{"id":2900,"date":"2015-05-04T15:07:58","date_gmt":"2015-05-04T13:07:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.glm.de\/?page_id=2900"},"modified":"2021-08-24T18:57:13","modified_gmt":"2021-08-24T16:57:13","slug":"hannah-koepf","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.glm.de\/en\/artists\/hannah-koepf\/","title":{"rendered":"Hannah K\u00f6pf"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Intimate lyrics, soulful arrangements and a country-affine jazz band: Hannah K\u00f6pf\u2019s \u201cCinnamon\u201d is an Americana jazz album, made in Cologne.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hannah K\u00f6pf is not Norah Jones.\u00a0But the musical cosmos that the Cologne singer \/ songwriter has created on her fourth album \u201cCinnamon\u201d does not have to hide in comparison to the singer from the other side of the Atlantic. Hannah K\u00f6pf is interpreting Folk, New Orleans Soul, Americana, Jazz and Southern Country in such a natural way, as if she had never listened to anything else as a child than to these deeply American genres.<\/p>\n

K\u00f6pf has devoted more time than ever to the lyrics, while especially focusing on US artists. \u201cWriting is hard work, a real craft,\u201d the 1980 born singer states. In attempts to compose in the style of certain songwriting styles, she created a tribute to the largely unknown singer \/ songwriter Judee Sill: \u201cFools and Fallen Angels\u201d. The line \u201cCheer the fool while the angels fall\u201d is to be understood as a direct allusion to acting US politicians who ignore moderating voices.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to arouse emotions with my lyrics,\u201d says K\u00f6pf. \u201cBut also write politically without letting the listener notice it immediately. One wonders: in what kind of world does my daughter have to grow up? \u201cHannah K\u00f6pf has been a mother for two years and her highly personally colored texts have been shaped by that. \u201cGolden Leaves\u201d takes the perspective of her daughter, and how she may later think about her parents. The title song \u201cCinnamon\u201d describes the Proustian Madeleine moment of the singer \/ songwriter: the smell of cinnamon instantly transports her into her childhood and into her grandmother\u2019s kitchen.<\/p>\n

Life, death and family \u2013 these themes already dominated the highly praised album \u201cLonely Dancer\u201d, about which the Jazz Thing wrote<\/em>: \u201cThese songs could get a place in the songbook of Emmylou Harris.\u201d And again, the album\u2019s cover was lovingly designed by the artist Tamina Duscha, proving continuity with its predecessor.<\/p>\n

Melancholy is gladly emphasized, a wistfulness that lies in these subtle texts. The brilliant vocals of Hannah K\u00f6pf, her ability to effortlessly cross genre boundaries with her voice. Everything is in the right place. But it is equally remarkable how dynamic, forceful and soulful these songs are. In short \u2013 with a level of skill rarely heard in bands with such a limited production budget. As early as 2015, K\u00f6pf started recording with her partner Tim Dudek in his own studio. Dudek, a trained drummer who tours with jazz aces like Axel Fischbacher as well as with his own pop band Luciel, composed the music and was responsible for production, recording and mixing.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is my sharpest critic and never minces words. But in the end, unfortunately, he is always right, \u201claughs K\u00f6pf. Partnership and professional conflicts provided the material for \u201cYou were right again\u201d, in which K\u00f6pf sings openly about tantrums and her own weaknesses. The duo is supported by a band of well-known musicians such as guitarist Hanno Busch or pianist Sebastian Sternal. K\u00f6pf: \u201cThese are jazzers who also play Country. They can instantly create a feeling from their gut, you do not have to explain what you want to hear.\u201c With dobro, fiddle and slide guitar \u201cCinnamon\u201c is serving up the classic Nashville country cutlery.<\/p>\n

It is this attention to detail that makes the album so special. The delicate cello by Nathan Bontrager, or the tenor saxophone by Denis G\u00e4bel, who can be heard on half of the songs, without pushing himself in the foreground.<\/p>\n

In addition to Joni-Mitchell-inspired ballads such as \u201cGolden Leaves\u201d and the theme song, the duo K\u00f6pf \/ Dudek has composed some noteworthy up-tempo songs: \u201cThere When You Need Me\u201d with the finest soul, New Orleans style \u2013 hand claps, swinging piano and triumphantly bluesy wind arrangements, which come from the bigband-experienced Dietmar Mensinger (Tom Gaebel). Ray Charles sends his regards. The optimistic \u201cPaper Boat\u201d ramping up from an introverted blues to a gospelish, swaying dance song. \u201cVelvet Sky\u201d ends the album intimately, only orchestrated with the virtuously plucked guitar by Busch and Dudek. \u201cFor the first time, I am completely happy with an album. Everything fits, with every song. \u201cAll killer, no filler \u2013 the studied jazz singer Hannah K\u00f6pf has created her opus Magnum Americana.<\/p>\n

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http:\/\/www.hannahkoepf.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n