Album Review: Mieke Miami – Birdland (Edition DUR 19)

Mieke Miami is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and producer originally from Hamburg, but now based in the working-class, so-called “artist enclave” of Luckenwalde, in the state of Brandenburg, southwest of Berlin. Her musical origins lie in jazz saxophone, which she studied in the German capital before starting her journey as a songwriter in 2014.

This year she returns with her third album “Birdland”, which develops her unique fusion of psychedelic jazz and leftfield electronics, with Mieke handling vocals, bass clarinet, flute, saxophone, keyboards and programming, as well as co-producing and writing all the original music.

The title of the album is not only a reference to the world-famous New York jazz club (named after Charlie “Bird” Parker), but also to the many jazz venues of the same name in Germany.

The album is a collection of short, sweet, atmospheric pieces, from the jaunty Same River with its soaring sax and flute contrasting with Mieke’s melancholic vocals, to the more urgent Bungalow with its chopped beats, jazzy guitar and quirky keyboards – all of which add up to something like Money Mark teaming up with Feist in the studio, or Shabaka playing his flute with Inflo & Cleo Sol.

“Pharaohs Sand” takes things to a more ethereal level with its cosmic, dubby spiritual jazz feel. On the faster-paced “7 Miles To Jordan,” the more frenetic 4/4 drums and Mieke’s moody bass clarinet combine with her almost rapped vocals, taking us on a sort of momentary musical travelogue.

The only cover version on the album is that of the timeless Dusty Springfield classic “Son of a Preacher Man.” The art of creating a worthy remake is mystical, but Mieke has really achieved something special here: she has reworked the sensual, soulful serenade to a lost love and turned it into a jazz-drenched, enigmatic mid-tempo shuffler, complete with Karl Ivar Refseth’s vibraphone, dub effects and Mieke’s dramatic flutes, bass clarinet, alto saxophone and of course those soaring vocals!

Check Out: the beautiful opener to ‘Birdland‘: ‘Whispering Pines‘

“Birdland” is a love letter to the world of jazz – to artists like Miles, Davis, Herbie Hancock and Sergio Mendes, of course, but also to more contemporary icons like Erykah Badu, Jimi Tenor and Sufjan Stevens. It delves into the playful side of the genre and, importantly, adds her sense of humor to it.

Verdict: ‘Birdland’ plays like the perfect soundtrack to a cool 70s love story, set in New York maybe, late summer as the season slowly transitions to autumn. The Kind of music that would play over lovers spending time together. Lazy walks in the park, strolls through the Manhattan, both together, moving through a city of millions but only aware of each other. A vibrant energy courses through the album, a sense of playfulness and joy, that leaves you with a warm sense of well being from the listening experience. Her musicianship shines in the arrangements, and the impeccable performances from all involved are a delight. Oh, and that voice, Low and lush giving the songs a dreamy haze. Mieke Miami doesn’t hit a bum note, that is to say, every track fits perfectly, making this one solid body of work from start to finish.

Side 1:

A1 – Whispering Pines
A2 – Same River
A3 – 7 Miles to Jordan
A4 – Parrots
A5 – Very High
A6 – Pharaohs Sand

Side 2:

B1 – Mahady O’Mahony
B2 – Son of a Preacher Man
B3 – The Tiger and the Snake
B4 – The Light
B5 – Bungalow
B6 – Fire

Produced by Benjamin Spitzmüller & Mieke Miami. Mastered by Arne Albrecht. Written by Mieke Miami, except A2 / A6 by Benautik, B2 by Hurley/Wilkins. Recorded by Mieke Miami & Benautik, Jörg Holdinghausen, Hanno Stick, Johannes Bigge, Karl Ival Refseth, Alex Binder, Kalle Zeier & Roman Ott. Published by Random Musick except B2. Photo by Dovile Sermokas. Cover Design: Bianca Strauch-Freytag, Mjam Mjam.

Available now @ https://www.kulturkaufhaus.de/de/detail/ISBN-4252019300190/Mieke-Miami/Birdland-Edition-DUR-19 Limited Edition: 500 Copies