English
"It's hard not to enjoy every single little word when Jazz Singer Malene Kjaergaard delivers them with such conviction and a velvet-like voice on her first album ”Happy Feet"– writes Danish Newspaper Fyns Stifttidende
"The standard of the Danish Vocal Jazz - particularly in relation to women - is sky-high. And it’s like that fact has an decidedly self-reinforcing effect. One of the newest stars in jazz sky is 27-year-old Malene Kjaergaard ..." writes Jazzstjerner.dk
At a concert with the Malene Kjaergaard Group you will hear interpretations of standards from the American Songbook, (swing, latin, bebop) as well as Malene's own compositions: "Malene Kjærgård writes catchy tunes and she has the ability of writing lyrics with substance, and flair for, linguistic quirks which catches the listener's attention "(Jazz Stars). "Kjaergaard has composed three of the songs on the CD... they stand on the shoulders of the Jazz Standards" (Jazznyt). In 2012 Malene won the 2nd prize in the ”Young Jazz Composer of the Year" competition.
Malene has a mission, although she often gets reviews such as: "Malene Kjaergaard is, like most of her peers, a well-trained singer with a solid technical foundation, fine intonation, great understanding of phrasing and a beautiful, uniform, light dark, yet fresh sound" – she has another agenda:
Malene loves active communication with her audience - and with an ”obvious sense of communication" as "Gaffa" wrote in their review - Malene and the musicians adjust the music to the atmosphere of the venue with an emphatic, intuitive and improvisational approach. With this ability Malene and her group make the songs relevant and she gives her audience a musical and lyrical gift to take home. As listener, you will find yourself being drawn into a musical storytelling.
"I've had the pleasure of booking Malene Kjærgård Group for an evening concert at Godset in Kolding. The concert exceeded all our expectations! Malene is a an involving and technically skilled singer who performs her songs with a rare ease and effortlessness not to mention her very natural way of being present at stage. Through the entire concert she had a natural and authentic contact with her an enthusiastic audience. I would warmly recommend her to any booker!" Breide Nielsen, Booker at Jazz6000 in Kolding
"I have booked the Malene Kjaergaard Group for a lunchtime Jazz Concert at ”Værket”. The concert was really great, and Malene immediately caught the attention of the audience - both because of her beautiful voice and her authentic presence" Inger Kaad, Jazzbooker.
"Remarkable delicious voice ... A very mature composer" ***** Lydtapet
"Great debut from a potential star" **** Fyns Stifttidende
"She's definitely got both voice and authority" **** Berlingske Tidende
"Attracting the listener's attention" **** Jazzstjerner
"Obvious sense of communication" Gaffa
Dansk
"Det er ikke svært at nyde hver enkel lille glose, når den debuterende jazzsangerinde Malene Kjærgård leverer dem med så stor overbevisning og fløjsblød en klang, som hun gør på sin første plade Happy Feet" Fyns Stiftstidende
"Standarden i den danske vokale jazz - særligt på kvindesiden - er skyhøj. Og det er som om, det er et faktum, der har en decideret selvforstærkende effekt. Et af de nyere skud på jazzhimlen er den 27-årige Malene Kjærgård …" skriver Jazzstjerner.
Til en koncert med Malene Kjærgård Group vil du kunne høre fortolkninger af standard fra den amerikanske sangskat, (swing, latin, bebop) samt Malene's egene kompositioner: "Malene Kjærgård skriver iørefaldende melodier, ligesom hun evner at skrive tekster med både indhold og flair for de små sproglige finurligheder, der holder fast i lytterens opmærksomhed" (Jazzstjerner). "Kjærgård har selv skrevet tre af pladens numre…de står på skuldrende af jazzens standards" (Jazznyt). Malene vandt i 2012 2. Pladsen i DPA's konkurrence "Årets unge jazzkomponist". "Jeg har booket Malene Kjærgård til en frokostjazzkoncert på Værket. Koncerten var rigtig god, og Malene hittede blandt publikum både p.g.a. sin smukke stemme og sit fine nærvær" skriver Inge Kaad.
Malene har en mission - selvom hun ofte modtager anmeldelser som f.eks. "som sangerinde er Malene Kjærgård i lighed med sine kollegaer veluddannet med et solidt teknisk fundament, fin intonation, god forståelse for frasering og en smuk, egal, lettere mørk, men alligevel frisk klang" - så er hendes fokus et helt andet sted.
Malene er nemlig forelsket i en aktiv kommunikation med sit publikum - og med en "åbenlys sans for formidling" som "Gaffa" skrev i deres anmeldelse - tilpasser hun og musikerne, med sans for improvisation og indføling som hovedingredienser, musikken til stemningen i rummet. Hermed evner Malene at gøre sangene relevante på ny og give sit publikum en musikalsk og lyrisk gave med hjem. Som publikum vil du altså opleve at blive suget ind i en musikalsk historiefortælling.
"Jeg har haft fornøjelsen at booke Malene Kjærgård Group til en aftenkoncert på Godset i Kolding, som forløb over al forventning. Malene er en personlig og teknisk dygtig sangerinde der formidler sine sange med en lethed og ubesværethed og ikke mindst en naturlighed der er sjælden. Hun var hele tiden i fin kontakt med et begejstret publikum. Mine varmeste anbefalinger." Breide Nielsen, booker for Jazz6000 i Kolding
"Bemærkelsesværdig lækker stemme…Meget moden komponist" ***** Lydtapet
"Flot debut fra potentiel stjerne. " **** Fyns Stifttidende
"Hun har absolut både stemme og autoritet" **** Berlingske Tidende
"Holder fast i lytterens opmærksomhed" ****Jazzstjerner
"Åbenlys sans for formidling" Gaffa