Buy Karlie's self-titled CD or purchase MP3 downloads below!
Karlie's self-titled debut album is now available!
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Karlie Bruce (self-titled) CD |
Personnel: Karlie Bruce (vocals), Jonathan Zwartz (bass), John Harkins (piano), Ben Hauptmann (guitar), Dave Hibbard (drums).
Credits: Recorded and engineered by Michael Bartolomei. Mixed and mastered by Michael Bartolomei and Jonathan Zwartz. Recorded, mixed and mastered at One Chook Studio, Bondi, Australia. 2003, 2004. Photography by Peta Caswell. Artwork and design by Scott James Smith.
CD Track Listing / Sound Samples
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Song Title |
Time |
Listen |
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1. |
I Remember You |
6:14 |
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2. |
Beautiful Love |
4:30 |
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3. |
Gone With The Wind |
5:45 |
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4. |
A Sleepin' Bee |
5:18 |
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5. |
I Can't Get Started |
6:49 |
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6. |
The Song Is You |
6:08 |
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7. |
When I Fall In Love |
5:17 |
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8. |
Don't Deceive Me (Please Don't Go) |
5:29 |
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9. |
Gone With The Wind (Reprise) |
2:55 |
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Reviews
Peter Wockner - Jazz 'n Blues @ Corporate News - 17/05/05
One of the compelling aspects of this album is the interesting arrangements of what is largely a gathering of jazz standards. The opening 'I Remember You', is arranged by pianist John Harkins with a samba beat that's not usually applied to this Johnny Mercer classic. Although jazz people fondly recall Chet Baker's stamp all over it, Karlie's interpretation is fresh and her intonation is something very special. These are tunes taken at a pace that suit all the natural qualities of her voice and the listener gets to hear them all. Karlie Bruce has emerged over the past couple of years as one of the most in demand vocalists on the Australian music scene. Her jazz sensibility and clear intent to understand the lyrics and believe in the lyrics is instantly apparent on this self titled debut which was recorded back in 2003. A musician who started playing the recorder and progressed to the saxophone, she brings a certain instrumental quality to her phrasing. The package is complete with eloquent diction and a gorgeous tone. Karlie lets you know that she's got a lot of spare fuel in the tank with the blues 'Don't Deceive Me'. Many singers these days belt out even the most gentle of ballads. It's like over chilling a bottle of white wine and losing all those special qualities and characteristics. But not the case with Karlie Bruce, the timbre is not lost. 'Gone with the Wind' alone is worth the price of the CD and is suitably reprised as track 9. Jonathan Zwartz's arrangement is a delight and showcases Ben Hauptmann's acoustic guitar solo. You won't hear a more angelic rendering of the lyric 'Just like a flame'. Yes this is indeed an album that makes you feel good to be alive - 5 stars.
Tony Magee – Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) – December 2005
This very appealing new young singer from Sydney is quite reminiscent of Dionne Warwick. On some tracks the resemblance is quite striking. You can also hear influences from Geraldine Turner and Kerrie Biddell. However, there is much more to Karlie Bruce than simply being similar to someone else. She is a unique artist and that fact alone is even more important. Combined with the wonderful, lyrical talents of Ben Hauptmann on guitar, Dave Hibbard on drums, Jonathan Zwartz on bass and John Harkins on piano, Karlie Bruce has made a significant album here and a wonderful entry and debut into the Australian (and hopefully overseas) contemporary music and jazz market.
The arrangements on this album are by Harkins and Zwartz and they are beautiful both in their simplicity and their style, grace and precision.
Karlie Bruce’s voice floats and wafts. She has a huge range and a most interesting and varied set of timbres and registers which she makes full use of. On other tracks, for example The Song is You, here done as a light rock feel, or Don’t Deceive Me, presented as a soul feel, she attacks the notes with a harder sound and also sometimes, a huge vibrato. Not sure how that will go for her as the years roll by. I would suggest careful attention to vocal control rather than the carefree abandon that she has opted for at some points on this disc.
Some of the other tracks include a sensitive and poignant version of Gone With the Wind which is sung very softly and delicately, over a wonderful ethereal backing where the piano and double bass combine with solid fifths under the chords. This is also reprised at the end of the album. A Sleepin’ Bee, I Remember You, Beautiful Love, I Can’t Get Started and When I Fall In Love are also all represented and all done with style and poise. Find out more at www.karliebruce.com.
Tony’s rating: 3 stars
Karlie also appears on...
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Karlie Bruce |
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Matt Wilson's Arts & Crafts Featuring: Matt Wilson: drums, percussion, vocals; Terell Stafford: trumpet, flugelhorn; Gary Versace: piano, organ, accordion; Dennis Irwin: bass, clarinet; The Swayettes (Ayana Del Valle, Elizabeth Dotson-Westphalen, Karlie Bruce) vocals. |
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AIR Annual Vol.8 |