Lisa Wahlandt, Seems Like Yesterday, Enja ***

Basically an album of fairly familiar pop songs (by the likes of the Bee Gees, Van Morrison, The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, etc) delivered in a soft jazz fashion. German singer Liza Wahlandt certainly has a very pleasant, inviting, voice and the …

Published: 17 Dec 2023. Updated: 5 months.

Basically an album of fairly familiar pop songs (by the likes of the Bee Gees, Van Morrison, The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, etc) delivered in a soft jazz fashion. German singer Liza Wahlandt certainly has a very pleasant, inviting, voice and the settings rely on a simple piano, bass, drums backing - there isn't much really room for improvisation: that's hardly the point. The jazziest thing here is her own song, a perky number called 'Crashboombang' you could imagine even Norah Jones singing. Pianist Jan Eschke is effective however when he finds space on 'True Colors,' one of the album's best tracks and also impresses when he breaks free a little on 'Norwegian Wood'. And Wahlandt's version of Leonard Cohen's 'Sisters of Mercy' and take on Edie Brickell's 'Good Times' are other tracks we liked. If you happened to be in a hotel lounge setting or on a night out at your local bar and came across Wahlandt singing these familiar tunes you'd probably be happy enough to listen for a while.

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Django Bates to play a rare solo gig at the Vortex

''You can't have everything'' as the Django Bates classic has it: but you can hear Django playing solo for the princely sum of £20 in one of London's best jazz rooms in January. No better a way to start 2024 for Django Bates fans with news of a …

Published: 16 Dec 2023. Updated: 5 months.

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''You can't have everything'' as the Django Bates classic has it: but you can hear Django playing solo for the princely sum of £20 in one of London's best jazz rooms in January.

No better a way to start 2024 for Django Bates fans with news of a rare solo piano gig at London jazz club the Vortex on 4 January. The influential Loose Tubes era keyboardist and composer writes on Facebook: ''I haven't played Vortex Jazz Club for 10 years. Very excited to revisit my old stamping ground and the scene of so many real-life dreams. Book now or wait for the next one in 2034.''

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Bates' solo work includes the highly collectable Autumn Fires (and Green Shoots) going back to his 1990s tenure on the JMT label - pretty hard even to track down online.

On the club site he adds further thoughts: ''When I began writing new piano music two years ago I wanted to simplify everything in my life, and so began a process of distillation. Emerging compositions such as 'Flurry In The Desert,' 'Iris,' 'My Idea Of A Good Time,' embrace all the ways the piano has been my belovèd friend. From my childhood alone with my favourite toy - a beat-up D'almaine upright (semitone flat) - through my formative experiences in the bands of Dudu Pukwana and Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, to playing the great concert halls of Europe with Anouar Brahem, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette, the piano has been a lifelong companion.'' Link for tickets

Django Bates, photo: ECM