Julia Hülsmann – While I was Away

German pianist Julia Hülsmann’s interest in the voice dates back to the early 2000s, when she recorded with singers Rebecca Bakken and Anna Lauvergnac, followed by singers Theo Bleckmann and Roger Cicero.

For this new recording, she called on no fewer than three vocalists, singing in Portuguese or English. Two female voices (Aline Frazão and Live Maria Roggen) and one male voice (Michael Schiefel) complete a predominantly female ensemble, with Susanne Paul’s cello and Héloïse Lefebvre’s violin functioning in places as two additional voices.

The pianist, now in her fifties, leads this unusual octet. Her piano—which is rarely given solos—has an eminently vocal sound in the way it accompanies the three voices, and her pearly touch is a delight. The two female singers mainly perform ballads, while Schiefel takes on the livelier pieces. Julia Hülsmann‘s arrangements—on compositions mostly penned by her—are both sophisticated and crystal clear, a refinement that suits the atmosphere of the project beautifully, where the use of violin and cello strings gives the ensemble a particularly lyrical tone, discreetly and tastefully supported by the double bass and drums.

The generally fairly short pieces therefore sound like songs, with chamber music providing a sumptuous backdrop. It is difficult to resist the charm of this opus, which, while displaying a constant concern for composition, manages to retain a remarkable freshness and spontaneity.