Kurt Elling’s new album Questions opens with a powerful rendition of Bob Dylan’s A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall. 

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The highly praised jazz artist’s voice is stark, on it’s own, without any backing musicians, as he sings the song’s famous opening line “O’ where have you been my blue-eyed son, and where have you been my darling one?”

After a pause the next line comes, there a slight echo as he delivers each line, his voice filled with expression and inflection. Slowly the band comes in quietly, the sound of scratched strings and mellow tones. Elling’s declarative delivery is a far-cry from Dylan’s original croaky mumbled style.

“I’ve stepped in the middle of seven sad forests, I’ve been out in front of a dozen dead oceans, I’ve been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard.” Elling sings, each line hitting like a boxer’s jab, and as he rolls into the chorus, his band swells up delivering a warm embrace of jazz magic.

It’s an impressive album opener from a performer who has been hailed as one of the best voices performing today.

On the new record Elling offers songs from a diverse range of writers including Dylan, Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel. Alongside pieces by Broadway legends Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green and Rogers and Hammerstein, plus a rendition of Hoagie Carmichael and Johnny Mercer’s Skylark. Elsewhere different pieces of previously instrumental music are matched with words from some of Elling’s favourite poets.

The albums central theme is asking big questions and while not an overtly political record, Elling says the choice of material is a reflection of the world we’re living in.

“It’s my response to this moment, the challenge we have. The challenge we face is a political moment, there are geo-political issues to handle within the United States -things are not going well at all.” Ellling said during a chat with OUTinPerth.

“There’s madness in the executive branch, and people are going to get killed, and decisions are going to be made to the detriment of all.

“I’m a citizen, a citizen of the world, and my response as a musician should be commensurate with those responsibilities.

“So it’s not a political record like, oh I don’t know – a Joan Baez record where the entirety of the record is all about the maddness. It’s also a record about love, it’s a record about loss, it’s a record about questions of ontology and death. I think it spans quite a few questions.” Elling said.

Elling’s powerful and emotive voice highlights each lyric of the songs, often providing moments of clarity. On Paul Simon’s American Tune the line “When I think of the road we’re traveling on I wonder what went wrong” stands tall.

Originally written 45 years ago in the wake of President Richard Nixon’s election, the lyric has new life in Donald Trump’s America. Elling says hopes the rendition strikes a chord. “I hope it does, I’m trying to aim for right bulls-eye and to encourage people of good will.” Elling said.

While much of his output is interpretations of other songwriter’s work Elling has never been one to record an album of predictable covers. He says he prefers to experiment with his band and seek out more interesting songs.

“I’m working with a band who like to experiment, and it’s never been in my nature to choose the obvious path. It’s much more important to me to choose composition that I can say something specific about, from a specific point of view, that belongs only to me.” Elling said describing his pathway as the one which does not involve easy choices.

As he tours the world five star reviews follow after each performance, Elling said he had a simple work ethic about he approached each show and recording session.

“Man, I’m just trying my hardest to sing as well as I can.  Life is short. I believe in jazz as an idiom, as an artistic avenue. I try to be true to the people who have proceeded me and the example they have set.

“My favourite singers and musicians have never been accused of being easy on themselves, so as much as I can sing it, I’m going to do my best to sing it as well as I can.” Elling said.

Kurt Elling will be playing at the Astor Theatre on Wednesday June 6th, with special guest Emma Pask. Tickets available from The Astor Theatre.     

Graeme Watson, image: Anna Webster