Jazz Articles about Kurt Elling

Kurt Elling: The Messenger

by Jim Santella
July 1, 1997

Kurt Elling is different. He rants. In the liners, the singer defines the term to mean “improvising both the melody and lyrics simultaneously." With saxophonist Ed Peterson conversin', Elling shouts unrelated words and phrases as they pop into his mind. “Icebergs." “Viruses." “Planets." “Ice cream." Peterson is improvising, Elling is shouting, and he is also crooning traces of melodic lines around and through the conversation. Add piano, bass, and drums to this demonstration, and you have the quirkiness of Kurt ...