Elisabeth Lohninger
Songs Of Love And Destruction
Lofish Records
www.lofish.com
By George W. Harris

There must be something in the mountain air, as vocalist Elisabeth Lohninger, who grew up in a tiny Austrian mountain village, sure can deliver with some breathtaking results. She’s got an intimate voice that, when backed with the quartet of Bruch Barth/p, Evean Gregor/b, and Jordan Perlson/dr, is vulnerable and reflective, as shown on Joni Mitchell’s “River.” She revamps The Beatles’ “Here There And Everywhere” with some peppy sax work from Donny McCaslin, while the New Orleanish jive of “A Little Bit Tricky” gets her in a celebratory mood. Most impressive are her calm, cool and collected duets. With Barth, she does a shadowy “With Every Breath I Take” while her reading of “I Fall In Love Too Easily” with Gregor is spacious like a winter night. Flexible vocals done with the flick of a wrist here, and she keeps you involved with each syllable.