American jazz bassist and vocalist Kristin Korb, now based in Copenhagen, has released her 11th album, Sweet Dreams, a heartfelt and masterfully crafted tribute to the music of Annie Lennox and Eurythmics. Dropped on October 25, 2024 via Giant Sheep Music, this 12-track collection reinterprets iconic Eurythmics songs through the lens of Korb’s deep jazz sensibilities—paying homage while infusing the music with fresh energy and emotional depth.
A Personal Tribute from a Lifelong Fan
Kristin Korb grew up during the golden age of MTV, with Eurythmics' genre-defying sound and Annie Lennox’s magnetic vocals becoming a foundational influence on her musical upbringing. Years later, Korb has translated that inspiration into Sweet Dreams, an album that balances reverence with reinvention.
“Annie Lennox was a force—powerful, visually striking, vocally fearless. That stayed with me,” says Korb. “This project is more than a tribute. It’s a return to the music that first sparked my creativity, filtered through who I’ve become as a jazz artist.”
Jazz Meets Synthpop: A Cross-Genre Conversation
Rather than offering straightforward covers, Sweet Dreams dives deep into reinterpretation. Each track is elegantly rearranged, highlighting the harmonic depth and rhythmic possibilities within the original compositions. With upright bass in hand, Korb navigates between lead vocals and rhythmic foundations, delivering performances that are both technically impressive and emotionally intimate.
The album bridges the cool detachment of 1980s synthpop with the warmth, swing, and improvisational flow of modern jazz. Longtime collaborators Magnus Hjorth (piano) and Snorre Kirk (drums) provide a telepathic rhythm section, locking in with Korb on every phrase.
The album’s rich soundscape is rounded out by top-tier Scandinavian jazz talent, including:
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Mathias Heise – Danish harmonica virtuoso, adding lyrical elegance and tonal color
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Karl-Martin Almqvist – Swedish saxophone heavyweight, bringing a soulful edge
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Steen Nikolaj Hansen – Danish trombone master, known for his smooth phrasing
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Yohan Ramon – Cuban percussionist whose rhythmic textures give the project a global pulse
Track Selection: An Intimate Curation
Inside the album booklet, Korb shares the stories behind each selection—why these 12 tracks spoke to her and how she approached their transformation. Whether it’s the brooding title track “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”, the emotive balladry of “Here Comes the Rain Again”, or the upbeat bounce of “Would I Lie to You?”, each reinterpretation is carefully constructed to balance nostalgia and innovation.
For Jazz and Eurythmics Fans Alike
Sweet Dreams invites jazz lovers to revisit the 1980s with new ears and gives Eurythmics fans a sophisticated entry point into jazz. It’s a meeting of musical minds and eras—a concept album that resonates emotionally while standing strong as a technical jazz showcase.
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