Viktoria Tolstoy - Letters To Herbie (2011/2012) [Official Digital Download]

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Viktoria Tolstoy - Letters To Herbie (2011/2012) [Official Digital Download]

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Viktoria Tolstoy - Letters To Herbie (2011/2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/44,1 kHz | Time - 57:19 minutes | 669 MB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Artwork: Digital booklet

ACT's star Viktoria Tolstoy has recorded 12 songs for (and in most cases by) Herbie Hancock. With "Letters to Herbie" Tolstoy was faced with a tough choice. Her smart decision was not to pick the biggest hits, such as "Cantaloupe Island" or "Watermelon Man", which have already been covered too often. Her choice of songs fits together perfectly, although the selection covers Hancocks different musical eras.

The focus is largely on the songs of his funky 80s era, with selections such as "I Thought It Was You" or "Give It All Your Heart", but classics are also included Hancocks "Butterfly" or Coltranes "Naima", of which Hancock recorded a thrilling version in 2002. Whether its ballads like "Chans Song", or groovy pieces like the bonus track "Come On, Come Over", Tolstoys versions sound timeless, neither artificial nor deliberately, ostentatiously modern. All of them are carried by Viktorias voice, which gives the music a special touch with its incredible clarity and imaginativeness. The overall effect also has a lot to do with the wonderfully attuned band, particularly Nils Landgren. As well as producing the album and playing the trombone, he wrote the title song himself and sings it with Tolstoy and Magnus Lindgren, telling the story of Viktorias encounter with Hancock. Tolstoys longstanding pianist, Jacob Karlzon.