Articles

Beat Kaestli: Collage

by C. Michael Bailey
February 14, 2014

Swiss singer/composer/producer Beat Kaestli has four recordings as a leader since 2002. All are intelligently focused. Reasons (B&B Productions, 2002), Happy, Sad, and Satisfied (B&B Productions, 2005), Far from Home: A Tribute of European Song (B&B Productions, 2009) and Invitation (Chesky, 2010). Far From Home and Invitation are the most sharply focused, the former addressing European song and the later, the American Songbook. Kaestli possesses a sublimely sweet voice, one that Chet Baker would have coveted. But that is old ...

Beat Kaestli: Happy, Sad and Satisfied

by William Grim
January 24, 2006

Happy, Sad and Satisfied is the very nice second album by Swiss-born and New York-based singer Beat Kaestli, who boasts a pleasant tenor voice, impeccable diction and pitch, and a real rhythmic flair.

His arrangements are also very impressive. “Summertime" is presented starkly, with with only congas and Fender Rhodes accompaniment. Starting very slowly, Kaestli and company unexpectedly go into double time at the end. An up-tempo “You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" features a harmonically ...