Anna Dagmar
EP
© 2005 Anna Dagmar Johnson (634479223914) (format: CD-R)
CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.
The long awaited EP produced by the amazing Ben Wittman (of Jonatha Brooke, Patti Larkin, Lucy Kaplansky). Recording features: Ben Wittman, Marc Shulman, Kaveh Rastegar, Theo Bleckmann, Martha Colby, Mike McGinnis.
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Just when you think you've got her pegged as another romantic piano girl, Anna Dagmar hits you with a collage of noise, a lament for fallen soldiers, or an apocalyptic vision. Wait for the next track: it might surprise you.
Her love of words was born at a tiny desk, in a tiny room, just north of London. St. Albans' Cathedral choir, father's classical radio, and mother's lullabyes echoed all around. And at age seven, one never forgets sitting on the steps of a new home in Massachusetts, on lookout, for the piano delivery truck.
Since 2001, Anna Dagmar has rapidly become known from New York all the way to Stockholm as a virtuosic pianist, prolific song writer, and superb vocalist. Her recent EP, produced by Ben Wittman (Lucy Kaplansky, Patti Larkin, Jonatha Brooke & The Story), was named a Top Album of 2006 in Collected Sounds Magazine and was awarded two Honorable Mentions in the Unisong International Competition. Dagmar is currently working with Wittman on her third full-length album, due out in the fall of 2008. Let the Waves Come in Threes, will feature twelve of her best-loved songs, original string arrangements, and a musical cast including soundscape guitarist Marc Shulman (Suzanne Vega) and trumpeter Shane Endsley (Ani DiFranco).
On stage, Dagmar immediately stands out as a phenomenal pianist and improviser, as her colorful accompaniments weave a tapestry to support the lyrics. According to Amy Lotsberg of Collected Sounds Magazine, "Anna Dagmar is a very skilled pianist... Some pianists I hear and it makes me want to play so that I can duplicate it. This...never. There aren't enough years left for me to be this good!" Her voice is real and intimate, a sound she developed with mentor Theo Bleckmann. Years of dedication to classical and jazz studies, as well as training at the Eastman School of Music have allowed her to stretch beyond the predicatable formulas. First and foremost, however, her music enhances her lyrics, connecting her to a wide audience.
Continuous prodding from fans and musical peers inspired her to publish a complete edition of printed sheet music in January of 2008. The Anna Dagmar Songbook, contains 31 songs and two accompaniment CD's, and is available at performances, with web distribution anticipated by late spring. Dagmar performs frequently in NYC at venues including The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Rockwood Music Hall, The Living Room, and The Cloisters. Touring has included Boston, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Stockholm, Berlin and London. Dagmar is featured as a keyboardist on song writer Nadine Goellner's Live EP (2006), and on cellist Martha Colby's album Across Two Rivers (2005). Other upcoming collaborations include premiering the vocal works of composer Anthony Gatto at the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis. While new musical projects continue to expand and develop in Dagmar's life, her own songs hold centerstage.
reviews
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Captivating!
author: John (A Googly Fan)Saw Anna gig over the weekend at Banjo Jim's here in New York...fantastico! It was amazing to watch her captivate all those folks. Anna's music comes from a place deep down in her soul that most of us only get glimpses of in ourselves. Bravo!
Great Album!
author: Raymond SteinerI love this album. Great songwriting and singing and awesome piano performance. Smile For Free is a song that you can't get out of your head. Highly recommended!
I adore this.
author: Collected SoundsI liked this record upon first listen, but with each subsequent spin I like it even more. There's something both simplistic and intricate about these songs. On the one hand, they have an almost musical theater feel with their very "colorful" melodies but at the same time they're very interesting and the tune goes places you don't expect. I love that. [read full review on site]
- author: Ralph Alessi
Easily your best work. You sound better than ever!
Warm production that catches the listener's ear immediately!
author: Matt Mrowicki...a lush and welcome instrumentation, including Dagmar's string arrangements, and a warm production that catches the listener's ear immediately. The challenge of releasing an EP is that it has to give a good representation of the artist's music and make the listener feel that they have had a satisfying experience, while immediately wanting more. This four-track effort accomplishes that with ease and should be a great foundation as Dagmar builds this latest phase of her varied career.
LOVE IT!
author: Susan (fan/artist on MySpace)Love your music - your chord progressions remind me a little of Edie Brickell (-; They give me that warm glow inside! I wish you luck with your music!
her singing voice is a perfect match for her piano playing
author: New England FanDuring the time since the production of her first CD, Anna has demonstrated a consistent refining of her vocal skills. The purity of her singing voice is a perfect match for the versatility of her piano playing.
She should be performing at Carnegie Hall or the Kennedy Center.
author: Bill Adler, music reviewerA luscious voice, emotional lyrics and brilliant piano solos. She should be performing at Carnegie Hall or the Kennedy Center.
[There's] something in your music that really touches and uplifts me.
author: Richard Rolf - guitarist/fan in SwedenYour new songs are beautiful. [There's] something in your music that really touches and uplifts me.
...Like a breath of fresh air!...Dagmar showers us with a boatload of musical ta
author: Catsask MagazineMusically refreshing. Like a breath of fresh air! Anna Dagmar showers us with a boatload of musical talent. Obvious in her songwriting skills this talent is overflowing with love and compassion. Anna brings us to the brink of musical bliss while she displays everything she has experienced in musical form. Jazz influence, pop appeal and a true passion for her music are demonstrated like an open book. This lady doesn't hold back anything from us. A pleasure to hear and most likely even more pleasing to see, "Can We Be Old Friends" strikes an arrow directly through the heart with the depths of feeling she unleashes to us!!! Anna Dagmar is what real music is.
- author: West Coast Fan Club
The music sounds great, lyrics are awesome, very professional sound. The addition of other musical instruments adds color and life to music that is already worthy of 10 stars. Anna's voice sounds superb. This EP makes you want more of what Anna Dagmar can produce.