Jazzy Da Lam – Moon & You
The name Jazzy Da Lam has been floating around many Vietnamese-related Web sites including this one. Her low-quality MP3’s have created a nice buzz for her profile. Jazz fans have been waiting patiently to hear what this young pianist/singer/composer/writer who has been studying music in Germany has to offer. After two years in production, Da Lam’s debut Moon & You (Trang & Em), a collaboration with German musicians, is ready to introduce to Vietnamese audiences worldwide.
Moon & You embodied four tracks from her pen, and the remaining lyrics, including three English songs, were written by others, but all composed by Da Lam. “Khuc Dem” opens the album with a soothing Latin-jazz fusion. Her soft and clear vocals give the palette a calming color. The way she scats near the end is exhilarating. On the classical “Vat Trang,” Vincent Nguyen’s languorous arrangement sets off the mood by leading listeners into a nocturnal atmosphere. Da Lam voice then joins in and takes us into her magical world, (“Mot dem trang buoc xuong doi / ngam suong nha trang mai doi”), while the orchestration (strings, flute, clarinet, contra bass, and piano) weaving in and out of her aspirate vocals as if sharing her thoughts and soul. Assisted by Ingolf Burkhardt’s silken trumpet, she curls her feathery voice effortlessly around the smooth jazz arrangement on “Trang & Em.”
“Hay Ve Day” is what Da Lam threw in to flirt with the young heads. The funk-pop production is spicy; her voice is spicier. Sex is everywhere: in the sax, in the voice and in the words. Listen to the way she croons the refrain, “Hay ve day / an ai ta co nhau trong dam say / huong tinh yeu thom ngat bao dem lam em ngat ngay / dau nam thang xa cach cho tai te noi dang cay / hay quay ve day.” She begs you to come back and make love to her. She has been waiting for way too long. Can’t you smell the sweet scent of love? She is yearning for your touch. If that is not a booty call, then I don’t know what is.
True to her name, which was given by her online friends, jazz and blues fit her style like hand in glove. On the soulful blues, “Mau Dem,” she floats heartfelt over the light brushwork and shimmering flute riffs. By fusing Vietnamese folk into jazz with her own elegant piano work, Da Lam gives an electrifying presentation on “Vong Dem,” creating a gorgeous image of a Vietnamese women with milky breasts rocking her baby to sleep (“bo mi oi khep ngoan a oi / bau nguc thom huong sua oi a”).
Da Lam not only impresses us with her composing, singing, and writing original music, but also strikes us with her ability to perform in English. Her accentuations are exotic on “Life is” and “When I am With You,” but her timbres are banal on the pop tunes. Although the record featured various styles, it doesn’t feel disorienting thanks to Vincent Nguyen’s focused arrangements and orchestrations, and the night theme Da Lam has cleverly crafted. Yet, I still prefer a solid concentration of jazz and classic. Unlike many new musicians, Da Lam has tremendous potential and proper training in writing and performing, especially in jazz. Like many new singers, her voice is still a work in progress, noticeably her breath control. Nevertheless, her debut is still a sensation.
Jazzy Da Lam on Vong Dem is intoxicating. Her voice is silky smooth while insinuate every words with passion. I had to listen repeat it twice while listening to the album. Track #6 (forgot the name of the song) is another great composition. I wish I hadn’t listen to some of the tracks before the album came out but I couldn’t resist when I first got Vong Dem and Moon and You on the net on 160kbps mp3 quality. Now that I can listen to it in its true form, it sounds even better.
Great CD, strongly recommended.
Track #6, “Mau Dem” is indeed the one I like best.
Where can I download other mp3’s besides “Trang va em”? or where can I even GET her CD? I’d love to hear the english version and her other songs…
I got it from KimLoiStudio.com. That’s the only place I know of to get latest CDs in Vietnam.
Jazzy’s energy and passion are so abundant that makes her debut CD so exhilarating to listeners…her voice is very sensual, refreshing, and pleasant…the appropriate usage of English in her peformance is mesmerizing particularly for a person who lives and works in Gemany…the CD is a work of art, love, and creativity!
In my opinion,your comment on the lyrics of Hay Ve Day is a misinterpretation. Es is not a kind of flirt with the young heads but the yearning to her lover and to the time they spent together. A deeply romantic thought with a erotic touch.
I knew someone would disagree. FaThang, I think Jazzy would agree with you too. She probably didn’t think of it that way when she wrote the lyrics either, but her singing is so suggestive. And so I am just taking it further then what is in the original context. Can’t really help it when you have an imaginative imagination :)
Just my opinion, donny. You might take it as you like to. Jazz is so sexy that it can lead you to an erotic feeling. I only wished you would express your feeling a little bit more thoughtfully. Anyway, thanks for reply
Trust me, bro! You don’t want me to get into the details :)
Donny, I think details are not that bad. I prefer to keep them in my mind. They probably become stronger :) Others tend to share their feelings with friends. That’s ok, too
kann ich eine cd von Dir auch in Berlin kaufen? Ich bin Vietnamese und wohne in Berlin.
Vielen Dank
hallo Phuc ,
du kannst das CD hier bestellen : moonandyou0407@yahoo.com.
viel spass !
Everytime when I need to find my inspiration of creating new works, I listen to Jazzy Da Lam, Enya or Nhu Huy’s musics. Jazzy Da Lam has such stimulating voice combining with her romantic tender spontaneous lyrics!
However, her albums here in Saigon are covered by layer of dust while many other cheap pops are sold out! Pity!
Arlette
Jazzy Da Lam is awesome, but the vast majority of Vietnamese audience still listen to Paris By Night and the likes, so she can’t make a living composing and singing Jazz music. Until their taste of music vastly improves, Jazzy has no chance. It’s sad.
Just a few Viet follow and could sing jazzy like DaLam. I like the songs go with “Da.” It means “DDe^m.” Most of the songs related to this meaning are great to me in “Moon & You”. Thanks a lot Dalam, you are the beautiful picture of sound.