Jazz vocalist Mie Joké’s 2018 release Etrenne is a fun and fancy swing jazz outing, a fresh throwback to classic vocal jazz recordings. Like the best of jazz lover’s disks, this collection hits the mark with a great selection of familiar jazz standards performed with a loving touch.
Vocalist Joké purrs atop her jazz group with a confident grace, a breathy tank of soulful emotion and romance. Her solidly swinging jazz combos feature accomplished veteran musicians, with a different group performing for “Side A” and “Side B of the recording as if on a classic jazz vinyl LP.
The music is done right, with an honest, straight-ahead vision, swinging and sliding through jazz standards like “Cheek to Cheek”, “Fly Me To The Moon”, and “Caravan” with tender authenticity. Aside from jazz, a few bonus pop songs add to the variety with “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “Still Crazy After All These Years.”
Etrenne by Mie Joké
Mie Joké - vocal
Tsuyoshi Yamamoto - piano (tr. #1-5)
Hiroshi Kagawa - bass (tr. #1-5)
Toshio Osumi - drums (tr. #1-5)
Koji Goto - piano (tr. #6-11)
Satsuki Kusui - bass (tr. #6-11)
Akira Yamada - drums (tr. #6-11)
Wataru Hamasaki - sax, flute (tr. #6-11)
Released in 2018 on Ultra Art Record as UA-1001.
Japanese names: Mie Joké 情家みえ Tsuyoshi Yamamoto 山本剛 Hiroshi Kagawa 香川裕史 Toshio Osumi 大隅寿男 Koji Goto 後藤浩二 Satsuki Kusui 楠井五月 Akira Yamada 山田玲 Wataru Hamasaki 浜崎航
Audio and Video
Excerpt from "Cheek To Cheek", the first track on this album: