Knopfler, Ilona
Mack Avenue, 2003, CD
Instrument: Female Vocals
Issue: 9.3
Jazz Ruler Type: Ballads, Blues
Performance: 4-
Sound: 4
Score: 
O’s Notes: Born in France, raised in Hong Kong and blessed with a palpable sense of rhythm and pace, Ilona steps onto the jazz scene at 26 years old, ready to challenge paradigms on what works and what doesn’t. She sings popular songs with a healthy infusion of jazz. The songs, “Unchain My Heart”, “Something”, “Alfie”, and “Moondance” all flow nicely. They’re not just covers but transformations, solid lyrics, well articulated and backed by real music with real instrumentation including strings. This is good listening, a combination of jazz, blues, country and pop ballads, easy to appreciate.
