Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Soesja Citroen: Don't Cry Baby

Soesja Citroen: Don't Cry Baby

By Tracey Nolan
May 9, 2006
View read count

Great songwriters are not always great singers. While Soesja Citroen has the ability to create a sense of intimacy with her voice, it is not a great instrument. Her songs however, are captivating.

Citroen struggles with intonation and pitch. Her shortcomings are most obvious when she stays in her upper register, which is thin and often shrill. Despite her inadequacies as a vocalist, Citroen tells these stories expertly and evocatively. She is, after all, in the unique position of knowing who the characters in her stories really are. The ballads "Love Can't Be All Fun and "Last September are fine examples of Citroen's best storytelling. Tucked among the thoughtful ballads is the cute novelty tune "Song for You, which would be at home in a Blossom Dearie's set at Danny's Skylight Room.

"The Samba Calls affords the opportunity for pianist Berend van den Berg and bassist Ruud Ouwenhand a chance to stretch out a little bit on a rhythmic yet moody interlude. They provide capable, gentle support throughout.

At her best, Citroen is all elegant whimsy, but at her worst her vocals can be aggressively grating. You can hear both Citroens on Don't Cry Baby.

Track Listing

Just Another Man; Out Of The Blue; Don

Personnel

Soesja Citroen

vocals

Soesja Citroen: vocals; Ruud Ouwehand: bass; Berend van den Berg: piano; Miriam Kroeze: cello.

Album information

Title: Don't Cry Baby | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Allegro Music

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Flute On The Edge
< Previous

Rudresh Mahanthappa
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make 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.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves 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.