Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » John Ilija Apelgren and Gordan Spasovski: Midnight Conversation

17

John Ilija Apelgren and Gordan Spasovski: Midnight Conversation

By

Sign in to view read count
John Ilija Apelgren and Gordan Spasovski: Midnight Conversation
Duet records can be very revealing. They can demand the utmost attention from two musicians who play either in support, in discussion or entwined. Playing with another person means playing solo and in support at the same time and, when this works well, it can be magical. Something magical happens with the pairing of Macedonian jazz singer John Ilija Apelgren and jazz pianist extraordinaire Gordan Spasovski. The high expectations for this combination of musicians probably aren't high enough for what they deliver in terms of letting their distinctive attributes shine while also interacting at the highest levels of listening and enjoyment on their joint effort, simply titled Midnight Conversation.. As a result, this record is a deeply intimate, intuitive offering from these two artists who clearly relish the songs they have chosen to play.

Midnight Conversation is an exemplar of sophisticated music-making, with perfect phrasings, tempos, and melodies. It is a sensitive, melodically exploratory album of standards where a nocturnal feeling prevails and—even though the songs on the repertoire have been sung and recorded many times over—they still sound fresh. This record is so unique that it gives the feeling that the songs are performed in an intimate, small club-like atmosphere and not a cavernous recording studio. But, in general, Apelgren and Spasovski have an instant rapport, a kind of innate connectedness. Without support from a rhythm section, the duo's intimacy is like eavesdropping on an intensely private moment. Spasovski gives empathetic support, keeping the proceedings both light and lush. His impeccable touch, luminous tone, and elegant phrasing are all admirable as they contribute to the album's modesty. There is no extreme grandstanding here, only committed creativity.

And one can only marvel at the quality of Apelgren's voice whose appreciation and love for these songs emanates from every nuance of each song. Apelgren is a seasoned veteran with a deep and thorough knowledge of jazz history and the American songbook, and has performed and recorded many of these songs over the years in a variety of settings. Some of them like "Angel Eyes," "These Foolish Things," "My One and Only Love" are better known but he makes deep cuts with songs such as "Dreamer," "Stay With It" or "Who Can I Turn To."

Midnight Conversation is an album for quiet times when pleasure is on the agenda. In order to be appreciated fully, this album would best be listened to late at night preferably with a Scotch on the rocks.

Track Listing

Too young; Angel Eyes; Don't Let it Go To Your head; A Portrait of Jenny; These Foolish things; Dreamer; My One and Only Love; Moonlight in Vermont; Stay With It; When Sunny Gets Blue; Who Can I Turn To.

Personnel

John I. Apelgren: vocal; Gordan Spasovski: piano

Album information

Title: Midnight Conversation | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Self Produced

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.