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Customer Reviews for Kurt Elling

Kurt Elling

Read Kurt Elling concert reviews and post your own reviews and ratings.

Average rating:

(18 Reviews) 18

Rating Snapshot (18 reviews)

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18 of 18(100%)customers would recommend this to a friend.

Kurt Elling Fan Reviews - Ticketmaster

Review 1 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

Gem Theater @

- Kansas City @

, MO @

- Sat, Feb 16, 2013 @

Posted 02/20/2013

by Anonymous

Kurt is the best Jazz person I'll see in my lifetime!

Gem Theater @

- Kansas City @

, MO @

- Sat, Feb 16, 2013 @

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Review 2 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

Kurt Elling in Kansas City

Gem Theater @

- Kansas City @

, MO @

- Sat, Feb 16, 2013 @

Favorite moment: too many to choose @

Posted 02/19/2013

by DebOBKC

It was fabulous as expected. Please come back to Kansas City more often! Just terrific.

I was especially impressed with the bass miking - it was so easy to hear the bass line and solos.

Gem Theater @

- Kansas City @

, MO @

- Sat, Feb 16, 2013 @

Favorite moment: too many to choose @

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Review 3 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

KURT ELLING WAS ASTOUNDING

Gem Theater @

- Kansas City @

, MO @

- Sat, Feb 16, 2013 @

Favorite moment: After the show I got to meet him, and he joked around with me, he is very down to earth @

Setlist: He did a little Stevie Wonder, an oldie my the Flamingos, I think he did 1 or 2 by great composer Wayne Shorter. @

Opening act(s): None @

Posted 02/18/2013

by IamValC

Location:Kansas City, MO

He truely mastered the art of singing. He has the ability to do some things with his voice, that alot of these other singers do not have. Not only is his control fantastic, but the band was WONDERFUL! I kid you not, even if you do not like jazz you will enjoy the show, because its not your average jazz show. And he is humorous too!

Gem Theater @

- Kansas City @

, MO @

- Sat, Feb 16, 2013 @

Favorite moment: After the show I got to meet him, and he joked around with me, he is very down to earth @

Setlist: He did a little Stevie Wonder, an oldie my the Flamingos, I think he did 1 or 2 by great composer Wayne Shorter. @

Opening act(s): None @

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Review 4 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

Gem Theater @

- Kansas City @

, MO @

- Sat, Feb 16, 2013 @

Posted 02/18/2013

by Anonymous

Just wow. One of the best (if not the best) concerts I've ever been to! Amazing and extremely talented musicians!

Gem Theater @

- Kansas City @

, MO @

- Sat, Feb 16, 2013 @

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Review 5 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

Gorgeousness

Gem Theater @

- Kansas City @

, MO @

- Sat, Feb 16, 2013 @

Setlist: Come Fly with Me, Samurai Cowboy, This House is Not a Home, Satisfied, a John Hendricks vocalese, On Broadway, I Only Have Eyes For You, Where Are You?, I Love the Sunrise, Golden Lady, Lonely Avenue @

Opening act(s): n/a @

Posted 02/18/2013

by FromDSM

Location:Des Moines

Beautiful singing, high energy, creative, with a healthy dose of frontman humor thrown in -- just what I was looking for. First time seeing Kurt with this drummer and bass player. The second set was especially good -- the crowd seemed warmed up by then.

Gem Theater @

- Kansas City @

, MO @

- Sat, Feb 16, 2013 @

Opening act(s): n/a @

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Review 6 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

Kurt Elling is absolutely outstanding

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Favorite moment: Nature Boy! @

Posted 11/04/2011

by Terese611

Location:Grafton, MA

He is the consummate jazz professional. His range is beyond belief and I could never grow tired of listening to him. He played the perfect mix of classics combined with the greats, always giving credit to the namesakes as well as his big band support.!

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Favorite moment: Nature Boy! @

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Review 7 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

Elling was incr-Elling-ble!

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Favorite moment: The Waking @

Posted 11/04/2011

by Anonymous

Dynamic versatile performer ... Great venue! A warm and engaging style and one of the most amazing "modern" jazz vocalists of our time!

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Favorite moment: The Waking @

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Review 8 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

Kurt Elling is a master at his craft!

