Denmark bassist Kristin Korb’s new album, Sweet Dreams, was released on October 25. This album is fresh, creative, and completely entertaining. Kristin Korb brings her project to the world, like a specially wrapped and carefully packaged holiday gift. What a wonderful idea to create jazz arrangements for Eurythmics’ tunes. Kristin explained her vision.
Korb, who rearranged the songs of the iconic British pop band Eurythmics and approached them with her own musical touch, managed to create a lively and dynamic texture in this album.
In the album, Korb is accompanied by very important musicians of the Scandinavian jazz scene, including Magnus Hjorth on piano and Snorre Kirk on drums. In addition, the multi-awarded Mathias Heise, who creates a colorful touch on the harmonica, Karl-Martin Almqvist on the saxophone, Steen Nikolaj Hansen on the trombone and Yohan Ramon on percussion. In the album, which includes 12 songs, the unity and harmony of the rhythm section is especially felt.
“I began by diving into the Eurythmics catalog, seeking material spanning their entire career. I also asked my fans for their favorite tunes, resulting in a very long list. To narrow it down, I read each lyric separately from the music. Even if the title looked cool, or I had vague memories of what the story was, I wanted to ensure that the stories resonated with my adult self. With headphones on, I took long walks in the forest, listening over and over to each piece and letting my mind wander through the soundscape. …Coming home, I made sketches of the melodies and basic chords. That was the last time I listened to the original versions. I still read through the lyrics, but I didn’t want any more musical influences around me,” Korb described how she got started rearranging the soul/pop music of the Eurythmics. This album is one big hug. We recorded the trio and most of my vocals live with the horns in the studio. You can hear the difference when everyone is in the same space at the same time. You hear the joy and the friendship from beginning to end,- an interview with us said Kristin Korb.
The album starts with Sweet Dreams, one of Eurythmics’ most popular songs; The song, which starts out dynamic enough to match the original, deepens with Karl-Martin Almqvist’s solo on the saxophone. In the song There Must Be An Angel, which originally featured Stevie Wonder’s harmonica solo, Mathias Heise on harmonica played one of the most striking solos of the album with her own voice and innovative approach.
In the song Here Comes The Rain Again, which turned into a ballad in the album, Korb successfully expressed the intense emotions of the piece to the listener in the double bass solo that came after Karl-Martin Almqvist’s solo on the saxophone. The trade made by Korb, who created another timbral richness with her scat solos in the song We Two Are One, and the master musician Steen Nikolaj Hansen on the trombone, added a dynamic unity to the piece.
In the song When Tomorrow Comes, Magnus Hjorth’s sensitive, soft approach to the piece on the piano, with whom Korb shared the same stage for many years, further revealed the powerful effect of the piece. The songs that follow are Sisters are Doin’ It For Themselves, I Saved The World Today, I’ve Got A Life, Don’t Let It Bring You Down, Would I Lie To You, Put A Little Love On Your Heart and the last song of the album.
Lifted, a song of hope, which turns into a collective improvisation with the participation of brass players, where everyone comes together with a single breath and a single feeling…
In order to create such an album masterfully, it is necessary to have listened to Eurythmics’ songs for years and loved them very much. Korb’s approach to songs, preserving their essence and revealing them with different colors, is due to the fact that these songs have a special place in my heart. A wonderful album recorded with master musicians that will brighten your day!
The awesome thing about Kristin Korb is her ability to pump the double bass, keep the time, lock the tempo in with the drummer, and add her improvisational magic, while she competently sings her songs.
Korb’s original bass lines introduce the huge Eurythmics hit record “Sweet Dreams.” It’s also the title of Korb’s latest album. I appreciate Korb’s creative arrangement, growing the tune from simplicity to an intensity that’s captivating. The tenor saxophone of Swedish musician, Kari-Martin Almqvist adds an impressive jazz solo to the mix. In the background, after Korb sings the tune down one time, she adds layered background vocals underneath the saxophone solo. This arrangement brings back the music of the 1980s and the powerhouse presence of Annie Lennox, who made this song a pop/rock standard, transformed by Kristin Korb who refurbishes it. Korb’s rendition presents it as a strong jazz arrangement.
“Sweet Dreams” is more than just a tribute album. Although it features some of the Eurythmics’ greatest hits, it also spotlights the classic beauty and talents of Kristin Korb. She’s an excellent bass musician, as well as a competent arranger with a crystal-clear vocal style.
Her handpicked songs celebrate the British pop duo formed in 1980 made up of Scottish vocalist Annie Lennox and multi-talented musician, producer, songwriter, Dave Stewart. Their music was a contemporary blend of synthesized pop, rock and soul music. Somehow the transition of their music into the realm of jazz makes perfect sense when Korb sings and plays her arrangements. Another song she includes is “Sister’s Are Doing It for Themselves.” Although things are changing, I remember several years ago when Kristin Korb was playing the jazz circuit in California and paying her dues. Perhaps this Eurythmics song is reflecting her own statement as a female jazz musician in a sometimes male dominated world.
Formerly, a member of the Southern California jazz community and an educator at University of Southern California and Central Washington University, Korb earned her Music Education degree at Eastern Montana College and her masters in Classical Bass Performance at the University of California, San Diego. At UCSD, her professor, Bertram Turetzky, inspired her to sing and play bass simultaneously. She has polished that talent to a diamond status. Kristin formerly studied with jazz legend Ray Brown. He was the mentor that gave Kristin her first recording opportunity, debuting her talents in 1996 with the record, “Introducing Kristin Korb.”
She has released nine albums and currently resides in Denmark with her Danish husband. Korb was recently in town to promote her new album and appeared at the popular Campus JAX club with Peter Erskine on drums, Andy Langham at the piano and Bob Shepperd on saxophone.
We recommend that you definitely get this CD and enjoy it. By the way, you can do it from here as well.
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