There is no other performer on the jazz scene quite like Gunhild Carling. It is not enough that she is able to sing in several different styles (from Billie Holiday to Cab Calloway) and is a hot soloist on both trombone and trumpet. She also dances, plays harmonica, harp, recorder, flute, ukulele, theremin, and even bagpipes, and is a talented composer and arranger.
On her latest recording, Jazz Is My Lifestyle, she performs 11 of her originals with a big band that includes 13 horns, talented family members (daughter Idun Carling on trombone, her son Viggo Blomé on drums, and her husband Johan Blomé on banjo), a few guests including trumpeter Scotty Barnhart, and occasionally the Prague Strings Chamber Orchestra.
Starting with the title cut (which uses the chord changes of “The Saints”), this is a consistently joyful set. Along the way Gunhild Carling plays some very expressive trumpet with her plunger mute over “Sing Sing Sing”-type rhythms on “Shaking The Bangkok,” sings with warmth while playing harp on “I Desire You,” plays impressive high notes on the trombone on “Chanson,” leads some dixielandish ensembles on “Mardi Gras Blues,” and hints at Ella Fitzgerald’s phrasing on “You Are The Music.”
Jazz Is My Lifestyle is a delight and filled with surprises.
Jazz Is My Lifestyle
Gunhild Carling
Jazz Art
www.carlingjazz.com
