Silje Nergaard Nightwatch (2003) Sacd

Silje Nergaard (born June 19, 1966 in Steinkjer, Norway) is a Norwegian pop and jazz vocalist based in Oslo. While her music early in her career (e.g. Si det, si det from 1985) may have had a distinct pop feel, she has since moved on, and virtually all of her later releases consist of jazz-oriented tunes.
Nergaard’s musical journey began early. At age 16, she stepped on stage joining a jam session at Moldejazz, Norway’s international jazz festival, with a band comprising ex-Jaco Pastorious musicians. The country’s jazz journalists applauded the young talent. Since that day, she has steadily developed as a composer and become popular for her unique voice and talent for songwriting.
Since her 1990 inaugural jazz album, Tell Me Where You’re Going, produced by jazz guitar maestro Pat Metheny, Nergaard has become one among very few Norwegian artists to have had commercial releases in major music markets around the globe - including Brazil, Germany, the U.S., and the United Kingdom - and doing so with great success.
Her later albums, Port of Call (2000), At First Light (2001), and Nightwatch (2003), have all proved resounding commercial successes and received rapturous critical praise. With Nightwatch she also made history: no other jazz artist before her had shot straight into the Norwegian sales charts twice to reach #1 within the first week of release. In 2004 she received a Norwegian music award for Musician of the Year.

At First Light is the second-best-selling jazz album of all time in Silje Nergaard's native Norway..…….

Silje Nergaard is an award-winning Norwegian jazz-pop singer/songwriter who peaked in popularity after the turn of the century with the chart-topping albums At First Light (2001) and Nightwatch (2003). Born on June 19, 1966, in Steinkjer, Norway, she cites influences that include Al Jarreau and Joni Mitchell. As a teenager she became something of a national sensation when she joined an impromptu jam session at the 1983 Molde Internasjonal Jazz Festival. In 1984 she made her solo recording debut with…

Singer Silje Nergaard is something of a national icon in her native Norway and Scandinavian countries, selling staggering amounts of records and winning just about every music prize that exists and it's no surprise when you hear her sing.
Possessing an angelic vocal ability that is tempered by a husky, honeyed tone, Nergaard returns with a new excellent album, which is to repeat the success of her well received 2004 album Nightwatch.
A sophisticated song writer who has embraced much of the cool contemporary sounds of the much feted Norwegian nu-jazz scene, hers is a very contemporary take on the jazz vocal tradition, yet far from a detached performer, her music is life affirming and joyful as Ella or Nina sounded in their prime.
As internationally acclaimed as she is, the successful, she has recorded this sublime album "Darkness Out of Blue", with a new approach and a new band, this is her first new album in three years. Showcasing her writing and arranging on a complete set of orginal songs Silje says of the album; "This has been a very inspiring project. It feels extremely important, and I sense it is the beginning of something new."
It's a more pop-oriented album but the terrific, candy-voiced Norwegian singer is at her best.
She has also used the legendary composer/arranger Vince Mendoza to arrange two of her songs; "Paperboats" and "Let Me Be Troubled", the first and the last song on the album.
"Darkness Out Of Blue" shows her wide range of influences better than any of her previous discs; but as Silje says, this is a reflection of herself.
"Everything I have done, is done out of my own world. My roots are many different places. I am not ruled by genres and their regulations, and I believe my strength is that I create something which is totally mine."
Thus she draws from the classic and the modern from iconic female singers Ella Fitzgerald and Emmy-Lou Harris, to the melodic sound of Bill Evans to the deep dance ambiance of Zero 7, all combining to make something unique, new and entrancing.
Silje's band still includes long time friends guitarist Bjørn Charles Dreyer and the drummer Jarle Vespestad, while new collaborators include Helge Lien and Finn Guttormsen on piano and bass represent the new contribution; both extremely talented musicians with diverse backgrounds, but with jazz as their first love.
As she says, in her "It was time for change and renewing", and what incredible results that has brought. I am loving it! You will love it!

To mark the 30th anniversary of her career, award-winning Norwegian jazz singer Silje Nergaard has released a unique double album with new Songs and never-before-heard acoustic versions of her greatest Hits!

To mark the 30th anniversary of her career, award-winning Norwegian jazz singer Silje Nergaard has released a unique double album with new Songs and never-before-heard acoustic versions of her greatest Hits!

To mark the 30th anniversary of her career, award-winning Norwegian jazz singer Silje Nergaard has released a unique double album with new Songs and never-before-heard acoustic versions of her greatest Hits!

Silje Nergaard (born 19 June 1966) is a Norwegian jazz vocalist and songwriter, She is one of the best-selling jazz artists on the official sales chart in Norway.