so completely yours
Don't hear folks chatter
Cause I know that you cheat
Right or wrong don't matter
When I'm with you sweet
Hush now, don't explain
You're my joy, you're my pain
My life is yours love
Don't explain
You know that I love you
And what love endures
All my thoughts are of you
I'm so completely yours
Don't hear folks chatter
Cause I know that you cheat
Right or wrong don't matter
When I'm with you sweet
Hush, don't explain
You're my joy, you're my pain
My life is yours love
Don't explain
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