Backed by a band of international musicians from the East and the West, Blue Journal comprises 11 introspective tunes composed and sung by Ester Wiesnerova. She fell in love with jazz listening to her mother’s record collection and wound up attending Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory. She has taught and performed at festivals and clubs around the world. She was living and performing regularly in New York when Covid-19 shut down the city, so after several years away, Ester decided it was time to return home.
Although you can hear the influence that Maria Schneider, Joni Mitchell, and Luciana Souza have had on Wiesnerová’s composing and singing, she has her own unique style. It is exciting to see such a talented and sensitive new jazz voice coming from an unexpected region of the world.
With Slovakia in total lockdown Wiesnerová had a lot of time on her hands to think about music and her experiences. She says, “From the age of 18, I was exposed to so many cultures, that I began to question who I was. I had left my home and immersed myself in American culture and the English language. I travelled around the world, and while in school, I interacted with so many people from so many different countries, that I began to question my cultural identity. I started writing down my thoughts in a journal with a blue cover, and the concept for the album took shape.”
The Blue Journal is:
- CD of 11 Ester Wiesnerova’s original compositions
- handmade ecological journal of 64 pages, also functioning as a booklet
(KAROUCH, Karin Harmanova) - 46 photographs created specifically for this project (Laura Belišová). Costumes for some of them were created by Slovak designer Monica Laceková.
- Lyrics transformed into artistic graphic design by Miriam Vysnovska
This project was supported by the Slovak Arts Council, Music Fund, and SOZA. Thank you!
ESTER WIESNEROVÁ vocals
SAM KNIGHT sax
CHARLES OVERTON harp
KAN YANABE percussion
MICHAL ŠELEP bass
All songs by ESTER WIESNEROVÁ
Produced by ESTER WIESNEROVÁ
Mixed by OLLE ROMO
Mastered by JETT GALINDO
Release date May 20 2022
“An artist of rare imagination and formidable arranging skills. An exciting new voice in European jazz.”
PETER QUINN, JAZZWISE, UK ****
“Her voice is like a warm, inviting, whispered breath as the poetic alluring lyrics are released into air. Wiesnerová is accompanied by musicians completely attuned to her vision and artistry. (…) Throughout this repertoire, warmth and affection abound. (…) For her part the inimitable Wiesnerová breathes her way into this extraordinary music with imagination and infectious musicality.”
RAUL DE GAMA, THE WHOLE NOTE, CA
