Cold and rainy Tallinn was forgotten on the 25th of April as everyone’s hearts were melted by the sound of jazz and overjoyed due to the celebration of the jazz queen Ella Fitzgerald’s 100th birthday. The program put together by Siim Aimla, the leader of Estonian Dream Big Band, added the perfect amount of joy, excitement and melancholy to that festive evening.
The concert began with an introduction by Siim Aimla and Sofia Rubina was the first to set the mood with the playful A Tisket, A Tasket. It was fun seeing the orchestra showing off their vocal skills along with the vocalist, singing light-heartedly: “So do we, so do we, so do we”.
The atmosphere turned calm when Liisi Koikson walked on stage and started singing My Man Is Gone Now whilst staying true to her Nordic calmness. Next, a sweet duet (or trio if I may say) was performed by Koikson, the charming Latvian singer Intars Busulis and his trombone. Koikson was left blushing by Busulis’ declarations of love with his trombone.
The Latvian heartthrob’s swinging solo performance warmed the crowd up for the following duet by him and Sofia Rubina, singing The Lady Is A Tramp. However, a real showstopper was Susanna Aleksandra in her red sparkling dress. Her’s and Intars’ duet of Dream A Little Dream of Me was certainly the flirtiest of the performances.
The peak of the show was the scat-off of the three female vocalists and the ending song How High the Moon. As the crowd stood up and began to applaud, the artists started Summertime and it truly felt that “it” [summer] is near.
I left the concert hall with a wondering gaze, with the music still swinging in my soul, and my heart aching for more jazz. Thankfully, Jazzkaar won’t end just yet
“Ella Fitzgerald 100” Liisi Koikson, Sofia Rubina, Susanna Aleksandra, Intars Busulis (Latvia), Siim Aimla & Estonian Dream Big Band
25th of April (6 PM.) at Vaba Lava, Tallinn
Members:
Liisi Koikson – vocal
Sofia Rubina – vocal
Susanna Aleksandra – vocal
Intars Busulis – vocal
Siim Aimla and Estonian Dream Big Band
Check out photos from the concert.