SOME REVIEWS OF THE NEW RECORD..................................................................................................................................................................................................................
ESTER ANDÚJAR: Between Monk and Serrat
“Ester Andújar has an outstanding, thrilling and scat lover voice. It surprises, knowing these shades of her, the new record she has just released. After Tristeza de amar (2002) (Sadness of loving) and the amazing Celebrating Cole Porter (2005)(Festejando a Cole Porter, de 2005), appears Páginas preciosas(Precious pages), an eclectic and distinct record, co-produced with the guitarist Ximo Tebar, this specialist to keep in with both parties that moves between Fusion and Jazz styles.
First thing I should say about Páginas preciosas is it isn’t a Jazz record. My impression after an initial listening is that we are dealing with a record where the artist sings and composes her own lyrics. Because Ester Andújar not only composes but she has written the lyrics of almost all the tracks and (more unexpected) she dares to sing in Spanish, even in Valencian.
The result? A record of songs. Songs with remarkable moments and a Mediterranean sound that reminds us of the most inspired Presuntos Implicados, songs that sound like Pop, Bossa, Funky and Jazz (crossover if someone is missing a label) accompanied by good Jazz musicians. Her voice (so personal) stands out over the music and the lyrics, but by singing in Spanish you run the risk that the message is understood sooner than the music. One begins to listen to these verses and forgets the accompanying piano, even the quality of the voice, in despite of which Ester reminds us sometimes that she is a Jazz singer and so, she lets her go by the scat sound in certain brilliant moments, that make us to remember that she is even brighter and more genuine in live concerts.
Among the ten themes of the record, composed by the singer (some with Ximo Tébar or the also guitarist and music setter Manuel Hamerlinck) there is a theme by Serrat (Romance de Curro el Palmo) and a delicious and moving version of ‘Round midnight’ with the lyrics in Spanish, sung to cappella where the only musical accompaniment of Ester Andújar’s voice is the sound of rain.
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I must confess I’ve only listened to this CD once, and that most probably I won’t file it with my Jazz records, but Ester Andújar is my favourite voice in the national Jazz and the one of many others. I predict she will have the acceptance from both reviewers and public (why not?) now that products with so many different cultural influences like the ones from Corinne Bailey-Rae or Norah Jones attract both Jazz lovers and the rest of music buyers.”
Monday, 26th January 2009, blogspot Jazz, that noise.
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“Ester Andújar is one of the Spanish Jazz singers who stand out the most. After her two first records released “Sadness of loving” (2002) and “Celebrating Cole Porter” (2005), both for the Omix Records Company, this Valencian woman with international projection (she has been finalist in several international Jazz vocalist prizes) invites us with her third record to get to know her better, and for that reason she has released “Páginas preciosas”, her third record and different conceptually speaking, from the previous ones.
“Páginas preciosas” is a sincere tribute to her own musical influences and she has the courage, and the mastery to sing in Spanish and even in Valencian, a manner to show that music, and much less the Jazz music, has linguistic frontiers. From the twelve themes of the album, ten are self-compositions in which the guitarists Ximo Tébar and Manuel Hamerlinck take part with the lyrics and the settings.
Ester Andújar is accompanied in the record by Ximo Tébar (guitar), Donald Edwards (drums), César Giner (bass), Santi Navalón (keyboard), Edmundo Carneiro (percussion), Stephan Braun (cello), Manuel Hamerlinck (guitar) and Jorge Roque (saxophone). The record has been produced by Ximo Tébar and Ester Andújar and it is distributed in Spain by “Nuevos Medios”.
February 2009, Blogspot Apolo and Baco
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Ester Andújar, Páginas preciosas
Endorsed by the numerous international prizes received, but mainly by her great voice –a blend of dream that tends to the sweet but is never sickeningly sweet - , the Valencian singer presents her third long play record, with this sensuality so special that we feel from the beginning to the end of the disc.
Unlike the marvellous Celebrating Cole Porter (2005) , her former work, the repertory has been made for herself, composed almost entirely by her and completely performed in Spanish – with the exception of “Unes mans com les teues”, delicate song, probably her favourite, that she sings in Valencian-. “Aprovecho la lluvia” , “Páginas preciosas” , y “Cambio de suerte”, for example, to configure an agile up-tempo style that can be assumed yet as her own.
Andújar is not afraid of the word “pop”, and she is right when she comments that there are no major nor minor music styles, just music; this view coming from a Jazz singer that struggles side by side with devoted students from Berkeley, is not bad at all.
But behind that accessible and human side of her, there’s a record where there’s something in this from the technical point of view and marvels can be found at the instrumental and vocal level, with herself involved both in the arrangements and the production –making good use of the tenderness that provide the Brazilian rhythms- , and with the guys of the Ximo Tébar company wholly involved: Donald Edwards in the drums, César Giner in the electric bass, Santi Navalón in the keyboards, Edmundo Carneiro in the percussion, Stephen Braun in the cello, Manuel Hamerlinck in the guitar, Jorque Roque in the saxophone and Ximo Tébar himself in the guitar.
There are two versions: a “Romance de Curro el Palmo” (Ballad of Curro el Palmo), closing track of transmediterranean style which once again gives Serrat its place in music (rescuing this song from the prima donnas’ world of the Spanish popular song, where lately it seemed to be confined). Or to Thelonious Monk out of his usual style, with a very rainy (not just metaphorically said) version (sang to cappella and with his own lyrics) of “Round midnight” (Ronda de medianoche).
February 2009, GERNOT DUDDA for the EFE EME magazine
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Ester Andújar.
PÁGINAS PRECIOSAS.
