www.helmutlotti.be/
Helmut Lotti
Time to Swing
A ternary rhythm, it probably does not ring a bell to many. When asked, Helmut Lotti will shuffle it for you flawlessly. Because exactly that ternary rhythm is what makes swing music swing. But forget about the technical part. And be enchanted by the vocal emotion of the master, more controlled and with warmer craftsmanship than ever before. Let yourself be swept away by the melody of his songs, along all imaginable highs and lows of the romantic soul, albeit more than ever standing firmly with both feet in life. And snap your fingers continuously to the blasts of the wind instruments. What a swing! Yes, this is Time to Swing, the latest musical journey of an unique talent.
It always seems a logical sequel, it always seems to be the obvious extension. The impression that everything happens effortlessly. That is what makes a gift unmatched.
Because in the meantime Helmut Lotti is fronting a grand opus, of which magnitude and impact can hardly be overrated.
Ever since 1995 nothing is what it seems. At once Helmut Lotti breaks through all magical bounderies all artist face. Country borders are crossed and sales records are surpassed: up to twelve times platinum for Helmut Lotti goes Classic, The Red Album. But even more: up until today we can say that Helmut Lotti found his artistic style in that blessed year 1995.
The Goes Classic trilogy from 1995 until 1998, and as it happens with real trilogies, in four parts plus a Classical Christmas on top of that by now has made its historical value known to the world: the World Music Awards in Monaco, countries like South-Africa, Canada and Germany, the Avery Fisher Hall in New York and Christmas in Vienna alongside Placido Domingo, they all gave in to the charm and undisputed talent of the eternal young man.
On Out of Africa (1999), the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador opens his big heart to the beat of a continent. Latino Classics (2000) and Latino Love Songs (2001) consider love of paramount importance with Caribbean flair. In 2004 Helmut Lotti visits a new musical continent: From Russia With Love. Whilst My Tribute To The King (2002) and Pop Classics in Symphony (2003) brought him back to what it was always all about: timeless popular music.
In 2006 Helmut infuses an autobiography on one CD of the double album The Crooners. On My Way are twelve gems by his own hand, whilst on The American Way he sings his admiration for a dozen grandmasters who preceded him: Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole Some of those names we can also find on Time to Swing. And still Helmut Lottis latest master piece is full of surprises.
From Classic to The Original
More than ever Helmut Lotti presents himself up as guardian of the original on Time to Swing. We all know Mack The Knife? Then Helmut Lotti adds Mackie Messer as bonus track, the original from the Threepenny Opera by Berthold Brecht and Kurt Weill. Who knows that More is based on an Italian original? Helmut Lotti gives you Ti Guardero Nel Cuore. Does Beyond The Sea sound just like film music to your ears? Helmut Lotti takes you back to La Mer by Charles Trenet. And what authenticity speaks from the Mexican gem Perfidia by Xavier Cugat?
Another extra comes from across the Channel. L.O.V.E. is a duet with Clare Teal. Teal (35) has been honoured as best British jazz singer of the year for three years running. Thanks to Helmut Lotti it is now up to the rest of the world to get to know this Queen of Swing.
Even when he walks the path of well known swing classics, the fresh arrangements of Helmut Lotti and Wim Bohets attract attention; they are meticulously adapted, with a sense of late swing and todays swing. Hear the phrasing of Thats Life and the romance in Fly Me To The Moon. Notice the nuances in Danke Schön and the fatalism of Cabaret. Be overwhelmed by the styled rudeness of Bad Bad Leroy Brown and the relentless rising temperature of Fever. Realise that swing overlaps with country in King Of The Road and is the spiritual father of rock n roll as shown in Reet Petite.
And in between all those legendary names and world hits, Helmut Lotti once again presents a multifaceted quartet of self-composed songs. Love strikes like lightning in Heavenly Match On Earth. Love misses its goal in In The Arms Of A Stranger. Around You contains a wise lesson in life. And title song Time To Swing opens all registers to the party that is swing music in general and this record in particular.
It just appears like a logical sequel, it only seems the extension of.
In reality no other artist can melt classic and original so perfectly to his own recognisable touch, his unmistaken and true stamp, his very own signature: Helmut Lotti.
6 мар 2009
