From World Jazz Capital to Europe Jazz Capital

Her voice can sound like a siren and delicioulsy raspy and in the next moment can be tender and soft. Collaborating with her on stage were guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, bassist Larry Grenadier, and drummer Dan Rieser of which Rosenwinkel was offered the most solo space putting some nice edges to Rebecca's songs. It was without a doubt one of this year's highlights. On Friday, one of the busiest jazz singers at the moment made a stop in Berlin during her short European tour: Roberta Gambarini, heavily featured here at JazzRadio with her last two albums, proved why she simply is the hottest vocalist around. She sang the verses of many of the well-known standards, scattted like there's no tomorrow, wore a dramatically beautiful dress (yes that's part of the show as well isn't it?), and her articulation and phrasing was simply flawless. For me, though, she sounded best and the most convincing when she sang ballads of which there were quiet a few. Her rendition of the Italian "Estaté" for example was full of sass, had just about the right dose of drama and worked extremely well. Gambarini's cohorts were Eric Gunnison on piano, Neil Swainson on bass (who worked with George Shearing for many years) and Willie Jones III on drums. I'm glad to be back in Europe's Jazz capital! Tomorrow: great singer and pianist from New York: Mr. Andy Bey live in concert.
On the day of my return from New York City, there was more music on my schedule for last Thursday night.
The wonderful singer and guitarist from New York, Rebeccca Martin, played two marvelously executed sets here in town. Except for only two standards, Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life" and "But Not For Me", Rebecca sang her own material which at the same time is haunting and simply beautiful.