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Anna Mjoll @ Herb Alpert's Vibrato - Almost sold out!

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"Icelandic jazz vocalist Anna Mjöll has developed a considerable buzz in L.A. selling out two nights of recent weekend shows at Vibrato." —Tom Meek, LA Jazz.com

Icelandic Jazz Singing Sensation ANNA MJOLL will be performing live at HERB ALPERT's VIBRATO January 29th, 2011.

MJOLL will perform with The amazing PAT SENATORE TRIO, consisting of Pat Senatore on bass, ED CZACH on piano and Bob Leatherbarrow on drums.

This is an event not to be missed by any real Jazz enthusiast and Music lover.

As chances are, like Mjoll's past concerts at Vibrato, this one will sell out fast, timely reservations are strongly recommended: 310.474.9400.

Herb Alpert's Vibrato
2930 Beverly Glen Circle
Bel Air, CA 90077-1724

Saturday, January 29th, 2011. 9pm

Reservations: 310.474.9400

“Anytime you can sip a drink in a cool jazz club and be close to an excellent combo fronted by an excellent singer... who scats—life is good."

“ Do yourself a favor and catch her now, at an intimate small club, before she breaks out into larger venues." —Charles Andrews, Music Forums Moderator, HomeTheaterSpot.com

“lightly twisted, jazzy..." —Los Angeles Times

By Arnaldo DeSouteiro , Jazz Station

“Someone recently referred to Anna's new CD, recorded in California and mixed in Reykjavik, as “a must have by the sweetest woman and singer this side of Iceland!" I must add: a must have by the sweetest voice in the current jazz scene. Period."

“Shadow..." features the LA-based Icelandic jazz diva surrounded by an all-star band led by her lucky arranger/producer/guitarist Ólafur Gaukur: drummers Vinnie Colaiuta (the current drummer's drummer all over the world) & John “JR" Robinson (Quincy Jones' favorite drummer ever, with Micahel Jackson's “Thriller" on his impressive discography), bassists Dave Carpenter & Neil Stubenhaus, keyboardist Don Grusin and percussionist Luis Conte, whom I first met when he was playing on Madonna's “Blond Ambition" tour. In some tracks—"I Get A Kick Out ofv You," “C'est Si Bon" and “Fever" -,

After repeated listenings, “Shadow..." evokes me memories of Peggy Lee, Astrud Gilberto and specially Blossom Dearie. Anyway, despite all these mentioned references echoing on my mind, Anna Mjoll sounds like her own woman, capable to enchant and fascinate the listener with highly personal interpretations of top-class songs. The rhythm section changes on Johnny Mandel's classic “The Shadow of Your Smile," but once again Anna's approach is unique and amazing, intertwined with Ólafur Gaukur's 12-string acoustic guitar a la Luiz Bonfa.

She knows how to caress a melody and seduce the listener, like happens throughout the album. Another highlight, “Fever," firstly made famous by Peggy Lee and later revived by Madonna, is a singing lesson in the sense of how to make each and every word sound with the proper impact and feeling.

Don Grusin's piano floats in perfect empathy with Anna's milky vocals on Burt Bacharach's “The Look of Love." Don't lose your time trying to compare her with Dionne Warwick or Diana Krall. Mjoll's once again sounds ultra-peculiar.

A latin-tinged arrangement of the French classic “C'est Si Bon" follows, featuring the horn section and Conte on percussion. Anna's sounds, to use French words, “coquette et sensuel." A beautiful original by Gaukur, “Saman Bú Og Ég" (the composer solos on the electric guitar while backing himself on the 12-string acoustic guitar), and two Antonio Carlos Jobim tunes complete the repertoire. The arangements includes a lovely guitar-wordless vocal solo section. Her phrasing would make Jobim proud.

A surprising mood also envolves “Água de Beber," sung in Portuguese. Both Jobim songs, also appear as bonus tracks on Icelandic versions written by the multi-talented Gaukur.

“Shadow of Your Smile" is by far one of the best vocal jazz releases of 2009. Gifted with an abysmal potential, no one can accuse Anna Mjoll's of musical compliance. This wondrous girl (all the great booklet pics were shot on location in Iceland by Ess) knows how to take chances.

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