Miriam Klein - BY MYSELF (ENJA 2012)

Swisss vocalist Miriam Klein came into public eye when she performed in Paris in the 50ties with Dexter Gordon, Pierre Michelot, Don Byas and Art Simmons. Later she at-tended Music School in Vienna and went back to Switzerland to work with the ensembles of her husband, trumpeter and guitarist Oscar Klein. It was in the 60ties and 70ties that she became known internationally.

In 1973 she made her first impact on the vocal scene with the album “Lady Like” dedi-cated to her idol Billie Holiday on which she was accompanied by Roy Eldrige, Dexter Gordon and Slide Hampton. She did not intend “to copy Billie Holiday but simply to sing in her style” she explained.

In 1978 her album By Myself was produced by concert management tycoon Horst Lippmann. Lippmann: “ This is the NEW Miriam Klein confident of her own way of singing. A Miriam Klein “By Herself” – hence the album title.”

Jazz critic Markus Woelfle: “It is her best recording and if she were an American lady and not a Swiss this album would be the pride of each vocal collection. The emotional power of her voice and the rich shadings of her interpretations are highlighted by the perfect ac-companiment of her inspired sidemen Roland Hanna and George Mraz. It is rare that a pianist offers such perfection and musical additions to a singer - the solos are brilliant and of perfect architecture without overpowering the vocalist.

Miriam Klein’s celebrated her last triumph so far with the CD My Marilyn (ENJ-9422) and we are proud to present now By Myself for the first time on CD
enja