Yvonne Walter - Bitter Sweet out now

The voice of Yvonne Walter has captivated fans and critics alike for many years, and it is this voice which makes her CD “Bitter Sweet” such an unforgettable event. It is her tribute to the legendary Ann Burton, one of the most important Dutch jazz vocalists of the post-war era. Born Johanna ‘Ansje’ Rafalowicz in Amsterdam, Ann Burton built a wide audience in the Netherlands in the 1960s. Albums and performances at home and international tours as far away as Japan made the singer a household name. At her best in small combos, her voice was especially powerful in gripping ballads. The same could be said of Yvonne Walter, who has carefully selected a number of highlights from the Ann Burton Songbook. For the most part standards, along with Yvonne's beautiful personal composition (Song For) “Libra”, a piece by Russ Freeman, “The Wind”, as well as “Where Can I Go”, a traditional that refers to the displacement of many Jewish families in the years before the outbreak of the Second World War, recalling Ann Burton's Jewish roots.

“Bitter Sweet”. Against an understated backdrop of piano, bass and drums, plus alto saxophone on six songs, Yvonne Walter seems almost palpably to search for the essence of the lyrics and through them, her own personal emotions. Her exquisite diction and fascinating timing have long made Yvonne Walter a name to watch for lovers of vocal jazz. The extraordinary narrative power that she brings to some of the timeless lyrics of beloved evergreens makes listening to them a fresh delight today. And with the words of the stunning finale for the CD, “The Shadow Of Your Smile”, the memories of Ann Burton are particularly strong.

All thirteen of the songs on this album feature the distinctive, incomparable vocals of Yvonne Walter and beautifully showcase her artistic range.