Christopher White contributed this review.
Jeanette Lindström’s lovely Walk is an intriguing example of the influence American culture has around the world. Produced with financial assistance from the Swedish National Council for Cultural Affairs with principally Swedish players, nevertheless all of the material is sung in English. And, while I’m a dedicated conscientious objector when it comes to affixing genre labels, Walk would be best filed under “Jazz” not “World.”
Ms. Lindström might be compared to any number of current jazz vocalists from Diana Krall to Norah Jones, but these wouldn’t do more than indicate a general sensibility; she has her own voice, her own style. Most of the material is original. Six of the 15 tracks credit Lindström with both lyrics and music. She is credited with music composition on another four, and has co-credits for music on two more. All of this I found particularly interesting as she has no instrumental credits on Walk. It makes me wonder what instrument(s) she might play. Beyond the originals, there is a fantastic version of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David piece “Trains & Boats & Planes,” as well as a nice take on the somewhat lesser known, but no less satisfying, “The Two Lonely People” by Bill Evans and Carol Hall.
Some musical friends and I reserve the term “album” for those CDs and LPs where the flow from track to track and the overall impact, taken as a unified whole, is definitely more than the sum of the individual parts. Walk is definitely an album. The pacing, the way one tune segues into the next, is as well thought out as any individual track. The arrangements vary from pieces like “Closer” with Lindström’s voice accompanied only by the always wonderful Ale Möller, this time on lute and hammered dulcimer, to the more prevalent band numbers featuring various combinations of: Steffan Svensson, trumpet; Peter Nylander, guitar; Daniel Karlsson, piano and keyboards; Severi Pyysalo, vibraphone; Christian Spering, double bass; and Peter Danemo, drums and percussion. Every one of these talented musicians contributes impeccable playing to the project.
While I have few instrumental prejudices and certainly enjoy electric instruments and electronic sounds, I freely admit certain combinations of acoustic instrumental timbres give me a great deal of pleasure. Anchored by double bass and drums, the various chamber jazz combinations on Walk are absolutely fabulous. The interplay among the musicians on this album is superb throughout. I particularly appreciated the lush effect and shifting melodic articulation of the voice, vibes, trumpet and guitar on “Turning Pages” and “What Remains.”
Part of the pleasure in listening to Walk comes from the attention paid to, as they say, “production values.” The recording is clear and crisp without sacrificing warmth or depth. For a real treat, pour your favorite libation, settle into a comfy chair, put on a good pair of headphones, close your eyes and take a lovely Walk with Jeanette Lindström.
(Amigo Musik, 2003)
[Christopher White]