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Favorite moment: I loved when he said, " I appreciate you all being here on a school night." @

Posted 11/04/2011

by darzea

Location:Watertown, MA

I first heard Elling sing Steppin' Out on a local jazz station. After listening, I immediately went to iTunes to purchase his The Gate. I listen to cuts from the album frequently. When I learned he was performing at the Wilbur I purchased tickets immediately. Well worth it! Wow! He and the band were poetic. Elling has an amazing stage presence. He was warm, open, charismatic, and confident on stage. I really appreciated how and when he celebrated and honored each member of the talented bands from Denmark and the U.S. I couldn't erase The Waking or Nature Boy from my mind after hearing him perform these two songs and All Points West was fabulous. I look forward to his musical. Two birthday songs and a standing ovation were well deserved. This speaks volumes about the person and the artist. I will remember this performance for many years to come.

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Favorite moment: I loved when he said, " I appreciate you all being here on a school night." @

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Review 9 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Posted 11/04/2011

by Anonymous

Amazingly energetic performance! Last concert for US tour with big band. Plus Kurt's birthday helped make this a once in a lifettime event.

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

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Review 10 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

Kurt Elling @ the Wilbur 11-02-11

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Favorite moment: Nature Boy, Far West @

Opening act(s): None @

Posted 11/04/2011

by Fanklin

Kurt Elling is clearly an international treasure, an extraordinarily gifted and talented vocalist who not only has exceptional range, but also unique capability to simulate musical instruments. Always full of surprises, this performance at the Wilbur was no exception. Great to hear him backed up by such a talented big band.

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Favorite moment: Nature Boy, Far West @

Opening act(s): None @

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Review 11 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

Kurt and the Kluvers Big Band were enchanting.

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Favorite moment: The encore where we got to sing Happy Birthday to Kurt @

Posted 11/04/2011

by Mleacock

The combination of Kurt Elling, Lawrence Hobgood and the Kluvers Big Band on his last show of the tour and it being his birthday was simply the perfect storm of events that made this performance moving and soul stirring for all in attendance,

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Favorite moment: The encore where we got to sing Happy Birthday to Kurt @

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Review 12 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

Kurt Elling simply smashing!

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Favorite moment: Elling sang a song accompanied by just his bassist. from his Nightmoves album - The Waking - and was holding my breath. @

Setlist: wish I knew all of the songs he did. @

Opening act(s): the Kluvers Big Band from Denmark - wow! @

Posted 11/04/2011

by JudyfromJP

Location:Boston

You would expect Kurt Elling to sing beautifully and stylistically, but he really outdid himself in collaboration with the Kluvers Big Band from Denmark. The musicianship of all of the performers was outstanding, both as soloists and in collaboration, but that wasn't what blew me away. All of those dudes seemed to be having a good time up on stage, yet they maintained a totally professional demeanor. Elling connects with the audience like no one else. His lush, perfect voice is unmatched, and his ability to scat like a horn or wind instrument is amazing. The music was decidedly jazz, but he called from playbooks of standards, today's hits, and classic rock. There was a nice mix of music he has recorded, as well as new (at least to me) tunes. The arrangements were intricate, melodic, exciting, and well practiced. As the daughter of a musician, I appreciate the level of preparation and practice that went into this concert. The night I went was his birthday, and the audience sang Happy Birthday to him, which was quite a treat!

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Favorite moment: Elling sang a song accompanied by just his bassist. from his Nightmoves album - The Waking - and was holding my breath. @

Setlist: wish I knew all of the songs he did. @

Opening act(s): the Kluvers Big Band from Denmark - wow! @

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Review 13 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

Kurt Elling and the Kluvers Big Band Really Swing

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Favorite moment: More Than You Know arrangement @

Setlist: Us arr. Thad Jones
Steppin' Out
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
Nature Boy
You Are Too Beautiful
The Waking
All Points West-Laurence Hobgood
More Than You Know
Golden Lady
My Foolish Heart @

Opening act(s): none @

Posted 11/04/2011

by mjr47

Location:southeastern Masachusetts

Every once in awhile, we are lucky enough to get transported to a different place, sometimes through the beauty of nature or sometimes by music that is so skillfully and lovingly created that you wonder if it is really happening or if you are in some sort of dream. This type of event for me is like going to church is for many. It’s very spiritual and very hard to describe, for me anyway.

Hearing the Kluvers Big Band with Kurt Elling in Boston provided another one of those special moments for me. This group of men are so into what they do and they were so into what Kurt brought to the table as well.

