BOOKLET

 

Review by Thom Jurek

This 1964 date that places Swedish jazz vocalist alongside the Bill Evans Trio (with Chuck Israels on bass and Larry Bunker on drums) is one of those oddities in Evans’ catalog. The match is seemingly perfect. Evans’ lyricism is well suited to a breezy, sophisticated songstress like Monica Zetterlund. There is an iciness on this recording, but it is difficult to decipher if it is in the performance or in the engineering where she seems to be way out in front of the band, when she was really in the middle of all the musicians in the studio. This is a minor complaint, however, as the tune selection and decorum of these sessions are quite lovely. From the opener “Come Rain or Come Shine” through the Swedish ballad “A Beautiful Rose” and the achingly gorgeous delivery of “Once Upon a Summertime,” it’s as if Zetterlund were destined to sing with Evans for a career instead of an album. For his part, Evans is very relaxed, allowing the lyrics to feed his musing on the simple, yet elegant harmonics. The Swedish version of “Waltz for Debbie” is a true delight because Zetterlund’s voice becomes another instrument, soloing over the top of Evans’ stunning selection of comping chords. In all this is an odd but special item, one that is necessary — for at least one listen — by any serious fan of the pianist and composer.

MONICA ZETTERLUND

Monica Zetterlund sang with Ib Glindeman’s band in Denmark and saxophonist Arne Domnerus’ band in Stockholm in 1957, recording with Domnerus beginning in 1958. She began performing abroad in the late ’50s. In the United States, Zetterlund’s credibility as a jazz singer rests largely upon Waltz for Debbie, a recording made in 1964 with pianist Bill Evans’ trio. In addition to several solo records, she’s also recorded with the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis orchestra (It Only Happens Every Time, 1977) and bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (This Is All I Ask, 1998), among others. Her repertoire also incorporated such non-jazz idioms as Swedish folk songs and classical music. Zetterlund’s celebrity transcended music; classically beautiful, she was also an actress in her native Sweden. She continued to perform until her death in May of 2005 after a fire broke out in her apartment.

-By Chris Kelsey

All Music Group

Monica Zetterlund with Bill Evans trio – “Waltz for Debby”.

Monica Zetterlund (vo), Bill Evans (p), Eddie Gomez (b), Alex Riel (ds). Recorded in Copenhagen Oct 1966.