Sings Shakespeare Sonnets 3 Caroll Vanwelden

• 1 My mistress’ eyes - sonnet 130 03:30
• 2 Shall I compare thee - sonnet 18 03:10
• 3 What’s in the brain - sonnet 108 05:13
• 4 That time of year - sonnet 73 03:28
• 5 To me fair friend - sonnet 104 03:34
• 6 Alas, ’tis true - sonnet 110 04:00
• 7 No longer mourn for me - sonnet 71 03:32
• 8 In the old age - sonnet 127 03:47
• 9 From fairest creatures - sonnet 1 03:40
• 10 Say that thou didst forsake me - sonnet 89 01:46
• 11 Some say thy fault is youth - sonnet 96 04:49
• 12 Like as the waves - sonnet 60 01:38
• 13 Tired with all these - sonnet 66 03:07
• 14 What potions have I drunk - sonnet 119 03:35
• 15 When in disgrace with fortune - sonnet 29 02:58
• 16 When my love swears - sonnet 138 03:56
• Total Runtime 55:43

Info for Sings Shakespeare Sonnets 3

“All good things come in threes“; this must have been Caroll Vanwelden’s motivation which lead the Belgian to write a jazz trilogy around Shakespeare’s sonnets. It was back in 2012 and 2014, she had already started working on the 154 sonnets of Shakespeare, when she presented her sensitive manner of work. Hence, two by the critics highly acclaimed releases were born. The artist went on a musically multidimensional journey which will reach its peak but also its brilliant ending with her newest release Caroll Vanwelden – Sings Shakespeare Sonnets 3 on JAZZNARTS RECORDS on July 21st 2017. Once again, the last record of her trilogy creates an original and unique approach and this time to the most popular sonnets of the English grandmaster.

“So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, so long lives this, and this gives life to thee.” (William Shakespeare).

It’s the idea of immortality, which the English lyricist and dramaturg is referring to in his most famous sonnet no. 18 from 1609. The guiding principles of infinite love and intense sexuality, almost manic obsession, the charming beauty of inevitable decay, and finite mortality. The 154 sonnets by Shakespeare are a collection of one of Shakespeare’s outstanding and epic opuses. No work of world literature except the Bible was translated into German more frequently.

The guiding thread of all productions is the warm and colorful voice of Vanwelden. One moment the artist is able to create a multifaceted melancholy and in the next moment, the listener gets carried away by the intensity and power of her voice. She releases energy, creates emotions, and enchants with hypnotic ease. This, combined with the thematic discussion on Shakespeare and his credo on the prosecution of infinite love, creates such a powerful expression as has not yet been experienced. The singer is referring to the same kind of love, she shares for her two wonderful children, or the sexuality she experiences, when she is able to commit to her music entirely. At the same time, it is a conflictual confrontation to be almost obsessed with perfectionism towards the unique and untouchable oeuvre of Shakespeare. All of this is coated by her passion for beauty and aesthetic. However, the decay is covered as well; a decay which the English poet could almost effortlessly escape, due to his art enduring longer than time. Last but not least it is the mortality, a topic which was extremely present during the creation process of Shakespeare’s sonnet no. 3. Unfortunately, Vanwelden’s father died right before the release of the second album which influenced her work essentially. “The motifs and guiding lines of Shakespeare are both, fascinating and universal. I see myself in all of his motifs and find a huge amount of inspiration within them”, states the musician.

The pianist is musically supported by three of the most exciting and successful instrumentalist of Germany. Thomas Siffling from Mannheim, is playing the trumpet and the flugelhorn. His elegant melodies merge perfectly with Vanwelden’s unique and warm voice. The artist and professor Mini Schulz from Stuttgart is not only stroking the bow of his double bass gracefully, but is also plucking it in a groovy and casual manner. Jens Düppe, living in Cologne, is the newcomer of the group. With his drum and percussion playing, he creates complex rhythm, and contributes to the rich sound palette of the group.

Caroll Vanwelden’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s sonnets no. 3 marks a magical and absolute exclamation mark behind a musical trilogy of almost uncompetitive excitement. The courageous approach and the artistic treatment of the sonnets seem to succeed effortlessly. The outcome is an album for the classical jazz admirer, friends of lyric, or the simple music fan. This album is a sheer delight from the first to the last piece, or, from verse to verse.

Caroll Vanwelden, piano, vocals
Thomas Siffling, trumpet, flugelhorn
Mini Schulz, double bass
Jens Düppe, drums, percussion

As a 7-year old Caroll started her music career with classical piano. After reaching the excellence grade she stops for a few years to concentrate on her studies of engineering, in which she graduates in 1994 at the VUB university in Brussels. As there was no piano during her studies in Brussels, she tries to stay in contact with the music by organizing Scouts and Student venues. She was the musical producer of 2 venues at the University in 1992 and 1994.It is also in this period that she concentrates on singing. She follows singing and diction lessons and was a private student of David Linx.

