By Mark McDonald
Bassist Kristin Korb made her happily anticipated return to SOhO Sunday afternoon sponsored by the Santa Barbara Jazz Society. Backed by her two Danish side men, Magnus Hjorth on piano and Snorre Kirk on drums, she sang in a voice ringing clear as a bell as she dug deeply into the big double bass presenting a depth and complexity that stunned the appreciative audience. Korb is no stranger to the south coast having lived here for a number of years. She earned her masters degree in Classical Bass Performance at the University of California, San Diego and was lucky enough to have studied with the great bassist Ray Brown, with whom she made her recording debut, Introducing Kristin Korb with the Ray Brown Trio released in 1996.
This latest appearance shows she has developed an even more diverse musicianship and has made the bold leap to write all original material to fit her current life experiences. Korb presented selections from her new CD, “Finding Home” and related the stories behind her inspirations, including, Something to Celebrate, It’s Spring, 58 Boxes, and the title track. She presented additional original compositions including Traveling Groove Merchant, one of the songs where she sang scat, like a rushing mountain stream reminiscent of Aretha Franklin in a smooth, penetrating, style and reminded us that “Happy is a good thing.” Another original composition, The Gingerbread Kid, was inspired by sax man, Jimmy Heath, and she covered East of Sun, West of the Moon adding an original second chorus. Taking a note from the big band book, she played her own version of Neal Hefti’s Whirlybird.
She told us about her recent marriage to Morton Stove which took place on Montecito’s Butterfly Beach and said after the wedding Morton returned to Denmark and she continued to finish a four month tour before joining him there. When she joined him after the tour, a long shipping delay of her household goods from the states prompted the song, 58 Boxes, a song of longing and strengthening affection. As she says: “The adjustments aren’t easy. All you’ve known and trusted (friends, family, language, culture, etc.) is gone. Regardless of where we live, we need to be at home within ourselves, enjoying the moments as they come and treasuring the people and kindness around us.
Her diversity, growth, and expertise with song and bass have blossomed into full maturity. She ended the afternoon on a happy note with Something to Celebrate.
Snorre Kirk, Kristin Korb, Ian Bernard and Jan McBride (president and treasurer, SB Jazz Society) Magnus Hjorth. [/su_column]
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More photos available here.