Sophisticated Lady - Crazy He Calls Me (1999)

Birgit Ellmerer, vocals; Jérôme De Carli, piano; Reimund Gerstner, contrabass, Lukas Bitterlin, drums; Andreas Steiner, trumpet/flugelhorn; Rolf Häsler, saxophone.

Singer Birgit Ellmerer’s band takes its name from Duke Ellington’s famous jazz ballad, Sophisticated Lady. Established in the Swiss jazz scene for 20 years, its top-notch musicians bring verve and swing to the timeless songs of the Great American Songbook. Ellmerer has an extraordinarily well-modulated voice that breathes new life into the All Time Standards in an enjoyable way.

The rhythm section consists of the savvy and versatile pianist Stefan W. Müller, the tight, creative contrabassist Samuel Joss, and the master of beats, drummer Lukas Bitterlin. Together they create a solid groove floor buttressed by an outstanding wind section consisting of Rolf Häsler on the saxophone and Andreas Steiner on the trumpet, both of whom thrill with solo flights of musical fancy. Sophisticated Lady’s catchy big-band vibe has been known to spark the enthusiasm of the audience and envelop it in a wonderous feeling.