In 1992, she worked together with the great Peter Girth at the Stadtstheater of Darmstadt in Germany. After her studies in 1995 at the Brussels university, she started at the Music conservatory of Ghent, where she finishes her bachelor degree Jazz and Studio music and prepares her entry-examination for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where, after a severe selection process, she was accepted together with 2 other students. She finishes her post graduation in London at the Guildhall with excellence in 1998.

Meanwhile, in 1996, while studying at the conservatory, she sang the role of Lauretta for the CD-release of the musical EXTASY which was written and produced by Alexander Rahbari, who was during 11 years the conductor of Philharmonic Orchestra of the Belgian national television broadcasting network. This CD was released in 1999 under the "Discover of Koch International" label.

In 1997 Caroll participates at a TV music contest where she reached the finals with the song Calling You from the beautiful movie Bagdad Cafe.

From September 1998 till September 1999, she worked for the Panasonic Technics, where she does the singing on all keyboard demonstrations together with pianist Piet Meersschaut. Furthermore, she's lead singer on jazz and pop gigs in Belgium and abroad on brunches (in Hilton and Arenberg Hotel in Antwerp and Brussels), big bands, gigs for service clubs like Lions and Rotary, Christmas- and musical concerts, weddings and receptions, backing vocals, fancy fairs, etc... and she teaches singing and music in some private schools (Clavissimo and Ozma). In January 1999 she creates the cover-group "O-position" with 7 professional jazz musicians, where she's the lead voice and plays the backing-vocals herself with a vocalist (on keyboard). Together with this band, she performed on several music festivals and private parties.

In September 1999 a first single is released : a cover of the TLC song No Scrubs edited by North West featuring Caroll. In February 2000 she participates again at a TV music contest where she reaches the finals with a reggae version of the song Memory from the musical Cats.

In 2001-2002 as being a member of the group Mezcal with band leader Luiz Marquez, she experiments with ethnical music with a lot of influences from the jazz. As Caroll gave birth to a little boy and a little girl during 2002 - 2005, she decides to take a rest for a while and starts writing her own songs and lyrics.

In 2006 she started to write songs for her new album Colours and wanted to mix all the influences she had into one CD. There are some fantastic musicians playing on " colours' " like Mike Roelofs, Ron van Stratum, Frank Peeters, Sam Vloemans en Henk de Laat and it has been produced by Salamontes. The cd colours' was released in 2008. While she was working at her new album colours' she did the vocals on Luiz Marquez’s new album and some backing vocals on Enrique Tarde’s new album and started a creative jazz duo project with the great piano player Tars Lootens.

In 2006 she also participated at the project LaFrench a project with 6 singers together. In 2007 she went on a 10-day tour to China (Beijing) with fantastic musicians! They played in great places as the Beijing Jazz Club, the Conservatory of Beijing, the Embassy of the Netherlands and many other places. 2008: Release of debut solo full album, Colours’.In her debut solo album singer-songwriter Caroll Vanwelden brings mix of all influences she encountered in her career as a singer. You strongly feel her passion for Jazz, Latin and Soul, melted with a dash of pop. Some songs are easy listening; others bring you to the dance floor. Her very distinctive style and her perfectionism made it long to go for a solo album. Now the time is ready to release 12 tracks on an album which will make you regret not buying it! Critic Albert Healemeersch: "Colours’ is a powerful debut of a great singer-composer. A must in your collection!"

dec 2009:Release solo album 'Cheek to Cheek'. As jazz has always been her first love, Caroll Vanwelden recorded at her home studio a collection of exquisite standards for an easy listening compilation of her all-time favourites, which resulted in the new swing jazz album ‘Cheek to Cheek’. No horns, no violins, just that sober sound that reminds of the real cosy jazz clubs. With some of her friends and top musicians – Dirk Van Der Linden on guitar, Janos Bruneel on double bass, and Stijn Wauters on the piano – vocalist Caroll Vanwelden succeeded in recreating that lovely 1930’s sound with just the right retro touch and lots of great swinging moments. As a vocalist Caroll was really made to bring that good old jazzy style.

In March 2010 she performs on the gala dinner in Mumbai of the Belgium-Indian Economic Mission in India headed by H.R.H. Prince Philippe of Belgium.

In January 2011 Caroll moves with her family to Germany where she starts composing for her new chalenging project: putting music on 16 Shakespeare Sonnets. She finished the writing in december 2011 and recorded her new album in april 2012. Caroll sings the sonnets and in the mean time plays the piano and together with her musicians Thomas Siffling (tr,flughelh), Mini Schulz (double bass) and Markus Faller (dr,perc), she brings you in the different atmospheres and soundcolours of Shakespeare's wonderful world. The new album "Caroll Vanwelden Sings Shakespeare Sonnets" is coming out in october 2012 and will be officially released the 6 of November during the Enjoy Jazz Festival in Mannheim but you can already hear some samples here.

Booklet for Sings Shakespeare Sonnets 3