Östran 110218
By: TOMMY GRANLUND
Helen Sjöholm excelled with great vocal and dramatic art in Kalmar Hall on Thursday evening. With talented musicians to her help and a diverse repertoire.
Everything from Billy Joel in Swedish, which is her latest album, to the music of Harry Martinson’s Aniara. From Nick Cave to Tomas Andersson Wij.
There are few singers in our country who are as technically skilled vocally. Within any form of popular music, I can only imagine to mention Sofia Karlsson and Tommy Körberg on the same level.
Helen Sjöholm seems to be able to sing almost anything and never make an effort to impress. Switches from using her full power to quickly take it down to make it very quiet, without it being noticed. And whatever she sings she keeps it alive and with good articulation not a word is lost.
The best of musicians
With such musicians as Martin Östergren, piano, Jojje Wadenius and Gunnar Nordén, guitar, and Andre Ferrrari, drums, she has the best possible back up. Musicians with class that works the same way as the star. Shine all the time without ever being too much.
With a total of nine musicians including a string quartet the setting is varied all the time. When she sings a couple of songs from the recent show with music of Kleerup to Harry Martinson’s Aniara it´s phenomenal. First, with only suggestive drums and the string quartet that highlights Helens clear strong voice. In that sort of material she sings with such strength and passion that her voice vibrates of life in every moment.
Can be funny too
Helen Sjöholm also has a comic talent. She talks about her teenage years, illustrated with small snippets from a variety of hits from 1984-85. Memories of her first love and rebellion against her parents. It´s a very entertaining dialogue that is nuanced all the time with shifts in her voice.
There are no weak moments, although I think Nick Cave’s Where The Wild Roses Grow is sung by a few too many to be fresh. But there’s certainly nothing wrong with Helen and Jojje Wadenius’ duet singing through that song.
Explosive ancient power
If I have to chose the absolute highlight, it’s one of Billy Joel’s songs; Barpianisten (Piano Man). A song that is so special that it must be gruesomely difficult to sing, probably impossible for most. But Helen Sjöholm sings it so explosively, with such immense power and in a manner that brings the characters of the song to life.
Live music on the level which Helen Sjöholm performed this evening is difficult not to be deeply impressed by.