Léah Kline offered seductive variety with her voice.

“Juzzflirtin” was the name of the band who made a guest appearance on Friday evening in the Lörracher Jazztone. The name sounds erotic and didn’t promise too much either. This five member band formed around pianist Dirk Balthaus flirted musically with a whole lot of styles, which they connected into a sensuous whole. Each piece displayed jazz naturally as well as large portions of Latin rhythms, funk grooves and pop melodies. In the middle of this 24 karat sounding band stood the singer Léah Kline with her marvelous Alto voice. The American living-in-Amsterdam, whose roots were with theatre and musical, and who wrote also most of the song lyrics, told stories in an expressive and feeling-stressed manner. The music of “Juzzflirtin” was very much rhythm-oriented. This reflected the formation of the band, because beside the Drummer Sebastiaan Kaptein, who laid down a loosely groovin’ Beat, there was also Percussionist Yuchi C—rdoba who provided the rhythmic basis. With play-joy and passion these two complemented each other in the best way. Additionally, Cord Heineking at the Contrabass was actively into the Grove, at times with a loose Swing, at times with a thick Funk. Dirk Balthaus, as Bandleader and a composer of numerous songs, was with his bright, dynamic and light-handed playing on the grand piano not only a marvelous companion for Léah Kline’s singing, but also a Storyteller of his own class.

The musical range of “Juzzflirtin” was astonishing. Classical jazz numbers, which the singer inspired with perfect technique and phrasing, stood beside Latin American pieces, which came over merrily, and nearly danceable. Beautiful ballads like “I am a butterfly” showed the expressive variety of Léah Klines voice, while Dirk Balthaus eased out deeply felt dynamic arches and Cord Heineking sparkled with a fascinating bass-solo. The singer and the musicians succeeded again a deep feeling and urgency in Pat Methenys “Minuano”.

With ” I just want somebody to talk to” in the program, a catchy mainstream – hit parade – like number, they showed they had no fear of contact with pop music either. A completely different side appeared with “The Wizard”, an expressionistic music piece over the after effects of a night of carousing. With her expression-strong performance Léah Kline proved here exceptionally clearly her theatre experience and gave in the center section a speech singing, which was vaguely reminiscent of Laurie Anderson. Then on to a heavy groove number like the one about the sheep skin disguised wolves of the American west coast with their exaggerated but insincere friendliness – a piece with a recurring theme, which was quite nearly a Rock riff

.An erotic and exciting, diverse and musically refined offering.
” Juzzflirtin” a wonderful concert!

Author: Thomas Loisl Mink

With an exceptional (and) sensual voice Léah Kline charmed a full house at the “Taraxacum” Invited by concert promoter Karl-Heinz KrŸger she starred with German pianist Dirk Balthaus as “JuzzFlirtin” in Leer. Their music moves between Jazz, Funk and Latin. It is supported by percussion instruments as well as by piano sounds. Especially because of the singing of the American the compositions seemed to reach higher spheres. Next to own pieces Balthaus and Kline interpreted together with their fellow musicians also instrumental covers from Jazz giants like Pat Metheny. Kline added lyrics (by Kurt Elling) and made the song her own. She made the air tremble, a sultry atmosphere provided the right mood for flirting. The program’s title. The visitors were fascinated by the expressive presence of the attractive singer whose voice is reminiscent a bit of Sade. © Februar 2008

LEER / KAE – Mit einer außergewöhnlich lasziven, sinnlichen Stimme verführte Léah Kline rund 90 Besucher im “Taraxacum”. Auf Einladung von Konzertveranstalter Karl-Heinz Krüger gastierte sie mit dem deutschen Pianisten Dirk Balthaus als “JuzzFlirtin” in Leer. Zwischen Jazz, Funk und Latin ist ihre Musik angesiedelt, die von Percussioninstrumenten ebenso wie von Pianoklängen getragen wird. Die Kompositionen schienen jedoch vor allem durch den Gesang der Amerikanerin in höheren Sphären zu schweben. Neben eigenen Stücken interpretierten Balthaus und Kline gemeinsam mit ihren hochkarätigen Begleitmusikern auch Instrumentaltitel von anderen Jazzgrüßen wie Pat Metheny. Kline ergänzte diese durch Fremdtexte und drückte ihren eigenen Stempel mit viel Gefühl auf. So brachte sie die Luft zum Flirren, eine schwüle Atmosphäre schaffte die richtige Stimmung zum Flirten. Der Name ist Programm. Die Besucher waren fasziniert von der ausdrucksstarken Präsenz der attraktiven Sängerin, die mit ihrer Stimme ein bißchen an Sade erinnert.

