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Vinyl LP: Sonorama L-01

GREETJE KAUFFELD – AND LET THE MUSIC PLAY

Vocals: Greetje Kauffeld , Piano: Frans Elsen, Organ: Rob Franken, Guitar: Wim Overgaauw, Bass: Rob, Langereis
Drums: Tony Inzalaco, Percussion: Sabu Martinez,  Sax & Flute & Piccolo & Bass-Flute: Herb Geller
Trumpet & Fluegelhorn: Ack Van Rooyen,  Trumpets: Rick Kiefer, Eddie Engels, Palle Mikkelborg    
Trombones: Ake Persson, Jiggs Whigham, Rudi Bosch, Erik Van Lier, Saxes: Piet Noordijk, Ferdinand 
Povel, Wilton Gaynair, Herman Schoonderwalt, Claudio Szenkar`s  String  Orchestra & Choir

Recorded  1974 at Rhenus-Studio  Cologne in  cooperation with N.O.S.
Produced by Joop De Roo, arranged and conducted by Jerry Van Rooyen & Rob Pronk
Engineered by Justus Liebich, assisted by Klaus Loehmer  

Teaming up with the Skymasters radio orchestra as early as 1957, 17 year old Greetje Kauffeld first drew attention with unique vocal stylings of American standards. No more than two years later, the Dutch girl with the soulful voice cut her first jazz Ep record for Decca. Becoming more and more interested in jazz, she went to Los Angeles and Las Vegas in 1969, soon performing with artists like Ray Brown or Herb Ellis, developing the legend of a European female vocalist "making it abroad".

From the meeting with Doris Day to appearances on TVs "Coast to Coast" and "Caterina Valente-Show", Greetje always seemed to know about the hot spots. Moreover she broadened her vocal abilities while developing new sensitivities, lifting her stylings from the former German showbusiness templates of E.M.I. Columbia up to highest international jazz standards. She was regarded as an internationally acclaimed jazz voice from then on - celebrated worldwide at festivals and in clubs for her outstanding ability of improvising and putting deep soul into well known compositions, embedding in them her very own lush and technically perfect stylings.

Husband Joop De Roo, former head of Radio Hilversum and producer of highly memorable jazz broadcasts from the Netherlands, soon became the biggest supporter of her talents. He assembled an outstanding session group at Rhenus Studio Cologne in 1974 for what you can hear on this record: Ten outstanding arrangements in a combination of band, voices and orchestra present soft jazz treatments with some fine moments in Euro-latin and bossa scat, feat. stunning fluegelhorn and solo flute contributions from Ack Van Rooyen and Herb Geller.

The big arrangments conducted by dutch jazz personalities Rob Pronk and Jerry Van Rooyen float easily and perfectly correspond with Greetjes sensitive and hypnotic vocals. "And Let The Music Play" is simply a legendary and outstanding vocal performance throughout. The deep passions of "Morenal" and "By Myself" stand out  against the fantastic brass and rhythm work in the classics "Cabaret" and "Mr. Bojangles". Every track in this album session is a winner, all evoking deep atmospheres and enchanting melodies. The catchy version of the unbeatable "Day By Day" soon made its way around the world in the bags of the most respected lounge and jazz DJs over the years, while "Tristeza" is considered to be one of the finest interpretations ever, not only because of exceptional solo percussion work by legendary Sabu Martinez.

After all, "And Let The Music Play" remains a sought after song collection that simply faded away from markets and memories. Although the LP was highly acclaimed and even got a nominee for the German jazz award in the year it had been made, Greetje & Roop remember only a few thousand copies being pressed & sold without any help of promotion. That is of course why original LPs seem to remain untracable today. But thirty years after its first release by Polydor Netherlands, this rare gem is presented here directly from the mastertapes. A timeless reference to one of the finest female jazz-singers of all time - probably in her grooviest and best arrangements & production ever (ef/ Sonorama 2004)

"When Joop De Roo told me about this album I knew the ability of musicians, arrangers, vocalist and producer would guarantee a technically perfect product of good taste. Listening to the tapes, then, I was caught by the human emotions conveyed through some of the musical highlights. Probably this could happen because Greetje Kauffeld, Rob Pronk and Jerry Van Rooyen share a history of leaving their home country in search for opportunities to grow. Because Greetje wanted to become an artist rather than a "lady crooner", a young female newcomer in the tough world of german showbusiness. And she proved the contrary when successfully meeting the challenge of co-appearing with Abbey Lincoln and my band at the 1966 Holland Festival. The present album brings back good souvenirs of the cooperative atmosphere in which we prepared the arrangements for that event. But what is more important is the fact that she has grown far beyond her 1966 level. Greetje, keep going. By the way, I can imagine some hundreds of girl-singers becoming jealous." (Boy Edgar, from 1974 Original Liner Notes