Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Dalia Faitelson: As The World Sleeps

6

Dalia Faitelson: As The World Sleeps

By

Sign in to view read count
Dalia Faitelson: As The World Sleeps
Danish, Israeli-born vocalist-songwriter and guitarist Dalia Faitelson calls her new collection of original songs—all born in the still, dark hours of night, the times that dreams are born—"a kinky jazz salute to Marlene Dietrich." In a way, Faitelson, like Dietrich, reinvents herself. Leaving aside her world music project Pilpel to acknowledge the formative influence of songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Tom Waits, but channeling such influences through an intimate, cool acoustic jazz setting.

Faitelson is accompanied by a core group comprised of double bassist Thommy Andersson, percussionist Lisbeth Diers and the Tajj String Quartet from Serbia. Engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug of the famed Rainbow studio in Oslo mixed and mastered the album and beautifully captured a warm, introspective sound.

Nine songs highlight Faitelson's sensual, clear delivery on these evocative song-stories, embraced by a gentle and fragile envelope of strings and light percussive sounds. On the most appealing songs she forsakes this format and introduces newer sounds to this reserved setting, with light African touches on "Speculations," the tempting-smoky jazz setting on "Dance It Right," ornamented with West-African kora; and the whispering trumpet of Gunnar Halle that intensifies the intimate atmosphere of "Forsaken Destiny."

Two songs shine above all, in an enigmatic manner. The pair refer to personal history and Faitelson's image of herself— her solo, introspective "Scars of Silence," accompanied only by her guitar, in which she tells the story of a silent relationship, and the dramatic, Middle-Eastern-tinged "Secretive Soul."

Track Listing

The Faithful Night & I; A View of a Man; Speculations; Dance It Right; No Regrets; Scars of Silence; Forsaken Destiny; Round the World; Secretive Soul.

Personnel

Dalia Faitelson: vocal, guitar; Thommy Andersson: bass, string arrangements; Tajj String Quartet; Lisbeth Diers: percussion; Tahir Dalager (Tatrix): human beat-box; Gunnar Halle: trumpet (7, 9); Dawda Jobarteh: kora (4); Anders Banke: bass clarinet, flute, baritone sax (4, 9); Ayi Solomon: percussion (4).

Album information

Title: As The World Sleeps | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Self Produced

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
View events near Copenhagen
Jazz Near Copenhagen
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.