Music / jazz

Poems for orchestra


Reviews (2)


All about jazz

d. 26. Apr. 2019

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Friedrich Kunzmann

d. 26. Apr. 2019

"Since his debut as a leader for ECM in 2001, he has kept close to the label. But the concept on Poems for Orchestra marches to somewhat of a different tune and that it is being released on the Scandinavian label Losen Records seems appropriate, considering the large amount of Swedish and Danish folklore these songs and poems are steeped in ... Poems for Orchestra is an intimate landscape that envelopes the listener and begs to be explored. It seems to pass by in a moment, but leaves a lasting memory".


Jazz views

2019

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By

Chris Baber

2019

"This collection of tunes began as a commission for big band to work with voice and koto. While the big band orchestration here works beautifully, the placing of a koto in this setting really captures the attention. I would say that, against the orchestra (rather than the bass and violin of the earlier recording), Nakagawa brings even more intensity to her playing, while making the instrument so clearly part of the instrumentation of the orchestra that it fits seamlessly. Added to this, Willemark's effortlessly smoky vocals deliver words from poems in Danish and Älvdalska to such effect that you don't (as a non-speaker of the languages) need to know what she is saying, only experience the emotion that she conveys".