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MUSICIANS: Linda Pettersson - vocal
Repertoire: Ulf Adåker and Linda Pettersson Arrangments/adaptions: Ulf Adåker, except track 4, Anders Persson Recorded: Atlantis Studio, Stockholm, Sweden, EU, 20-21 August, 2004 Recording and mixing: Åke Linton CD-Master: Claes Persson Photo: Patric Cederman Realease: 13th November 2004 Cover design: Jenny Eiserman Liner notes: Dave Castle Manufactured by: Tocano Produced by: Ulf Adåker and Laila & Charles Gavatin's Foundation for Jazz Music |
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TEXTBOOK: WHO ARE YOU? (TMcCD 023)I have come to the conclusion that this CD is among the choice of recordings I would want to take with me to that proverbial desert island. The more I listen the more I find the music growing on me. On the occasions that I have heared LINDA PETTERSSON "live", whatever the song, she has always succeeded in capturing my attention in an immediate way, and on record (as guest singer on other artists' productions) her contributions have always added a valuable dimension to the proceedings. Although she is not yet a "household name" in Sweden or abroad, Linda Pettersson has done her fair share of singing during her relatively short career. So, Linda - who are you? Facts concerning Linda's early years leading up to her moving from the north of Sweden to the capital in 1995 can be found, (together with details about every other artist performing on Touché recordings), at www.touchemusic.se. In Stockholm she began appearing professionally in many different musical circumstances, even on occasions leading her own small group. This lead to a memorable TV feature program in which she sang with a quartet of prominent young jazz musicians. When asked today if she has any particular favourites who she feels have influenced her, she replies: "There have been so many that it's difficult to single out anyone in particular." She has quite simply absorbed the best of what she has heard and it comes out as Linda Pettersson herself, with a voice that has a personality of its own and is easily recognisable. For my ears (as well as those of many others), in regards to intonation, she is one of the most consistently in-tune singers anywhere today. Just listen to her re-entry after the piano solo in "Detour Ahead", it is simply stunning, and notice that throughout the recording she gives every "little" note, not just the main ones, loving care and attention. However, she says that this side of her technique is not in fact a conscious striving for perfection. In other words it comes naturally to her. In addition she has good control over a large range, which together with her excellent musical "ear", makes technical demands, such as the wide intervals of Kenny Wheeler's "Winter Sweet" with words by singer Norma Winstone, sound playfully easy. In fact it is this ambition with which she willingly takes on (and successfully accomplishes) difficult challenges that has won her much respect among her colleagues in the music profession, including none less than the distinguished artist Alice Babs who praises Linda highly. It goes without saying that this attitude in the way she approaches her material constitutes in no way a limiting factor to the amount of feeling she puts into each song. Quite the opposite; in applying her own principles of quality she succeeds in heightening the emotional effect, with the use of subtle inflections and nuances instead of exaggerated mannerisms. As of now she creates convincingly moving performances, particularly her interpretations of jazz standards, and contemporary music by other singers and composers in near-related areas of the art. On this CD Linda has chosen songs not only because of their melodic and harmonic ingredients but because she has a very special feeling for the words, which is hardly surprising as they can be regarded as some of the best and most expressive lyrics in anybody's songbook. We have trumpeter Ulf Adåker to thank for introducing the two Kenny Wheeler compositions to Linda. He also showed her the Joni Mitchell song and the tribute to Jobim by Toninho Horta, which, after a magical piano introduction, is given an interpretation by Linda in her characteristically warm, intimate manner. Ulf's trumpet, mostly with Harmon mute, shines on several tracks and is always completely appropriate to the mood and tempo of the piece. The rest of the group consists of three more outstanding musicians. Anders Persson once again proves here his artistry by providing a full spectrum of colour to the piano keyboard, with a sensitivity of touch that one normally associates with classical performers. Christian Spering, with his total commitment when performing, has been one of the busiest bass players on the Swedish jazz scene for the past 20 years or so, which speaks for itself. If the description "playing" the drums can be justifiably applied to someone it is to Jonas Holgersson. He can apply the lightest of touches (as he often does here with his skilful brushwork) or he can drive a larger group forward full of power and dynamics. The contributions these four particular musicians provide are all the more remarkable, as they, in the company of Linda, had never before played together in this formation.
With this, the arrival of her first solo CD, we have come closer to an answer to the rhetorical question: Linda Pettersson - Who Are You? Here she demonstrates many sides of her versatility, covering moods from the melancholy "Sad Young Men", and the wistful yearning of "Skylark" to the stark observations of Jimmy Hendrix's "Up From The Skies". Sweden has in Linda a singer of growing stature and it is only a question of time before more and more people are aware of her special gifts. Now with this Touché CD, we have ample opportunity to acquaint ourselves with her voice to a greater degree than ever before. With that in mind it wouldn't surprise me if you also choose this as one of your desert island discs!
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