Kadri Voorand Trio / Quartet

armupurjusMarek Talts – guitar
Taavo Remmel – bass
Kadri Voorand – vocals/piano
Ahto Abner – drums

“Voorand’s interpretations ranged from whispers, jests and romantic murmurs to smooth, intimate storytelling. Even untranslated language was clear.”(Phillip Woolever/allaboutjazz.com)

“Kadri Voorand is a first class joyfully rousing entertainer with a great voice, great timing with a group of first class musicians closely tied together and flexibly underpinning her spontaneous asides and excursions. Voorand is a hi-fly as well as earthy type of artist who is able to sing on top level in different contexts (witness her contribution to the recent recording of Estonian composer Tõnu Kõrvits’ album Mirror (ECM New Series). In her performance, “directed” from the piano chair, élan, tempo, spirit and soul went hand in hand. She sang in her native language and when she shifted to wordless singing it by far transcended old school scatting. With her performance she proved to be a unique thoroughbred entertainer on a high musical level who hits people’s body and soul. In that capacity she clearly deserves still more international exposure.” (London Jazz News 2016)

“One can hear jazzy harmonies, folk like rhythms, for example even Carribean like feeling, ambient soundscapes and an esthetics of noise, tastefully suitable to the stile. The album does not fallow rules of form, music stands first. The fact that there is no drums actually suites the music, the guitarist Virgo Sillamaa and bassist Taavo Remmel superbly cover the role and it allows the vocal and guitar sound layers stand out more. It is difficult not to listen the whole CD through at once, because it is also emotionally very touching.” (Kaur Garšnek, Sirp 2012)

The group consists of the vocalist Kadri Voorand, who occasionally also uses electronic effects and additional instruments like kalimba, melodica, glockenspiel and piano together with Marek Talts on guitars, Taavo Remmel on double bass and Ahto Abner on drums. The quartet grew out of the former Kadri Voorand Trio, which is active as well.

Their music has been popular among both estonian and non-estonian speaking audience. There has been several radio broadcasts, including one through European Broadcast Union. Trio has given concerts also in Canada, USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Finland, UK, Hungary and more around Europe . They’ve released an album “Kosmogooniline etüüd” (Cosmogonic etude) and just recentrly “Armupurjus” which was in 2017 awarded as the best jazz album of the year by Estonian Music Awards . Both have reached up to the Europe Jazz Media Top 10.