Tutu Puoane
reviews
- title • Quiet Now
Library Bookwatch
At times highly personal and emotional, Quiet Now is an extraordinary work of beauty, highly recommended. (James A. Cox, May, 2010)
www.newstime.co.za
The winning CD is titled Quiet Now, after the song composed by van Poll, which she sings with heartfelt sincerity. He has helped her all the way though her career, and I know how grateful she is to him. van Poll is very liberal with his time, and often money, in helping young talent.
Her voice is as pure as a stream after the rain. Her phrasing is subtle and her repertoire moves from McCoy Tyner’s “You Taught My Heart To Sing” to Joni Mitchell’s “I Don’t Know Where I Stand” to originals, some with subtle, yet deep African roots.
The backing trio of Pierreux, bassist Nicolas Thys and drummer Lieven Venken are sympathetic in their accompaniment and inventive in their solo spots. Each track has a freshness in the way Puoane tells her message of love and peace. Quiet Now is a worthy winner (SAMA award 2010) and will set the standard for next year. (Don Albert, trad jazz jury member SAMA awards)
Financial Mail
The name of the CD is Quiet Now. Puoane has a distinct, pure voice and her phrasing is subtle against the superlative backing from pianist Ewout Pierreux, bassist Nicolas Thys and drummer Lieven Venken. Not only are they good musicians but they accompany with warm feeling, coating the vocals, or upping the ante when called upon. Solo-wise, each steps up to the plate and hits home runs.
Quiet Now is a CD to listen to and savour. The main message is love and peace, but not delivered in a saccharine way. Hold hands with your partner and listen.
The variety of the music and its freshness makes this 11-track CD a little gem. (Don Albert, South Africa)
De Morgen
'Daar waar die link [naar Zuid-Afrika] het duidelijkst is, klinkt ze op haar best. Luister vooral naar 'Hlompha Bophelo' en 'Mpho', telkens prachtig ondersteund door het trio van pianist Ewout Pierreux. Vooral de ingetogen hymne 'Mpho', met onder meer een beeldige bassolo, heeft alles om een klassieker te worden.' (cd of the week)
Kwadratuur
'Klassieke jazz treft soulvolle Motown en neemt in één beweging gospel, soul en Afrikaanse pop mee: niet qua sound (die blijft zuiver akoestisch), maar wel in de melodie- en de harmonievoering.'
BusinessDay
It’s hard, beyond the spine-chilling creativity of Hlopha Bophelo, to select standout tracks. On different tracks, we hear Puoane’s intense swing sensibility; her almost Ray Charles-ish gift for blending gospel feel and jazz imagination; her soft, carefully thought way through a ballad and her joyous ascent of faster tempos.
While Puoane’s Belgian base and European sidemen may bar her from SAMA nominations, it will take a quite remarkable release between now and year-end to displace this as unquestionably the South African jazz album of the year. (Gwen Ansell, 1/1/0/09)
www.citylife.co.uk
A STUNNING example of the art of jazz song, rendered in a South African accent, and very exquisite too.
‘Pure’ is the only word for Puoane’s voice, which is warm and expressive, and imbued with a great depth of feeling. (Al Brownlee, *****)