Close Your Eyes
Kurt Elling · 1995
63 min · 13 tracks · jazz
A smooth blend of jazz vocals and imaginative storytelling, weaving intricate melodies with emotional depth.
Top tracks — play these first
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Close Your Eyes — The title track introduces listeners to Elling's lush vocal style and emotional delivery, setting the tone for the entire album with its intimate feel.
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Ballad of the Sad Young Men — This track showcases Elling's ability to convey deep emotion through phrasing and dynamics, transforming a classic into a fresh experience.
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(Hide the) Salome — Elling uses this piece to display his improvisational skills and playful interaction with the band, making it a lively highlight of the album.
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Never Say Goodbye (for Jodi) — With its poignant lyrics and tender delivery, this track highlights Elling's narrative strength and connection to personal themes.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Elling's debut showcases strong vocal composition and storytelling, establishing his unique voice in jazz.
What we noticed
- The opening track features a slow build with layered vocal harmonies that set a reflective mood for the album.
- Several tracks incorporate spoken word elements, blending narrative storytelling with traditional jazz vocals.
- The instrumentation varies throughout, with some songs featuring minimal piano accompaniment while others include full band arrangements.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intimate storytelling through vocals
- wave-like pacing with dynamics
- reflective moments for quiet evenings
- engaging narratives that unfold slowly
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer upbeat, fast-paced tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Close Your Eyes was Kurt Elling's debut album, released in 1995 when he was emerging as a distinctive voice in jazz. At this point, he had just graduated from the University of Chicago and began to carve out his niche in the jazz scene, showcasing his unique vocal techniques and lyrical interpretations.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Gregory Porter· Cécile McLorin Salvant· Diana Krall
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Close Your Eyes 6:08
- 2 Dolores Dream 6:36
- 3 Ballad of the Sad Young Men 6:20
- 4 (Hide the) Salome 6:59
- 5 Married Blues 1:32
- 6 Storyteller Experiencing Total Confusion 6:16
- 7 Never Say Goodbye (for Jodi) 5:33
- 8 Those Clouds Are Heavy, You Dig? 3:09
- 9 Wait 'Till You See Her 3:58
- 10 Hurricane 4:50
- 11 Now It Is Time That Gods Came Walking Out 2:03
- 12 Never Never Land 5:53
- 13 Remembering Veronica 4:15
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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