Lisa Ekdahl

A Blossum Dearie voice with great arrangements. Charming and unique at the same time.

I'd heard about the Swedish phenom, now I've heard her, now I know. I can see where a case could be made for Lisa. She seems to know what she's doing--the pitch is there as is the sense of time. But to place her in the company of Billie or Ella, as some reviewers have done--presumably because her timbre is light, her elocution unforced--borders on the insane. Her tight spinning vibrato suggests an Edith Piaf on helium, except that there's absolutely no body to her tone, no breath support, no projection of sound. She sounds like she's not even in the same room with her highly capable rhythm section--sort of like a six-year-old dubbing vocals to an Ahmad Jamal album.

The presentation--from the album photos to the voice to the interpretations--seems calculated to evoke more than anything else a "jazz Lolita," a pre-nubile nymphet who through some inexplicable miracle has been constructed and cleverly packaged by some international marketing genius (though I think Lisa's producers errored by not going with either solo piano accompaniment or an unobtrusive string section).

This isn't my thing. I wouldn't even bother to mention it to my musican friends. On the other hand, fans of Nabokov may have some cause to celebrate.

This Swedish singer's "little girl" voice and phrasing reminded me of none other than Billie Holiday, perfectly blended with a trio of musicians I've not heard of before (Peter Nordahl, Ronnie Gardiner, Patrick Boman), but whose other work I will snap up immediately.

If you love the sounds of Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holliday, then you'll love Lisa. Her sound is smoother than and ice-cold glass of lemonade on a hot Georgia summer day. After a long hard day at work or just for a short drive to the store, this cd is perfect to keep you calm and relaxed. It seems to have a 1940s nostalgic night club atmosphere. It's also perfect for background music for a dinner party. Well what are you waiting for? Go Buy It!!!!

I first heard her singing "now baby or never" on the radio and immediately went to tower and bought both her jazz cds. What is it with these swedish singers and their little girl voices? Her sound is both innocent and worldly with a surprising strong vibrato; buy this cd. Shower her with money, marriage proposals and fame. The peter nordahl trio is excellent as well. When is her next offering?

i'm a fan of female jazz vocalists. silje nergaard, the krall, karin allyson and even stacy kent being a few of my favourites but THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST.

This was recommended by a friend and when i first heard it, i got tingles just from the mood it exudes and lisa ekdahl's angelic voice. its like a small girl voice but it goes so well in this CD. i also have her "when did you leave heaven" album and i reckon the bossanova touches in "sings salvadore poe" complements her voice so much better.

it is 4years on and this CD still give me tingles. its just so beautiful.

p.s. though i have to say, my silje nergaard recommendations were much better received than this one.

As an African American who has family members in Jazz music going all the way back to the 1920s, I have to say her album is vary good. She takes our culture (Jazz Music) to another place!

Thank-You

I don't understand the criticism over Lisa's girlish voice--that IS EXACTLY why I love her singing--because she sounds like a lovely angel, not some jaded or wary mortal. Lisa expresses emotions perfectly, while I find other jazz singers tend to hide their emotions and sings with a "pokerface." Lisa's vocal techniques are also abundant--having an angelic voice doesn't mean she lacks technique or experience. Her expressiveness is right up there at Billie Holiday's level.

Yummi. A Lisa Ekdahl album is a happening. In the first place, this is NOT a jazz album, no sir. It's an italian bossanova album (written and composed by Mr Poe), and what a perfection this is. This is the only album where Lisa's voice goes "with" the music, i.e., singer flows voice, soul and mood (and you can imagine body!) with music. If you have listened to "Back To Earth" or "When Did You Leave Heaven" you know what I mean: Lisa sings Jazz with that angellical-almost-childish voice "against" the bass and drum and only saved by the piano, but don't get me wrong: the whole ensemble is of a perfection difficult to attain, and no aggressivity whatsoever can be found (quite on the contrary). These albums reflect a perfect tempo, voice and band are apart but are felt together and surely with a complicity rare to be found. I've read comparisons to Diana Krall and Norah Jones. For God's Sake, stop mixing compote with honey, though both are sweet... Diana Krall sings with the music, no contrast from that perspective and Norah Jones drowns in the music, tames the piano. Back to "Sings Salvadore Poe", this is a very coherent and homogeneous album that soothes your soul. As a starter, listen to "Daybreak" (nothing to do with Beth Orton's Daybreaker - excelent), following listen to the jazzy "How Many More Times" and go immediately to "The Color of You". Astounding. You're prepared for the rest of the album (or just play it from the beginning). Oh, and your life will change. How? You'll run to get everything from Lisa. And will start discovering the Scandinavian-jazz-gate. And what a wonderful discovery that will be!!!

Taks Lisa!

