About Pairings
The Yukon jazz singer makes the minimalism work on her second album "Pairings". By limiting herself to very few backing players - and in most cases, just a single supporting musician - she creates a lot of open room for her sublime singing and her collaborators' superb sense of swing. I'd like to suggest one more pairing...all jazz lovers' ears and this wonderful recording.
— Mark Rheaume, CBC Radio
Fawn Fritzen possesses a winning combination of skills that have become increasingly important among jazz singers who endeavor to set themselves apart from the masses – she doesn’t just cover songs, she also writes her own material. But Fawn's most standout quality, showcased on her latest album Pairings, is the daring way in which she invites her musical partners to shine alongside her in their unique abilities. From George Koller’s fuzzy vocalizations and hand percussion performed simultaneously with his bass lines and Daniel Janke’s prepared piano to unaccompanied saxophone trio and solo drums as the only support to her vocals. Add to the mix Fawn’s ability to navigate several languages fluently, with unexpected twists and turns, and it becomes clear she is an artist whose boldness will surprise and even delight the listener on every track.
— Laila Biali, pianist and vocalist, host of Saturday Night Jazz on CBC Radio 2
What a glorious album Pairings is. Simply glorious. The multi-talented musician Fawn Fritzen – vocalist, chanteuse, vaudevillian, actress, and pianist – just has to be herself in all of those personae and such wonderful things happen that it takes your breath away. Fawn Fritzen’s is a fascinating yet compact masterpiece and bears repeated listening for there is so much going on in this performance. The atmospheric duets – seemingly growing out of a dimly lit stage – even in darkness – are conjured up on this compelling performance.
— Raul da Gama, JazzdaGama
— Mark Rheaume, CBC Radio
Fawn Fritzen possesses a winning combination of skills that have become increasingly important among jazz singers who endeavor to set themselves apart from the masses – she doesn’t just cover songs, she also writes her own material. But Fawn's most standout quality, showcased on her latest album Pairings, is the daring way in which she invites her musical partners to shine alongside her in their unique abilities. From George Koller’s fuzzy vocalizations and hand percussion performed simultaneously with his bass lines and Daniel Janke’s prepared piano to unaccompanied saxophone trio and solo drums as the only support to her vocals. Add to the mix Fawn’s ability to navigate several languages fluently, with unexpected twists and turns, and it becomes clear she is an artist whose boldness will surprise and even delight the listener on every track.
— Laila Biali, pianist and vocalist, host of Saturday Night Jazz on CBC Radio 2
What a glorious album Pairings is. Simply glorious. The multi-talented musician Fawn Fritzen – vocalist, chanteuse, vaudevillian, actress, and pianist – just has to be herself in all of those personae and such wonderful things happen that it takes your breath away. Fawn Fritzen’s is a fascinating yet compact masterpiece and bears repeated listening for there is so much going on in this performance. The atmospheric duets – seemingly growing out of a dimly lit stage – even in darkness – are conjured up on this compelling performance.
— Raul da Gama, JazzdaGama
