Anne Erm 80: Estonian Voices

In this colorful autumn Anne Erm, the heart and soul of Jazzkaar, is celebrating her round-number anniversary. On this occasion she invites jazz addicts to rejoice with an Estonia’s beloved vocal ensemble Estonian Voices.

Estonian Voices was born as a joint venture of the European Capital of Culture, Tallinn 2011, and Jazzkaar. Its initiator and driving force Kadri Voorand recalls: “In the spring of 2010, Anne Erm phoned me and me asked me to put together an a cappella ensemble, something that didn’t exist in Estonia at the time. I was intrigued by the idea immediately, as I had been involved in mixed ensembles since my high school days. I had had an imagination the sound of the ensemble, and started searching for voices that would create a unique sonic blend. First tips we were given by Britt Quentin, the artistic director and arranger of the vocal ensemble M-Pact.”

Already a first public performance of Estonian Voices at the Christmas Jazz Festival 2010 won the hearts of many. Since then, every concert by the sextet has been eagerly anticipated – they have performed in Estonia, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, China, England, to name only few. Estonian Voices’ debut album “Ole hea” (Be Good) won the title of Best Jazz Album of the Year at the Estonian Music Awards in 2015. Their second album, “Taat läks lolliks” (The Old Man Lost His Marbles, 2018) also received the title of Best Jazz Album of the Year. Music enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the ensemble’s third album, but as the members of the ensemble are also involved in other prestigious musical collectives or projects, finding time for creating and learning new songs is challenging. Nevertheless, the ensemble’s repertoire includes jazz, pop, folk music, and classical music-inspired pieces, both original compositions and vibrant covers.

Throughout the years, Estonian Voices has participated in various collaborative projects, performing with artists such as Take 6, The New York Voices, Bobby McFerrin, Accent, NOËP, Estonian Dream Big Band, Lenna Kuurmaa, Ruja, Curly Strings, ERSO, and others.

At the opening act of the Autumn Jazz, the audience will hear both their favorite songs and new creations. “It’s exciting to see how our ensemble’s musical language has evolved over time, and our skills have improved to carry it forward. We enjoy every performance to the fullest and are grateful to Anne Erm, whose love for the resonant harmonies of vocal ensembles led to the birth of Estonian Voices. Happy anniversary!” concludes Kadri.