“All good
things come in threes“; this must have been Caroll Vanwelden’s
motivation which lead the Belgian to write a jazz trilogy around
Shakespeare’s sonnets. It was back in 2012 and 2014, she had already
started working on the 154 sonnets of Shakespeare, when she
presented her sensitive manner of work. Hence, two by the critics
highly acclaimed releases were born. The artist went on a musically
multidimensional journey which will reach its peak but also its
brilliant ending with her newest release Caroll Vanwelden – Sings Shakespeare Sonnets 3 on JAZZNARTS RECORDS on July
21st 2017.
Once again, the last record of her trilogy creates an original and
unique approach and this time to the most popular sonnets of the
English grandmaster.
“So long as men
can breathe or eyes can see, so long lives this, and this gives life
to thee.” (William Shakespeare) It’s the idea of immortality, which
the English lyricist and dramaturg is referring to in his most
famous sonnet no. 18 from 1609. The guiding principles of infinite love and intense sexuality, almost manic obsession,
the charming beauty of inevitable decay, and finite mortality. The 154 sonnets by Shakespeare are a collection of
one of Shakespeare’s outstanding and epic opuses. No work of world
literature except the Bible was translated into German more
frequently.
The guiding thread
of all productions is the warm and colorful voice of Vanwelden. One
moment the artist is able to create a multifaceted melancholy and in
the next moment, the listener gets carried away by the intensity and
power of her voice. She releases energy, creates emotions, and
enchants with hypnotic ease. This, combined with the thematic
discussion on Shakespeare and his credo on the prosecution of
infinite love, creates such a powerful expression as has not yet
been experienced.
The singer is referring to the same kind of love, she shares
for her two wonderful children, or the sexuality she
experiences, when she is able to commit to her music entirely. At
the same time, it is a conflict confrontation to be almost obsessed with perfectionism towards the unique and untouchable
oeuvre of Shakespeare. All of this is coated by her passion for beauty and aesthetic. However, the decay is covered as
well; a decay which the English poet could almost effortlessly
escape, due to his art enduring longer than time. Last but not least
it is the mortality, a topic which was extremely present
during the creation process of Shakespeare’s sonnet no. 3.
Unfortunately, Vanwelden’s father died right before the release of
the second album which influenced her work essentially. “The motifs
and guiding lines of Shakespeare are both, fascinating and
universal. I see myself in all of his motifs and find a huge amount
of inspiration within them”, states the musician.
The pianist is
musically supported by three of the most exciting and successful
instrumentalist of Germany. Thomas Siffling from Mannheim, is
playing the trumpet and the flugelhorn. His elegant melodies merge
perfectly with Vanwelden’s unique and warm voice. The artist and
professor Mini Schulz from Stuttgart is not only stroking the
bow of his double bass gracefully, but is also plucking it in a
groovy and casual manner. Jens Düppe, living in Cologne, is
the newcomer of the group. With his drum and percussion playing, he
creates complex rhythm, and contributes to the rich sound palette of
the group.
Caroll Vanwelden’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s sonnets no. 3
marks a magical and absolute exclamation mark behind a musical
trilogy of almost uncompetitive excitement. The courageous approach
and the artistic treatment of the sonnets seem to succeed
effortlessly.
The outcome is an album for the classical jazz admirer, friends of
lyric, or the simple music fan. This album is a sheer delight from
the first to the last piece, or, from verse to verse.
Sings
Shakespeare Sonnets 3
Tired with all these - sonnet 66
Line-up
Caroll Vanwelden piano, voice, arrang.
Thomas Siffling trumpet, flughelhorn
Mini Schulz double bass
Jens Düppe drums, percussion
