Sarah Long, Music Critique, Eugene, OR

Preface

The titles on this CD reflect the sensations that spring causes in people: expectation, joy and yearning, hope for love and happiness, but on the other hand melancholy and loneliness.

The German painter and sculptor Milan Drews translated these sensations into pictures that round off the listening pleasure together with the lyrics of the songs.

In the past century "American Popular Songs" were an essential part of American musical culture and affected popular music in many countries all over the world. In Jazz these songs became standards that musicians to this day interpret individually and which are the basis of their improvisations. The high linguistic level and the timeless quality of the lyrics in combination with the tunes are the reason why songs like "All the things you are" are highly appreciated by musicians and audiences even after more than seven decades.

Hanne Rømer wants to call the listener's attention to the song – its melody, its words and the story that it tells. As a singer and a saxophonist she feels as a mediator between the composer and the listener. Her performance is far from being self-centred. Instead, she sings and plays in a manner that best serves the song. She made a good choice in the selection of her fellow-musicians. Their balanced and sensitive accompaniment contributed decisively to this project.

Helge Schmedeke, Flensburg February 2004

My Blue Corner Ballads

Scroll down and you'll get the possibility to hear some of the music

Line up:

Hanne Roemer, vocals and saxophones

Mads Granum, piano

Jesper Bodilsen, bass

Alex Riel, drums

Guests:

Track 1 and 9: Vincent Nilsson: trombone.

Track 3: Sandra Hempel: guitar; Jesper Bodilsen: bass and Markus Zell: cajon.

Track 5: Charlotte Hallberg: pan flute and Sandra Hempel: guitar.

Track 7: Sandra Hempel: guitar and Markus Zell: cajon.

1. That’s all click on to hear it!