KRISTIN KORB

SWEET DREAMS

Giant Sheep Music

Kristin Korb, bass/vocals/arranger; Magnus Hjorth, piano; Snorre Kirk, drums; Mathias Heise, chromatic harmonica; Kari-Martin Almqvist, tenor saxophone; Steen Nikolaj Hansen, trombone; Yohan Ramon, percussion.

This album is fresh, creative, and completely entertaining.  Kristin Korb brings her project to the world, like a specially wrapped and carefully packaged holiday gift.  What a wonderful idea to create jazz arrangements for Eurythmics’ tunes.  Kristin explained her vision.

“I began by diving into the Eurythmics catalog, seeking material spanning their entire career.  I also asked my fans for their favorite tunes, resulting in a very long list. To narrow it down, I read each lyric separately from the music.  Even if the title looked cool, or I had vague memories of what the story was, I wanted to ensure that the stories resonated with my adult self.  With headphones on, I took long walks in the forest, listening over and over to each piece and letting my mind wander through the soundscape. …Coming home, I made sketches of the melodies and basic chords.  That was the last time I listened to the original versions. I still read through the lyrics, but I didn’t want any more musical influences around me,” Korb described how she got started rearranging the soul/pop music of the Eurythmics.

The awesome thing about Kristin Korb is her ability to pump the double bass, keep the time, lock the tempo in with the drummer, and add her improvisational magic, while she competently sings her songs.

Korb’s original bass lines introduce the huge Eurythmics hit record “Sweet Dreams.”  It’s also the title of Korb’s latest album. I appreciate Korb’s creative arrangement, growing the tune from simplicity to an intensity that’s captivating. The tenor saxophone of Swedish musician, Kari-Martin Almqvist adds an impressive jazz solo to the mix. In the background, after Korb sings the tune down one time, she adds layered background vocals underneath the saxophone solo. This arrangement brings back the music of the 1980s and the powerhouse presence of Annie Lennox, who made this song a pop/rock standard, transformed by Kristin Korb who refurbishes it. Korb’s rendition presents it as a strong jazz arrangement.

“Sweet Dreams” is more than just a tribute album.  Although it features some of the Eurythmics’ greatest hits, it also spotlights the classic beauty and talents of Kristin Korb.  She’s an excellent bass musician, as well as a competent arranger with a crystal-clear vocal style.

Her handpicked songs celebrate the British pop duo formed in 1980 made up of Scottish vocalist Annie Lennox and multi-talented musician, producer, songwriter, Dave Stewart. Their music was a contemporary blend of synthesized pop, rock and soul music. Somehow the transition of their music into the realm of jazz makes perfect sense when Korb sings and plays her arrangements. Another song she includes is “Sister’s Are Doing It for Themselves.” Although things are changing, I remember several years ago when Kristin Korb was playing the jazz circuit in California and paying her dues. Perhaps this Eurythmics song is reflecting her own statement as a female jazz musician in a sometimes male dominated world.

Formerly, a member of the Southern California jazz community and an educator at University of Southern California and Central Washington University, Korb earned her Music Education degree at Eastern Montana College and her masters in Classical Bass Performance at the University of California, San Diego.  At UCSD, her professor, Bertram Turetzky, inspired her to sing and play bass simultaneously.  She has polished that talent to a diamond status.  Kristin formerly studied with jazz legend Ray Brown. He was the mentor that gave Kristin her first recording opportunity, debuting her talents in 1996 with the record, “Introducing Kristin Korb.”

She has released nine albums and currently resides in Denmark with her Danish husband.  Korb was recently in town to promote her new album and appeared at the popular Campus JAX club with Peter Erskine on drums,  Andy Langham at the piano and Bob Shepperd on saxophone.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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