Chinese Folksongs in a Jazz Mode is the first (known) recording by a U.S. singer who translates Chinese traditional folksongs and performs them in the jazz idiom. Songs are sung in both Mandarin and English, and liner not... more »es are in English, Chinese characters, and the romanization system of Pinyin. Ten traditional Chinese melodies were chosen for their intrinsically lovely melody lines.« less
Chinese Folksongs in a Jazz Mode is the first (known) recording by a U.S. singer who translates Chinese traditional folksongs and performs them in the jazz idiom. Songs are sung in both Mandarin and English, and liner notes are in English, Chinese characters, and the romanization system of Pinyin. Ten traditional Chinese melodies were chosen for their intrinsically lovely melody lines.
CD Reviews
Breathtaking!
Alex and Brenda gonzalez | honolulu, hawaii United States | 02/18/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A perfect and relaxing mixture of sounds with unequalled vocals (a diamond in the rough waiting to be discovered!). I was impressed from the beggining to the end of the album! I highly recommend this album to all ages. Great stress reliever after a hard day at work or anywhere!!!!!!!! Hats off to ya Mary! Looking forward to your next new album! :-)"
Unique, interesting music
Alex and Brenda gonzalez | 10/10/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"By putting Chinese folk songs into a jazz setting, Hurst makes what might be (to many listeners) strange sound familiar, and her lovely voice and top-notch backup band make this a unique and lovely experience. Highly recommended as a musical experience, and a good way to expand your knowledge of Mandarin Chinese!"
A correction
Francesco Martinelli | PISA, PISA Italy | 10/08/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"After sending in my comment, I realized that "little" as a decsription ofthe voice in ths Cd could be meant as derogatory. I didnt imply it was drowned by the instruments or that it was weak, only that its singing style was based not on power and volume but on musicality and phrasing."
A labour of love
Francesco Martinelli | PISA, PISA Italy | 09/25/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"this a one-of-a-kind record. Mary Ann Hurts lived in China long enough to know deeply the language and the music; she was a jazz lover since she was kid, and when she come back she put together english translations of the songs. So we hear the lovely folk melodies translated into the jazz idiom, and the word sung in chinese and in english too. She has a little but very musical voice, and the feeling she gives to these songs is unique. The instrumental group, formed by top Texan jazz musicians, interpreted perfectly the spirit of this unique project - truly world music, an expression too much abused these days."
Cibese Fikk Songs in a Jazz Mode
Edmund W. Peaslee Jr. | PLANO,TX, USA | 07/10/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a unique recording in that it is the only one of Chinese songs in a jazz mode. Mary Ann speaks Mandarin fluently and is well qualified to translate these songs and sing them with real feeling."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1