Peter Fessler - Blue Summer (2002)

Peter Fessler is once again deftly juggling a liaison of the widest variety of styles. With an undisguised, easygoing virtuosity, he combines song material from the American songbook (Somewhere Over The Rainbow), highlights from Brazilian music lore (Black Orfeo, Tristeza, Little Boat) and self-composed tunes into a mixture that both vocally and instrumentally stands out on its own. An intimate give-and-take of voice and guitar. At times borne by a lightness reminiscent of classical etudes, other times driven by a willingness to risk it all on that one note, chord-laced jazz licks are enhanced by "vocal sounds" to generate a style mix of jazz / classical / songs and melody. Finely timed thrills and fills from such outstanding musicians as the German top - saxophone player Peter Weniger or that ace of so many musical graces, Wolfgang Haffner (cymbals), along with an atmosphere spiced with just the right amount of genteel feel from steady band members Alfonso Garrido (percussion) and Dave King (bass), create the space where Fessler is not only able to spread out vocally: his Brazilian-hued guitar-playing also receives a chance to share the limelight. The album reached No.25 in the German Jazz Charts.