The concert at the Kaufleuten in Zurich was part of the band's first live tour after their appearance at last year's European Song Contest catapulted them into the limelight overnight.
The trio -- Anna Rossellini (vocals), Manuel Meisel (guitar), and Georg Dillier (bass) -- has come a long way since they started busking in 2008. But their music has retained the charming, light-hearted and entertaining quality of street music that creates an informal and relaxed atmosphere.
The three-strong band was joined by vibraphonist Martin Medjimorec, drummer Simon Kistler, and accordion, saxophone, and flute player Cédric Gschwind -- they all played musical instruments suitable for performing on the streets.
As I entered the concert venue, a nice mix of young and old people, aged between 10 and 70 years, were happily chatting and enjoying a drink while waiting for the concert to begin.
Finally, Rossellini and her band appeared on stage bathed in purple light and mist. They launched with ‘Holiday', a pop song starting with the soft-toned vibraphone before Rossinelli's voice with her rich timbre and a resonant tone joined in and the lights turned blue and green. It was a song about love and friendship, like most of the other 17 that followed.
The six-member band played a mix of melodious songs -- some upbeat, others thoughtful and longing -- from their first album ‘Bon Voyage', as well as pieces by other composers. They featured an eclectic array of styles ranging from catchy classic pop songs (‘Strawberry Cream') to expressive ballads (‘The Reason I Stay'), chanson-like songs (‘Accident waiting to happen') and jazzy tunes (‘See what you've done').
It was fascinating to listen to Rossellini's voice adapt to the different styles with ease, bringing out their particular characteristics without losing clarity or warmth of tone.
Her strong, full voice in ‘Accident waiting to happen' became expressive and soft in ‘You are', then took on a deep, almost husky tone with a jazzy tinge in ‘State of Mind' by Raul Midon, which let her classic jazz background shine through.
The versatility, range and volume of her voice with its many colours and timbres were impressive and kept the audience spellbound. Her tonal quality changed from dreamy romantic to femme fatale, reminding me of Marlene Dietrich, and the lights changing colours according to the mood of the music contributed to the effect.
Anne Rossinelli and her band live on stage. Photograph: Chrigu Stuber
The band had an energetic and mesmerising stage presence -- not polished or overly professional but refreshingly youthful -- that was reinforced by Rossinelli's radiance. They performed with a light-heartedness and wit, yet down-to earthiness that conveyed their joy of playing and the fun they had.
Some friendly chit-chat with the audience and a few questions or humorous remarks between songs evoked the atmosphere of street music.
Rossinelli's soulful voice, her charming personality and the band's enthusiasm and professionalism made for a delightful evening of pure listening pleasure.
Anna Rossinelli's tour within Switzerland continues until the end of April 2012. For details, see www.annarossinellimusic.com
Katalin Fekete / Expatica
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Up-and-coming pop soul singer-songwriter Rossinelli and her band delighted the audience with her powerful, versatile voice and a strong performance. Review by Katalin Fekete.
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