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INTERVIEW: SIMONE HELLE “My Starry Eyes” – Christian Hanelt

“Her singing is reminiscent of jazz greats such as Dianne Reeves or Cassandra Wilson.”

“Serious themes in a joyful guise”

INTERVIEW: Simone Helle is a jazz singer. On her new, second album “My Starry Eyes”, she combines modern mainstream jazz with influences from gospel and world music. Her singing is reminiscent of jazz greats such as Dianne Reeves and Cassandra Wilson. In conversation with Christian Hanelt, the musician spoke about the album, which showcases her great vocal expressive range.

Die Rheinpfalz (06/2023)

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LIVE REVIEW: SIMONE HELLE “Let Us Agree” – Martin Feldhaus

“A virtuosic work of sonic art at the Kultursommer … goosebumps.”
“A plea for tolerance and human rights.”

Ahlen – A musical blend of “Orient meets Occident” created an impressive sound experience on Saturday evening. … The virtuosic overall soundscape that the five musicians presented afterwards as a powerful and passionate plea for tolerance and human rights metaphorically brought the sun out more than once, even though it did not shy away from addressing serious issues. …

Particularly in the second part of the performance, the instruments santur (similar to a hammered dulcimer) and tombak (a wooden goblet drum), which traditionally belong together, created extraordinary instrumental sounds. Among other moments, they highlighted … the poem “For Your Beautiful Eyes” … Helle’s musical setting of the poem afterwards sent goosebumps through the audience and captivated the entire hall.
Westfälische Nachrichten (07/2024)

Let us agree - Konzert für Vielfalt und Menschenrechte

Photo: from a video by Bernd Uhlen

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REVIEW: SIMONE HELLE “My Starry Eyes” – Sven Thielmann

“A dreamlike album.”
“Until now she has been, at best, an insider tip, but with ‘My Starry Eyes’ the singer Simone Helle confidently steps into the spotlight.

Her own songs, shimmering cheerfully between laid-back modern mainstream and subtle funk – ranging from delicate arrangements to opulent big band splendour – get under your skin through her compelling, finely nuanced vocal delivery. Strong. Yet truly impressive are three delicately presented standards, such as “God Bless The Child”, to which she gives a highly emotional and gently fresh depth. For this alone, discovering Simone Helle and her dreamlike album is already worthwhile.
FONO FORUM (10/2023)

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TESTIMONIAL: “My Baby Just Cares for Me” – Dr Nicole Birnfeld

“What a powerful voice!”
“Many thanks to Simone Helle, who together with Martin Scholz gave a wonderful concert. What a powerful voice!”
Dr Nicole Birnfeld, Cultural Officer at Augustinum Bonn (09/24)

Photo: from a video by Bernd Uhlen

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REVIEW: SIMONE HELLE “My Starry Eyes” – Holger Barske

“Highly creative power … deeply moving atmosphere.”
“An artist with a distinctive profile …

Among the ten tracks are six original compositions, which also reveal her as a highly creative force in this discipline … But her interpretations of pieces such as “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” or “You Must Believe in Spring”, where she is accompanied only by a bass, also create a very moving atmosphere that draws the listener deeply into the work.
hifitest (08/2023)

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REVIEW: SIMONE HELLE “My Starry Eyes” – Ralf Henke

“Charismatic timbre … full of soul, voice and depth.”
“This record truly has class and quality. With charm and style, Simone Helle’s charismatic timbre recalls the legendary jazz divas of past eras. Of course, there is a nostalgic touch, but also a timeless sound. … Above all, the album lives from the voice and musical sensibility of this great jazz singer, who gives the songs not only sonic presence but also emotional depth. It is truly wonderful jazz for everyone – full of soul, voice and depth.”
musix magazin (07/2023)

Photo: Kurt Rade

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REVIEW: SIMONE HELLE “My Starry Eyes” – Wolfgang Fricke

“Truly mesmerizing and evocative.”
“What makes this album special is the wide range of Helle’s vocal expression – stylistically as well as in terms of vocal range and timbre – an album to savour.”
Jazzreportagen (06/2023)

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REVIEW: SIMONE HELLE “My Starry Eyes” – Christoph Giese

“An expressive, imaginative interpreter.”
“Simone Helle is also a voice well worth listening to. The singer, who grew up in Germany and has Persian roots, not only impresses as a composer … but also as an expressive, imaginative interpreter of her own songs and of classics such as Billie Holiday’s ‘God Bless the Child’ or Irving Berlin’s ‘Let’s Face the Music and Dance’.”
virgin jazz face, fast tracks – Vol. 37 / Jazz NRW (06/2023)

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LIVE REVIEW: “Simone Helle & The 6th Sense” – Holger Schulze

“It doesn’t happen often, but when we listened to Simone Helle’s CD, it sent shivers down our spines, and we knew: this is it – we have to present this to the Bramsche audience,” Rathien and Mc Sheffrey described their impressions of the singer. … “a successful start to the summer cultural programme.”
NOZ (07/2012)

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LIVE REVIEW: SIMONE HELLE & MARC BRENKEN – Thomas Becker
Festival “FRAUENSTIMMEN”

“Great musical presence.”
“On Saturday, the singer Simone Helle, known well beyond the city limits, performed live together with her brilliant pianist Marc Brenken in a stylistically very open concert featuring her personal ‘Soul Pieces’.

