KARIN KROG — Raindrops, Raindrops (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Over the years, many different subjects have been debated in the jazz world. One of them has to do with whether or not someone who grows up speaking a language other than English can be an effective jazz vocalist -- some argue that only those who grow up in English-speaking countries should sing jazz. But truth be told, there are plenty of European vocalists who grew up speaking Swedish, German, Italian, Dutch, or French and have no problem singing jazz in excellent English (a language that many Europeans learn to speak fluently at an early age). Although Karin Krog was born in Oslo and grew up in a country where Norwegian is the primary language, she is a shining example of how effectively a Scandinavian vocalist can sing English-language jazz. Raindrops, Raindrops, a best-of CD that spans 1966-1985, paints a consistently attractive picture of Krog's artistry. Assembled by a German label called Crippled Dick Hot Wax, this collection shows Krog to be an adventurous, risk-taking improviser who brings an intriguing variety of influences to the table -- Sheila Jordan, Betty Carter, and Jeanne Lee have affected her work, but so have less abstract vocalists like Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington. Krog favors an inside/outside approach (usually more inside than outside), and the Norwegian improviser is as convincing on Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage" as she is on Michel Legrand's "I'll Wait for You" and Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight." The latter is a most pleasant surprise; instead of embracing the famous Bernie Hanighen lyrics, Krog unearths a lesser-known set of lyrics that Babs Gonzales recorded in 1956. Raindrops, Raindrops isn't the last word on Krog's contributions to vocal jazz, but for novices, it would be an excellent starting point. Alex Henderson  
Tracklist :
1.  Meaning Of Love 5:05
Bass [Electric] – Steve Swallow
Drums, Percussion – Jon Christensen
Keyboards, Composed By – Steve Kuhn
Vocals – Karin Krog
2.  Hold Out Your Hands 2:22
Bass [Electric] – Steve Swallow
Drums, Percussion – Jon Christensen
Keyboards, Composed By – Steve Kuhn
Vocals – Karin Krog
3.  Raindrops, Raindrops 3:44
Bass [Electric] – Steve Swallow
Drums, Percussion – Jon Christensen
Keyboards, Composed By – Steve Kuhn
Vocals – Karin Krog
4.  New Spring 6:50
Composed By – Payne, Martin, Surman
Drums – Stu Martin
Soprano Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone By – John Surman
Vocals – Karin Krog
5.  We Could Be Flying 6:02
Bass [Electric] – Steve Swallow
Composed By – Columbier
Drums, Percussion – Jon Christensen
Keyboards – Steve Kuhn
Vocals – Karin Krog
6.  Round About Midnight 6:59
Bass – Arild Andersen
Composed By – Williams, Monk
Vocals – Karin Krog
7.  Maiden Voyage - Lazy Afternoon 9:16
Bass – Arild Andersen
Composed By – Herbie Hancock
Drums – Svein Christensen
Percussion [Rhythm Ins.] – Espen Rud
Piano – Terje Björklund
Tenor Saxophone, Percussion [Rhythm Ins.] – Jan Garbarek
Vocals, Percussion [Rhythm Ins.] – Karin Krog
8.  Time To Go 3:06
Drums, Percussion – Jon Christensen
Electric Bass – Steve Swallow
Keyboards, Written-By – Steve Kuhn
Vocals – Karin Krog
9. I`ll Wait For You 6:43Alto Saxophone, Flute – Per Carsten
Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen
Cello – Erling Christensen
Composed By – Michel Legrand, Gimbel
Drums – Alex Riel
Flute – Bent Larsen
Guitar – Philip Catherine
Harp – Lubov Rubinstein
Oboe – Niels Peters
Percussion – Kasper Vinding
Piano – Ole Koch
Trumpet, Arranged By, Conductor – Palle Mikkelborg
Viola – Finn Ziegler
Violin – Hans Nielsen, Per Walther
Vocals – Karin Krog
10 Karima Two 4:55
Composed By – John Surman, Karin Krog
Synthesizer – John Surman
Vocals, Tambura, Bells – Karin Krog
11 All Of You 5:08
Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen
Composed By – Cole Porter
Drums – Jon Christensen
Piano – Kenny Drew
Tenor Saxophone – Jan Garbarek
Vocals – Karin Krog
12.  Blue Eyes 4:53
Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen
Composed By – Bernt Egerbladh
Drums – Espen Rud
Organ – Kenny Drew
Tenor Saxophone – Dexter Gordon
Vocals – Karin Krog