SIMONE KOPMAJER - "Spotlight On Jazz".

She is without a doubt one of the most successful Austrian jazz voices of the present day. The Styrian singer Simone Kopmajer has made her way and enjoys the reputation in the jazz scene of being one of the most distinguished in her field. Her fans are scattered around the globe, her releases are also in demand in faraway countries, she sings throughout Europe, in the USA, Japan, Israel and also South-East Asia, where she now enjoys star status and fills the halls. With "Spotlight On Jazz", Simone Kopmajer is now ready to take the next step.

Born in 1981 in Schladming, the singer with the velvety-warm seductive voice basically picks up on her new album where she left off on her last work "Good Old Times" (2017). It is once again a journey through the history of jazz that she undertakes, one that begins with new arrangements of well-known classics of the genre (including "Pennies From Heaven" by Billie Holiday, "Poinciana" by Bing Crosby or "Stompin' At The Savoy "Benny Goodman) and ends with numbers from her own pen. The 2003 Hans Koller Award winner thus returns once again to her musical roots, to the songs that once shaped, inspired and formed her, and which ultimately also encouraged her to write her own pieces.

The very noble jazz sound

Supported by the leader of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the American saxophonist Terry Myers, who has already worked with world stars such as Ray Charles and Natalie Cole, and accompanied by the top-class band of Paul Urbanek (piano), Martin Spitzer (guitar), Karl Sayer (bass) and Reinhardt Winkler (drums), the 36-year-old turns to the very noble sound of jazz - as she has done in the past. This time, too, she succeeds in transforming it into something truly magical, striking a note that simply carries a lot of feeling and exudes pure passion.

"Spotlight On Jazz" reveals itself as an album that narrates itself somewhere between jazz, swing, soul and pop in a decidedly dignified manner and pushes the gates wide open to a truly atmospheric and varied listening experience. The deeply touching moments that get under your skin are just as much in evidence as those carried by a beguiling light-heartedness. Simone Kopmajer and her convincingly performing troupe let it swing and groove, become gentle, they are playful and impulsive as well as mysterious and reserved. In the songs, love is professed, tightly entwined dances are performed, humorous winks are made and life is simply celebrated.

With her new album, Simone Kopmajer impressively answers the question of why she is where she is. She shows why she is one of the exceptions in the Austrian music scene and meanwhile also enjoys this high international reputation. On "Spotlight On Jazz", the Styrian and her band master the often difficult balancing act between the highest entertainment and musical demands with bravura. Her music is the expression of an immense joy in playing combined with extraordinary musical abilities, it is one that literally breathes and spreads atmosphere, listens intensively and also lets the soul dangle. Simply beautiful.

(Michael Ternai)