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Recorded live at the 2002 Jazzopen Festival in Stuttgart, Germany, NANA SWINGS is something of a companion piece to Nana Mouskouri's 1962 jazz classic, NANA MOUSKOURI IN NEW YORK. Both albums feature the lauded vocalist backed by a large ensemble, singing dynamic interpretations of tunes from the Great American Songbook. The 40 years between performances have dimmed Mouskouri's vocal prowess not a bit. If anything, her voice has grown more textured and nuanced over time, and some of the early sweetness of her soprano has been replaced by a fuller sound that lends itself well to these readings.
The set list here offers plenty of George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Johnny Mercer tunes. Highlights include an aching rendition of "Someone to Watch over Me" and an intimate, smoky take on "Black Coffee." Mouskouri's accent and distinctive phrasing cast these compositions in a new light, an effect also noticeable on her version of Van Morrison's "Moondance."
