The tunes are excellent…There is intensity and beauty in much of this music, and if one didn’t know the concept, the music would stand on its own solidly in the contemporary jazz groove. While the concept might be a major turnoff for some, this is fine jazz at both the spiritual and “secular” level. Highly recommended.
As always she is superb both in writing and improvisation and in the way she organizes the band, that is effortlessly able to move from a compositions inspired by sacred music to the blues. These extraordinary musicians appear to be animated by the desire to play during a rather dark period of time characterized by the lack of opportunities to perform.
Pianist, switched from classical to jazz when she moved to US in 1991. Pieces inspired by Biblical Psalms (this is identified as the “instrumental version”).
Pianist and composer Yelena Eckemoff honors us with her new creation, I am a stranger in This Life. Of course, there is a strong classical influence, all twirling in a jazz wonderland that touches you directly. Yelena is surrounded, accompanied by marvelous musicians, whose pleasure we can feel in bringing all their talent to this work. Yelena converted […]
Developing one’s own sound world could actually be described as one of the basic qualities of proper jazz. In this case, the sounds – also assisted by the Chagall-like cover art – make you think about dark deep traditions of Russian monasteries that somehow found its way to modern New York to challenge the stereotypes of the New York standard jazz sound. ..The pieces are rather characterized by interlocking melodies, which are closely related to improvisation and have a very atmospheric feel. “I am a Stranger in this World” is a charming, original and fresh contribution to contemporary jazz.