Friday evening, is “jazz club time” in the Lalu – a date, which creates high expectations. And the faithful fans of this club were not disappointed. Again Jobst Walter Dietz had proven his steady hand in getting very special something to come to Hameln with JuzzFlirtin: a German-American formation stood on the stage, which cannot be pressed into a specific category. Dirk Balthaus, pianist and musical leader created and presented a voluminous music program. Its compositions flirted with the listeners and with the most diverse of styles and directions. Included were classical jazz y numbers like “Orange Blossoms in Summertime” and “The Wizard”. This last one had the addition of Caribbean percussion and hurricane-like sounds. At the beginning of this number Percussion and bass joined in for the initial “storm” and before one could blink, Yuchi Córdoba and Etienne Nillessen played themselves into a true intoxication. The duel between Drums and Percussions was a fireworks display expressing the joy of two full blooded musicians. They pulled along the others in such a way that the bass, by Cord Heineking, began to dance. Even if in most numbers the piano with its bright tones was in the foreground, the secret star Yuchi Córdoba shined. He played the atmosphere parts with not only Bongos and Congas but with a multiplicity of other instruments as well.

With poetic and audacious lyrics

the star in the footlights was the singer Léah Kline. The American made the evening complete emitting radiance and perfection in her expression and voice . She did not only sing of it, She was “The Voice”. She and Dirk Balthaus demonstrated blind trust and understanding not only in their presentation, but also in the creation of the music. Léah Kline is marvelously poetic and brazen in the creation of her charming lyrics, which tempted us again and again to fully concentrate and enjoy listening to the rhythm. It is just a shame that many jazz friends had obviously underestimated this concert – such high-quality international live music does not come knocking daily at your doorstep.

© Dewezet 24. Februar 2008 15:48

… Da gab es mit “Orange Blossoms in Summertime” klassische Jazznummern, aber auch karibische Hurrikans wie “The Wizard”. Zu Beginn dieser Nummer stimmten Percussions und Bass auf den sich anbahnenden Sturm ein und ehe man sich versah, spielten sich Yuchi Córdoba und Etienne Nillesen in einen wahren Rausch. Das Duell zwischen Drums und Percussions war ein Feuerwerk der Spielfreude zweier Vollblutmusiker, das die anderen so mitzog, dass der Bass mit Cord Heineking zu tanzen begann.
Auch wenn in den meisten Nummern das Piano mit seinen hellen Tönen im Vordergrund stand, so war der heimliche Star Yuchi Córdoba, der neben seinen Bongos mit einer Vielzahl weiterer Instrumente mehr als nur den Hintergrundpart verdient hatte.

Mit poetischen und frechen Texten

Der Star im Rampenlicht war die Sängerin Léah Kline. Die Amerikanerin machte mit ihrer Ausstrahlung und der Perfektion in Ausdruck und Stimme den Abend zu einem Genuss. Sie sang nicht nur davon, sie war “The Voice”. Blindes Verstehen demonstrierten sie und Dirk Balthaus nicht nur in der Darbietung, sondern auch in der Entstehung der Musik. Léah Kline ist es, die diese wunderbar poetischen und frech daherkommenden Texte zauberte, die einen bei allem Spaß am Rhythmus immer wieder zum konzentrierten Zuhören verleiteten. Schade nur, dass viele Jazzfreunde dieses Konzert offensichtlich unterschätzt hatten – solch hochwertige internationale Livemusik gibt es nicht alle Tage direkt vor der Haustür.
© Dewezet 24. Februar 2008 15:48