Nightmoves
Kurt Elling · 2007
61 min · 11 tracks · jazz
A lush exploration of jazz standards infused with Elling's smooth vocals and intricate lyrical interpretations.
Top tracks — play these first
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Change Partners / If You Never Come to Me — This track showcases Elling's ability to seamlessly blend two distinct songs into a cohesive narrative, highlighting his impressive phrasing and emotional depth.
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The Waking — Featuring a unique arrangement, this piece allows Elling's vocal agility to shine while simultaneously exploring profound themes of existence and consciousness.
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I Like the Sunrise — Elling's interpretation imbues this standard with warmth and optimism, illustrating his skill at transforming familiar material into something fresh and engaging.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong vocal improvisation and intricate arrangements, making it a notable entry in contemporary jazz.
What we noticed
- Elling frequently employs improvisation within the vocal lines, allowing for spontaneous variations in melody and phrasing.
- 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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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. 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
- wave-like pacing with dynamic shifts
- rich vocal improvisation exploration
- reflective moments for late nights
- soothing soundscapes for relaxation
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer upbeat party atmospheres
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2007, Nightmoves is Kurt Elling's sixth studio album, following the critically acclaimed Man in the Air. At this point in his career, Elling had established himself as a leading voice in contemporary jazz, known for blending traditional standards with modern interpretations and original compositions.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Gregory Porter· Cécile McLorin Salvant· Diana Krall
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Nightmoves 4:21
- 2 Tight 2:53
- 3 Change Partners / If You Never Come to Me 7:37
- 4 Undun 5:06
- 5 Where Are You, My Love? 5:25
- 6 And We Will Fly 4:19
- 7 The Waking 4:10
- 8 The Sleepers 5:27
- 9 Leaving Again / In the Wee Small Hours 5:02
- 10 A New Body and Soul 10:19
- 11 I Like the Sunrise 6:52
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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