Published: 2009
Style: Vocal Jazz
Will be liked by…: Those who want to listen to an accessible work which does not renounce to intelligence.
“When a gifted vocalist who, besides, is a remarkable composer, lyrics writer and settings maker, comes together with one of the most important jazzmen of the Spanish contemporary scene, Ximo Tébar, it’s logical the result will be such an interesting album. After Tristeza de amar (Omix Records, 2002) and, especially, after the acclaimed Celebrating Cole Porter, (Omix Records, 2005), Ester Andújar returns to a more personal style, since in Páginas Preciosas all the themes are composed by her along with Ximo Tébar, with the exception, of course, of Romance de Curro el Palmo, original of Joan Manuel Serrat, and Round Midnight – medianoche, of the great Thelonious Monk.
But even in theses two themes she imposes her particular conception of Jazz, one that integrates with amazing naturality elements of pop, bossa nova, funk, soul… In respect to her vocal performance, I don’t think I can say anything new after all her artist career, and it would be frankly redundant to insist in her great worth if you have had the opportunity to listen to her in live. But, even so, if it’s the first time you hear of Ester Andújar, I recommend to play the record starting by the last track, with her brave (and rainy) new version, to cappella, from the timeless classic of Monk, one of the themes most versioned in the history, some of them unforgettable, to which she achieves to give her own view and shades.
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Páginas preciosas is a work with a delicious sensitivity that shows an unusual zeal for the melody a jazzistic context. However, we should wonder ourselves if it’s a Jazz album, because it doesn’t offer exactly what we expect to find under that label, which, evidently, is good. Yes, maybe most of the musicians involved are linked to the jazzistic scene, and likewise the structures are influenced by the pop and are closer to the format of traditional song. In this respect, it’s like if Ester Andújar, with the complicity of Ximo Tébar, had absorbed the teachings of Cole Porter, someone who know how to create a good song without losing sight of simplicity. Nevertheless, the impeccable conjunction from the whole and the virtuosity in certain passages, despite not being a work focused in the virtuosity, does arise from Jazz. Finally, the lyrics are from those worth listening attentively, so it’s a great idea to include them in the little book.
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A recommendation not to run risks for sensitive music lovers.
影響
Ella Fitzgerald,Sarah Vaughan, Carmen Mc Rae, Anita O..Day, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, Cassandra Wilson, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Elis Regina, Maria Joao, Caetano Veloso, Kurt Elling, Bobby Mc Ferrin, Rachel Ferrel, Rosa Pasos, Joan Manuel Serrat,Djavan,Sheila Jordan ,Trilok Gurtu,Maria Joao, Keith Jarret, Tom Jobim, Vinicious de Moraes, Chico Buarque, Thelonious Monk, Astor Piazolla, Chet Baker, Etta James, John Lee Hooker,Otis Redding,Dinnah Washington, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Chaka Khan, Duke Ellington, Joao Gilberto, Wynton Marsallis, Freddy Mercury, Richard Bona,Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Jon Hendrix, Take 6,Unlimited Voices, Brandford Marsallis, Herbie Hancock, arisa Monte,Billy Holliday,Tania Maria,Prince, Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Kenny Garrett, and more Wayne Shorter among others...
AVALAIBLE NEW RECORD FROM TODAY!
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ESTER ANDUJAR / Singer & Composer
She was born in Valencia in 1976. She..s been singing all around the world with her own group and with musicians like such as Dr. Lonnie Smith, Idris Muhammad, Jorge Pardo, Ximo Tebar, Sam Yahel, Carles Benavent, Dennis Rowland, Ramon Cardo, etc…
November 2002 she releases her first CD as a leader titled Tristeza de Amar - Sadness of Loving (Omix Records), produced by Ximo Tebar. “Tristeza de Amar” has been selected by the magazine Todas las Novedades among the year's best five works of Spanish jazz. It has also been nominated "Best CD" in the Second Edition of the Valencian Jazz Awards and granted a four star rating in the magazine Cuadernos de Jazz. In this edition of the Promusics Awards she received the 'Best voice 2002" award.
She is featured in many recordings for spanish musicians.
In 2005,she releases her second CD, "Celebrating Cole Porter", recorded in NY with musicians like Ben Street, Helen Sung,Rob Bargad,Peter Bernstein, J.D. Walter, Adam Cruz and Ximo Tébar, this one last producer also of the CD.
She releases her third album "Paginas Preiosas"with musicians like Donald Edwards on drums, Cesar Giner on bass, Ximo Tébar on guitars, Edmundo Carneiro on percussion and Stephan Braun on violoncello. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AVALAIBLE NOW.!!!!!
VISIT WWW.OMIXRECORDS STORE ON-LINE!!!
www.esterandujar.com
www.myspace.com/esterandujar
En Diciembre nuevo CD: "Iñaki Salvador - Te doy una canción". Dos temas de avance en www.myspace.com/inakisalvador "Yo vengo a ofrecer mi corazón" y "Debajo del puente". Con poemas de Silvio Rodríguez y Eduardo Galeano.
Entra en nuestra pag. myspace.com/hotrodcafesueca e informate de la programación que tenemos para el mes de Septiembre, de momento para este fin de semana postvacacional tendremos a partir de las 00:00 y con la entrada gratuita:
Viernes 4 - The Carminers Sábado 5 - Graham Foster Trio
Un placer conocer a personas relacionadas al arte.
"Para Nosotros no existe la buena o la mala música, sino canciones que te transmiten algo o no.
Todos tenemos gustos distintos, y cada uno es dueño de su verdad.
Por esto hay que respetar siempre todos los puntos de vista."
Saludos Cordiales
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