From Austria, With Love

Simone (Kopmajer) - Let’s Fall In Love (Venus)
Released - July 12, 2008 (Japan)

Three years ago, when Simone Kopmajer was 23, I said, “To the list of young ones to watch..we’ll add Simone Kopmajer.  Write it down…she’s going to be around for a long time.”

Last year, when Simone Kopmajer was 25, I said, “…hers is a light touch that swings very nicely. She’s swinging a little more, and sounding even lighter, on this outing. It works for her.  Truth is, there isn’t a track worth skipping on the disc.”

This year, Ms. Kopmajer is out with her third release, “Let’s Fall In Love.”  Her voice is maturing, so is her sense of timing - and it only gets beter. 

Again, it’s on a Japanese label; I can only find it in the US at import prices.  That may be the only drawback to this disc.  Recorded in New York with a group of great pros - John di Martino on piano, George Mraz on bass, Victor Lewis on drums, Aaron Heick on reeds and the legendary Houston Person on tenor sax - several of the tracks also feature a string quartet backing, as well.

Which is a great frame for Ms. Kopmajer’s voice.  Her confidence is building with each new release.  This one leads with the traditional “Tennessee Waltz,” and features a pair of other country-twinged songs - Alison Kraus’ “A Ghost In This House,” and Harry Nilsson’s “Everybody’s Talkin’.”

It’s a shame we don’t see more of Ms. Kopmajer in the US.  She does a couple of stints each year at a Florida club, but mostly, she works in her native Austria - and releases records in Japan.

This one is worthy of much wider distribution.  And worth the import price.  If you go looking, Ms. Kopmajer is known simply as “Simone” on the disc.

Very highly recommended. Three and one-half stars (out of four)