Elena Poletti - The italian jazz singer

Elena Poletti & Band - "Beyond The Time"

Elena Poletti understands her singing, with swinging impetus always as a tribute to Ella, Sarah or Billie. "My soul is jazz" she admits from Freiburg, where she chooses to live and where day in and day out she is occupied as a vocal-teacher at the "Jazz & Rock School" there. Her long overdue debut album praises the Great American Songbook, the noble school of jazz singing. Elena Poletti interprets the old classics with new swing. With her radiating alto voice she gives pieces like "Whisper not", "I loves you, Porgy" or "Love for sale" new shine. In the ballads, a comfortable feeling sets in when Elena forms the long, drawn-out syllables and can put in vibrato. Almost as an encore, the "songbook" is adjusted with a Latin flair: two songs of the great Brazilian A.C.Jobim and an Italian song by Bruno Martino - as an admission to Poletti's Italian homeland - round off the square dance. The CD is presented from a versatile singer and an experienced, all-time swinging quartet.

Reiner Kobe, Jazz Podium 06/2004