Artist: Leah Kline

Date of Release: 13/05/2007

Catalogue no: THP 2-256

Label: Theatrics/Hi5 Records

Price: £12

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Track Listing

Appearances by

Dirk Balthaus

Juzz Flirtin is a cd with mainly original compositions by Léah Kline and Dirk Balthaus. Their lyrical melodies flirt with different genres: jazz, funk, Latin and Brazilian styles. But Juzz Flirtin' also recorded an exciting version of a Pat Metheny composition, 'Minuano'. The result is a very synergetic group of musicians who love to play music that touches the heart, triggers the brain gets you movin'.

Reviews

10/05/2007 Jazzflits, NL

Léah Kline
Juzz Flirtin
Theatrics/Hi5 records

‘Juzz Flirtin’ is the exceptionally listenable result of a rendezvous between vocalist Léah Kline and pianist/composer Dirk Balthaus. A meeting that caused musical sparks. Her lyrics inspired his music and vice versa. It’s obvious to hear that the American Léah Kline, who lives in the Netherlands since 2000, has her roots in the theater (singing, dancing and cabaret). Her narrating qualities are impressive and inviting. The playing of the band (Dirk Balthaus piano, Cord Heineking doublebass, Sebastiaan Kaptein drums and Yuchi Cordoba percussion) perfectly supports this. Even in the musical accompaniment the “story telling” is emphasized. Ingenious arrangements, intentionally intense intermezzos and playful solos give the numbers extra cachet and support the lyrics in an all round excellent manner. Kline is a vocalist of scale. Out of many examples, the vulnerably sung “Minuano’ (music Pat Metheny, lyrics Kurt Elling), is proof of this fact. She possesses a good diction, a beautiful alto timbre, feel for dynamics and timing plus an excellent technique. The Cd consists of numbers in up-tempo and swing but also ballads and jazzy arranged, more or less theatrically colored titles with funk and Latin influences. A not to miss flirt! (Frank Huser)

Published in Jazzflits year 5, number 10 (2007)
© Frank A. Huser

08/05/2007 MUSICMAKER, NL

LEAH KLINE
JUZZ FLIRTIN
Theatrics Productions / www.juzzflirtin.com
Recording and mix: Peter Riebeek, Roel Verberk,
Studio 150, Amsterdam. Mastering: Zlaya
An acoustic jazz band that plays pop songs, is the best way to describe JuzzFlirtin. Fortunately they’ve found a sound that’s considerable more raw than most of the jazz/pop fusion attempts of the last years. He who expects cozy, pop tinted, by the fire jazz à la Norah Jones will come away unsatisfied. The solid rhythm section consists of a well-recorded double bass, acoustic piano, drums and an additional percussionist. Keyboarder and arranger Dirk Balthaus laid down in the studio here and there nice dirty organs and Rhodes-parts, and Kline grabbed also the opportunity to dub in backing-vocals and doubled some of the leads. The purist listener might not value the astronomy course sounding out in the lyrics: Wizards, lightning, darkness, ‘synergy’, ‘matter’ and a parallel universe race by. And there is talk of a potion red and white. ‘All I have left is headache severe (…) Where is the wizard?’ Sounds just like a hangover after a night of drugs and alcohol. Rock & Roll!

Gerben van Nazareth, MUSICMAKER, June 2007