Ellen Honert
Genève, Geneva, Switzerland | SELF
Music
Press
"....From the land of windmills and wooden shoes to the town where Tony Bennett left his heart all those oh-so-many-years ago, vocalist/recording artist, Ellen Honert, injects mortal coil into every note on Breath of the Soul, her first CD release on Mill Station Records, that, in a few short years, brought her across The Big Pond to fulfill musically-motivated passions here in these United-or-Otherwise States...." - Scott Mastro
"...The result is magnificent.... We're not surprised, but we're delighted and inspired, and we know that you will be, too..." - Tuck and Patti
"...This is a brilliant new album from Ellen Honert... Breath of the Soul is an apt title, when one realizes that Ellen has squeezed the last drop of creativity, diligence and that undefinable but very crucial quality called 'individuality' generously into this album...Ellen Honert has a very individualistic approach to jazz vocals
and she seems to be cruising at top speed in the jazz universe. Good stuff. Four stars..." - Max Babi
"...Then I recieved the final package with the mixes carfully crafted and the playing and singing a touch of heaven. Beautiful songs, my god she's a writer too! So this cd is going to live in my car for a very long time. Right in the door panel, so it is easy to reach. A few months ago I got an invitation to see Ellen perform in Mill Valley Ca. and I jumped at it. I was knocked out! She is the complete package. Artist, writer, performer. Ear and Eye candy at it's best!..." - Jack Douglas, Producer/ Engineer,/Composer
"...This CD is a result of the musical and personal friendships that came from her time in the Bay Area, and also the strong and gifted hand of Frank Martin as producer and arranger of Ellen’s originals and the interesting choice of cover material. It has a confident, seasoned and balanced sound unusual for a new recording artist. I have enjoyed playing “Breath of the Soul” on KSFR here in Santa Fe, and I know my listeners have also heard something new and beautiful in the world of vocal jazz..." - Michael Handler, Jazz Writer, Downbeat Contributor, Jazz Radio Host
"...If the name Ellen Honert doesn’t ring any musical bells for you, I’m here to change that!... Ellen Honert has great range. In her lower registers, she is reminiscent of Anita Baker, with swoops and glides and interesting timing. I love to sing along with whatever vocals I listen to, but I am unable to do this with Ellen’s recordings. The originals aren’t “sing-along friendly” because they are very intricate melodically, and a bit complicated to wrap the brain around. This does not make this CD unlistenable, however, quite the contrary. I couldn’t wait to see what Ms. Honert would do with the next track, and the next, and so on. I was never disappointed by her originality..." - Mary Jo Conniff
"..Ellen Honert’s new CD, Hummingville, is a testament to the growth and artistic development that this native of the Netherlands has experienced since her 2006 release entitled, Breath of the Soul...The music is creative and refreshing. The sound quality is excellent and the musical chemistry of the players is evident throughout the project. Hummingville, conveys many musical styles and textures; the common tone throughout the project is that it is sung with the emotion from an open heart..." - H. Allen Williams
"..Several years ago a young lady with a natural talent for singing burst on to the jazz scene with a brilliant debut titled “Breath of the Soul.” Originally from the Netherlands but now a true California girl, Ellen Honert follows up that critically acclaimed first album with another equally impressive musical project cementing her reputation as one of the finest songbirds in jazz today...I'm not sure where Hummingville is, perhaps somewhere over the rainbow, in the clouds above or in the windmills of one's mind, but one thing is certain, Ellen Honert is there singing songs that everyone will want to hear. Simply put, Hummingville is a musical destination you will want to visit often and Honert's charming vocals makes the trip memorable..." - Edward Blanco
"...When a vocalist surrounds herself with quality musicians like pianist Frank Martin, guitarist José Neto, flutist Pedro Eustache, bassist John Peña and drummer, percussionist extraordinaire Alex Acuña, you got the feeling she must be good. And Ellen Honert is really good. Hummingville, the second album from this Netherlands native is a collection of good songs and amazing musicians...Honert's fine vocals and elegant phrasing captivate you from the first track.."