After a longer break from concerts, Simone Helle demonstrated great musical presence here at the ‘Säule’ with her expressive voice – much to the delight of the audience. She delivered impressive jazz interpretations of Beatles classics such as ‘Norwegian Wood’ and ‘Ticket to Ride’, as well as Randy Newman’s ‘Guilty’.”
WAZ Duisburg (03/2015)

Photo: from a video by Bernd Uhlen

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LIVE REVIEW: “Simone Helle & The 6th Sense” – Sabine Baumert

“With her expressive voice and a versatile programme, she captivated the audience at the Theaterstüble.”
“The singer’s trademark is her deep register, where her voice sounds smoky and mysterious. Yet Helle also possesses an impressive vocal range in the higher register that would do an operatic soprano proud. … The guests experienced an evening with a singer who showcased a vocal range of over three octaves and remarkable vocal power … She scats through the octaves like Louis Armstrong or a second Ella Fitzgerald …”
Stuttgarter Zeitung, Kornwestheim and Ludwigsburg district (02/2008)

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LIVE REVIEW: SIMONE HELLE & The 6th Sense feat. Oleg Chaly, Opera Foyer, Theatre Duisburg

“Oleg Chaly shines with elegant playing and perfect timing, both as a soloist and as an original accompanist to Simone Helle.”

“…The intensity Simone Helle is capable of became evident in ‘Round Midnight’. In a duet with the outstanding bassist Stefan Mandlburger, she built up a tension that made the audience almost yearn for the next note.”
WAZ Duisburg (01/2010)

Photo: private

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LIVE REVIEW: “Simone Helle & The 6th Sense” – Saint-Georges de Bherdocq (LIB)

“SIMONE HELLE close to paradise.”
“…with the voice of an angel, moving with disarming ease through the deepest lows and the highest highs… Simone Helle’s jazz is like a small piece of paradise.”
L’Orient / Le Jour, LIB (07/2011)

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REVIEW: SIMONE HELLE “The Right Night” – Thomas Becker

“A Duisburg voice of jazz”
“Singer Simone Helle releases her first CD ‘The Right Night’”
“The English Hammond organist Noel Stevens shaped the sound”

To the powerful groove of the Hammond organ, a Duisburg singer pays tribute to the Black blues and jazz tradition. Simone Helle breathes new life into classics such as “Cry Me a River” and “Unchain My Heart”. “The Right Night” is the title of the first CD she released with her band “The 6th Sense” … With a dark, soulful timbre, Simone Helle moves confidently and stylistically assured through the realms of jazz, soul and blues, interpreting the tradition in an innovative way.
WAZ (10/2005)

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REVIEW: SIMONE HELLE “The Right Night” – Prof. Dr Ilse Storb

“Her voice is nuanced and multifaceted.”
Influences of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan can be felt. Simone Helle’s voice is impressive in both the high and low registers. Distinctive interpretations alternate with individual scat passages.
Jazzpodium, Vol. 54 (09/2005, p. 75)

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REVIEW: SIMONE HELLE “The Right Night” – WAZ Duisburg

“Simone sings with fire”
Homberg jazz talent impresses on her first CD. “The Right Night” is just right for fans of soulful improvisations.

“On her first CD ‘The Right Night’, the Homberg singer creates an exciting atmosphere between jazz, blues and soul together with her ensemble ‘The 6th Sense’. … Simone wrote three of the songs herself: the fiery ‘Mama Blues’ in German (in her hands a sensitive and expressive language), the title track ‘The Right Night’ with its vibrant swing, and the cheeky ‘Loud, Sexy and Proud’. All 13 songs reflect the richness of life and also demand vocal stamina. They convey heart, passion and life experience. Her songs captivate listeners.”
WAZ Duisburg (05/2005)

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LIVE REVIEW: SIMONE HELLE & The 6th Sense – NRZ Duisburg

“This voice is a revelation.”

“They still exist – those natural vocal talents. What Simone Helle brought to the microphone at ‘djäzz’, with her silver-rough timbre, fractured intensity and often softly breathed blues pathos, were the classic hallmarks of a true singer. The versatility of her voice let the history and evolution of jazz pass by in an acoustic revue. … This woman has a voice and uses it in a virtuoso journey through her vocal range. … Her voice seems like the shared legacy of Mahalia Jackson and Ella Fitzgerald.”
RP Duisburg (04/2004)

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