Mette Juul: Moon On My Shoulder

Rating: ★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Nikolaj Hess (p)
Morten Lund (d)
Lars Danielsson (b, clo)
Ambrose Akinmusire (t)
Mette Juul (v, g)

Label:

Calibrated Music

March/2013

Catalogue Number:

CALI123

RecordDate:

September 2011

On this follow-up to her 2010 debut album, Coming In From The Dark, vocalist Mette Juul puts together an engagingly eclectic song list that takes in everything from Joni Mitchell (‘Be Cool’) and Lyle Lovett (the title track) to Thelonious Monk (‘Ask Me Now’) and Kenny Wheeler (‘For Jan’). A winner of the 2007 International Jazz Artist Competition in Tallinn, Juul's approach is characterised by an affecting delicacy, caressing the lyrics with palpable care as on her terrific reworking of Cole Porter's ‘From This Moment On’. Of her own material, ‘When We Leave The River Bank’ is a standout, with both its narrative and harmonic approach seemingly paying tribute to the great Joni herself. Including Blue Note trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire (whose ‘Henya’ gets an impressive airing), Juul's bandmates keep things on the pianissimo side of things. Pianist Nikolaj Hess, who produces and contributes some fine arrangements, is a particularly fine presence.

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