- Wilbert Sostre
Listen to this performance in its entirety and be moved. Not sound bites and samples, but the work as a whole. Not bits and pieces, but an entire rainbow’s arc from beginning to end. Not just skimming the surface, but diving in to sample the depths. This recording captures the collective energy of artists gathered to support the creative work of Ellen Honert. Her rich pallette of vocal colors and nuanced phrasing is supported at every turn by musicians who bring their unique instrumental gifts to bear. John, Alex, Jose, and Frank provide a flawless foundation with a generous virtuosity that makes this an organic team effort. And Pedro’s soaring solo work takes the breath away. I’ve worked with all of these musicians many times and their ability to surprise and excite me again and again is a joy. The original songs from Ellen and Frank are refreshing and Frank brings an original voice in his arrangement of songs that we all know. So take the time to listen from beginning to end. Take the journey with them and enjoy.
- Abraham Laboriel
"...great tunes all inspiring and full of rich melodies. I was very impressed by Honert’s talents and the range of her voice. Breath of the Soul contains very fine music and a powerful performance by a vocalist who seems perfect for the jazz setting. One heck of a debut!..." - Edward Blanco
"...Ellen Honert possesses a perfectly balanced alto voice that easily modulates between the many highs and lows she employs in her singing—and Breath of the Soul requires much of this from her. Softly Latin in overall character and instrumentation, this music provides a humid and languid blanket for Honert’s sensual craft...Ellen Honert is a singer’s singer. There is nothing flashy in her approach, in spite of her considerable chops. Breath of the Soul is a solidly enjoyable vocal outing..." - Michael Bailey
"...The contemporary refrains from vocalist Ellen Honert on Breath of the Soul run smooth and sleek, and with a distinctive eloquence...That each arrangement comes with an easy swing or other natural attachment makes it easy to fall in love with the music. Honert keeps things up-close and personal with her easygoing manner and expert musicality...Breath of the Soul convinces..." - Jim Santella
Discography
Breath of the Soul (2006)
Hummingville (2010) songs marked with * are from this album
In 2008, the song "Blue" (Honert/Martin) on the album "Breath of the Soul" received an honorable mention at the Malibu Music Awards. http://www.malibumusicawards.com
Photos
Bio
“ I want my music to convey the essence of what it’s like to be fully alive...that complex bitter-sweet feeling when you truly open your heart to living...”
~ Ellen Honert
In her timeless and sensual debut album Breath of the Soul (2006), vocalist and composer Ellen Honert eloquently delivers a wide range of material, from Latin-tinged tunes to ballads full of emotion and soulful vulnerability. Jazzreview’s Max Babi describes the CD as “a brilliant new album” and adds, “Breath of the Soul is an apt title, when one realizes that Ellen has squeezed the last drop of creativity, diligence and that undefinable but very crucial quality called 'individuality' generously into this album...she seems to be cruising at top speed in the jazz universe.”
Growing up in the culturally diverse Netherlands, Ellen absorbed a variety of musical influences at a young age, traveling with her parents to Spain, Greece, France, North Africa and South America. Her interest in jazz was awakened while studying Political Science at the University of Amsterdam, when a friend gave her a tape with the music of Sarah Vaughan. “I must have listened to that tape on a daily basis for over a year...I drove my roommates crazy!” That same year, her piano teacher asked her to sing with him at a jazz gig at a café in Amsterdam. She started performing regularly with him.
Wanting to gain a deeper understanding of jazz, Ellen enrolled at the Dutch Conservatory of Music. But after a year and a half, fearing she’d lose her personal voice, she decided to pursue her studies independently. After meeting Tuck & Patti at a concert in Amsterdam, they invited her to a jazz camp in California. Ellen used this opportunity to launch her musical career in the US. After a stint of gospel singing at Glide Church in San Francisco, she joined V-Soul, a group of singers from Glide, which performed and toured in the Netherlands. Ellen's well received second album "Hummingville" arrived in the beginning of 2010, and through Ellen’s countless appearances with her own band, she continues to hone her unique style and interpretive skills.
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