Lisa Ekdahl is a uniquely distinctive and versatile singer, with five successful and critically acclaimed albums released across the world to date. She has covered a dynamic range of vocal expression, from chart-topping Swedish pop albums to intimate jazz recordings. Now Lisa Ekdahl embarks on an elegant new musical progression with a collection of mellow, bittersweet songs in her latest album ‘Lisa Ekdahl sings Salvadore Poe’. It was rush-released across Scandinavia and France on October 3...
Lisa Ekdahl is a uniquely distinctive and versatile singer, with five successful and critically acclaimed albums released across the world to date. She has covered a dynamic range of vocal expression, from chart-topping Swedish pop albums to intimate jazz recordings. Now Lisa Ekdahl embarks on an elegant new musical progression with a collection of mellow, bittersweet songs in her latest album ‘Lisa Ekdahl sings Salvadore Poe’. It was rush-released across Scandinavia and France on October 30 2000, and the UK will launch a Rest of World album release date next March 5th, 2001. Lisa is greatly inspired by many classic performers of the twentieth century including legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday and the laid-back West Coast Cool of trumpeter/singer Chet Baker. In both these cases, it is their personal vocal styles and musical phrasing that particularly engages her and, with Chet Baker, the contemplative, languid tones which infuse his recordings. Ms. Ekdahl’s music career began from her late teens, performing in Stockholm’s jazz clubs with the renowned Peter Nordhahl Trio. Drawing in an enthusiastic crowd, the group grew in popularity whilst concurrently, Lisa began to write her own Swedish material. In 1994, Lisa’s recording career began its first auspicious step when an EMI producer overseeing a background vocals session was so captivated by her voice that he instantly signed her to EMI. Her eponymous debut Lisa Ekdahl was an immediate hit with both public and media. It reached Number One in the Swedish charts, transforming Lisa into a musical superstar in her home country, Denmark and the other Scandinavian countries. Selling over half a million copies, the album remained at the top of the charts for several weeks and achieved Platinum sales status six times over, winning her three Swedish-equivalent Brit awards including Best Female Artist. Lisa’s subsequent BMG-recorded albums (Med Kroppen Mot Jorden and Bortom Det Blå) continued her remarkable chart success. Her sudden fame found Lisa’s occasional jazz club dates with the Peter Nordahl Trio flooded with hundreds of pop fans. A year later, Ms. Ekdahl’s recording career developed a new musical path when Lisa and the Trio recorded an album of popular jazz standards for a limited edition private commission. However, Lisa and the Trio felt it was strong enough for an international record release through BMG. In 1998 Lisa recorded a follow-up album of more classic standards Back to Earth with the Peter Nordahl trio. It rapidly expanded Lisa’s fan base in France, leading to album sales of over 40,000 units in that country alone. In Britain, Lisa also emerged as an up-and-coming star to watch upon making her live debut in London at the acclaimed Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho. Her week-long engagement was sold out, with over two hundred people clamouring for returns on her final date. “Lisa has a voice as angelic as her face”, praised The Telegraph. “We love you baby”, exclaimed the Guardian. After a break from the music business and subsequent marriage to New York composer Salvadore Poe, Lisa went back to the studio in March to record a new album. Lisa and Salvadore discovered that they both shared an immense sympathy for Latin Jazz and Bossa Nova music, so it was only a matter of time before this led to a studio collaboration on Lisa’s next recording project. Lisa Ekdahl sings Salvadore Poe marks a sophisticated development to a laid back, retro, ‘loungey’ feel, partnered with poignant, bittersweet lyrics. Poe composed the songs for Lisa, tailoring each song to her vocal style to create an alluring musical chemistry. “It all falls into place”, comments Lisa about her journey from Scandinavian pop icon to jazz diva to her latest foray into the languid moods of Bossa Nova. Feeling very comfortable with the music Lisa adds, “this is the type of album I’ve always wanted to make; it’s been like a dream to record such wonderful music”.
