Search - Lasse Martenson, Karita Mattila, Jyväskylä Symphony Orchestra :: Lauluja Merelle: Songs by Lasse Martenson - Karita Mattila

Effortless Sensuality

Jazz Fan | 06/20/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mattila's voice is best known for it's power and passion in heavier roles. Here she delivers wordless melismas with perfect modulation and a flair for the island flavor of the selections. The first track is a sort of tone poem where her inflection carries a sensuality and yearning that touches the listener with unaffected, natural vocalization. Her lower range is exploited with a few rough spots in the second track, but by the fourth track she is higher and louder in the full voice listeners associate with this accomplished artist. On this CD, however, it is the almost hypnotic nature of Martenson's "revival and setting to music of island poetry" that enchants the ear. Mattila's effortless soprano glides through the tunes, fresh, relaxed, and and a completely seductive experience for all the senses."