Album Notes

“Far from Home – A Tribute to European Song” is a project close to Swiss Jazz vocalist Beat Kaestli’s heart. Residing in New York City since 1993, he enjoyed a very diverse experience in this music metropolis, ranging from Jazz to R&B, Gospel to Musical Theater and Latin rhythms. After refining his education in Jazz performance at the renowned Manhattan School of Music (BA) and Aaron Copeland School of Music (MA), he started to reflect back to his European roots. The result is this tribute to European song and composers – past and present. It’s inspired by the perspective of a young European artist living in New York blending the rich musical heritage from Europe with the musical and cultural diversity of New York, where musicians and cultures from all around the world meet and tap into the creative energy of this vital place.

Firmly rooted in Jazz and the craftsmanship of European song, this tribute takes you all around the world and taps into a multitude of stylistic references. It boldly fuses French opera with the New Orleans Jazz tradition, lightly hints on the tango from Argentina and easily blends Brazil, New York, Spain and Mexico into a song about a long distance love affaire. It helps you to escape a rainy day in London to the island of Puerto Rico, just to mournfully lead you back into the Swiss Alps and sad good-byes in Germany. Finally however, it lifts you up with the magic of a new romance and the promise of lasting love set in Paris. A fitting praise to Beat Kaestli’s roots and musical heritage, to New York City and to Jazz in it’s many forms and nationalities.