Other reviews compare Lisa Ekdahl to Norah Jones or Diana Krall, and can't understand why she doesn't get as much noteriety. Well, lets see...she's from SWEDEN and since she's neither in ABBA or on the (does it exist) Swedish National Bikini team, we don't pay much notice. More importantly, her voice is not as mature as either of the other women and it shows. That said, I would buy this CD just for the song "Daybreak" as it is one that can get stuck in your head for months at a time. I promise you will find yourself humming it to yourself while walking around. There are some other tracks that are alright, none as good...and it stinks to have to pay export price for the whole package. My recommendation...borrow it from a friend.

I'm not usually fond of waifish 'little girl' voices but Ms Ekdahl surprised me with her charm et unique style. The music isn't pretentious like so many modern jazz artists. She's natural, refreshing, a bit playful and singing with quiet emotions that are more effective than the brassy over-emotionalism of many contemporary jazz artists. Thumbs up.

I bought this album in eager anticipation, having been highly impressed with her earlier release 'Back To Earth', which was quirky, imaginative and fun. However, this one is quite disappointing. It's all too-much-the-same in style and comes across as a bit of a commercial 'Part 2' to cash in on her reputation. And there are some musical faux pas that just plain grate - "Love For Sale" done at a cracking swing pace which makes it's poignant lyrics sound trite; Bjork's wonderful "It's Oh So Quiet" without the shout chorus which would normally give it 'bite'. And the other version of "It's Oh So Quiet" on the album sounds almost identical, so one wonders why it was even included.

Having said that, she does redeem herself a little with her choice of repertoire. It's great to hear such standards as "Lush Life", "But Not For Me" and "Cry Me A River", even if the treatment is fairly uninspiring.

Satisfactory background music, but not much more than that.

I first heard Lisa Ekdahl in Norway many years ago. She had a smash hit called "Hvem Vet" (Who knows). I bought that album many years back, I believe in 1992 or so. I didn't understand anything on the album, except for when my swedish friend would traslate it, and I still memorized every song, replaying that tape until it now can't be played.

Lisa sings in English and in Swedish. I prefer her english songs, as they tend to be a different sound. More jazz, and a little bit more sassy. There is noone I have ever heard that sounds like Lisa. She is a Swedish Pixie who could capture anyones musical heart. Absolute must have album.

By all means, buy this album if you like little girl voices. Lisa bluffs her way through these standards in a pseudo-sexy, Swedish-accented, Marilyn Monroe-ish way ... but never for a moment convinces me she is singing jazz. Just listen to the sound clip of "Boy Next Door" to hear how she doesn't cut pitching the #4 of the chord (on the words "ignore" and "next door"). Not that pitch is everything ... But she just doesn't inhabit the songs (I don't believe her) - especially "Love for Sale" and "Lush Life". I think she'd do better sticking to material she can musically handle. There are too many artists intent on tackling the repertoire of standards and doing an unconvincing job of it.

With a sweet little girl voice, something like a younger sounding Rickie Lee Jones, Swedish singer Lisa Ekdahl does refreshing interpretations on her 2nd English only Jazz standard CD. She doesn't have the wind or power of an Ella Fitzgerald, but she makes up for it in a different way, with charm. The other major highlight is the back up trio: Peter Nordahl on piano, Ronnie Gardiner on drums, & Patrik Boman on bass. Peter Nordahl at times sounds like a wild Bill Evans, kicking on & off the melodies. He makes a very interesting listen & what I believe is the well welcome stand out. If you like this CD, try the one before: "Back to Earth".

Truly a unique voice. Part little girl, part Ella Fitzgerald. A good album, worth a buy

OK so I was seduced by her voice, but this is a beautiful album. It's not quite as strong as her other English-language CD, "Back to Earth" IMO, but it is nonetheless excellent...she's still expressive and sultry, and the backing trio is very very solid. If you want some background music while you read on Sunday morning in your flannel pjs, or while you decorate the Christmas tree, this is it. "Cry Me a River", "Lush Life", "Blame it on My Youth", and the title track are standouts. If I can't marry her, can I at least get her to make another CD with the Nordahl Trio? Please??

I had not heard of Lisa Ekdahl. I stumpled onto the CD, "when did you leave Heave?" while brozing a music store. I am just taken away by the exciting charm of her voice. The arangemen is perfect, her particular roll on the words is really fun. The emotion expressed in voice puts your ear on tiptoe. I'll be adding more CDs by this artist to my favorite list...for sure.

I was so looking forward to this CD arriving. I was not disappointed. It is as good as I hoped or better than I remembered. Most importantly, it arrived safe and sound and very well packaged. Thank you Amazon.

I admit that I can't understand Swedish, but I love the sound of Lisa's voice as she makes music, especially accompanied by the delightful rhythms found in this album. It's a wonderful accompaniment to a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine in the evening.