They all play with an amazing amount of heart and love and true soul. As individual soloists and collectively as accompanists, they all so amazingly talented. I think this band is on par with any big band in the world today. As Kurt mentioned in his remarks, “they’ve dedicated their whole lives to this music.”

I have enjoyed listening to big band music of all kinds for close to forty years now and this band was as good as I’ve ever heard live or on record. And I thought a lot tonight about how important it is that they should document this union somehow so that everyone can hear it and/or see it.

This band creates so many different colors and textures with so many different kinds of sounds. The eight brass players and the reed section using flutes and clarinets played the Bob Mintzer’s intro on My Foolish Heart so beautifully that it brought tears immediately to your eyes. The music went right into your heart. And yet the same trumpet section could also slice and cut their way into some super high and tight lines that sounded as good as any EWF or TOP chart you’ve ever heard.

There were so many highlights that the whole show was just one big highlight. It was very interesting to hear Kurt sing over this type of background. I really think this was the best musical collaboration I’ve heard from him since I saw The Leaves of Grass in NYC.

The rhythm section was perfect all night on everything. Every groove was driven right where it needed to be with a tremendous energy for almost two straight hours.

The arrangements were all smoking and well-crafted. The well-known opener, Thad Jones’ “Us” was perfectly played. I actually wished the band had been featured alone once or twice more by themselves because they were that good. I even thought that Steppin’ Out and Golden Lady, both of which I’m on record as not being crazy about hearing Kurt sing, were well arranged and came off better than usual.

New to my ears were charts of “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” in a real swinging Basie style and “More Than You Know” which was just an amazing arrangement.

Kurt was so on, so intense, and so appreciative of these musicians behind him and with him. He sang some great improvised solos, burning stuff. He did not croon. He sang his own thing throughout and you never knew where he was going to go with it. Almost all of it was unpredictable, really fresh and new. He even sang some lyric-free lines along with sections of the band (reminiscent of Mel Torme with Rob McConnell’s Big Band or KE’s Orange Blossoms in Summertime arrangement on Flirting with Twilight.) Very hip stuff.

I can’t think of anyone who has ever fronted a big band who has done it better, with this approach, and with this amount of energy and intensity. I really do hope Kurt and this band will seriously continue to perform live and record often in the future. There could be a lot to look forward to.

I am very interested in what some of the other audience members in Boston thought of this show.

Wilbur Theatre @

- Boston @

, MA @

- Wed, Nov 2, 2011 @

Favorite moment: More Than You Know arrangement @

Opening act(s): none @

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Review 14 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

Elling Is A Must See

The Ark @

- Ann Arbor @

, MI @

- Tue, Feb 8, 2011 @

Favorite moment: When he sang "The Waking" - my favorite song @

Setlist: What I remember - Stepping Out, Made Kudasi, Norweigan Wood, The Waking, Embraceable You, Golden Lady, Samurai Cowboy,Dedicated to You - and others! @

Opening act(s): None @

Posted 02/15/2011

by CatherineMC

Location:plymouth, mi

Kurt Elling is the best Jazz male vocalist today. Backed by a premiere quartet - OK, how about a smoking band - an evening spent with this group is pure musical joy. The music is complex and exciting. Mr. Elling and band are cool and inviting. Absolutely not to be missed!

The Ark @

- Ann Arbor @

, MI @

- Tue, Feb 8, 2011 @

Favorite moment: When he sang "The Waking" - my favorite song @

Setlist: What I remember - Stepping Out, Made Kudasi, Norweigan Wood, The Waking, Embraceable You, Golden Lady, Samurai Cowboy,Dedicated to You - and others! @

Opening act(s): None @

1 of 1 found this review helpful.

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Review 15 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

always outstanding

The Ark @

- Ann Arbor @

, MI @

- Tue, Feb 8, 2011 @

Posted 02/11/2011

by dendles

Location:Ann Arbor, MI

Kurt Elling and his band pulled it off again. Another wonderfully intimate, entertaining, extraordinary concert. Elling brings variety, control, and passion to his music. His pianist and drummer are also extremely talented musicians. Found the bass player not as interesting this time (no offense, bass player) - just appreciate more interaction, and perhaps a bit more finesse. An electric guitarist was added this time around - quite unique. A friend we took commented that she rarely likes electric guitar, but really enjoyed what this player brought to the stage with his lilting techniques. We've heard Elling and his band 3 times now, and hope to track him down in other venues, but especially love hearing him at The Ark and hope he returns so we can invite more friends.

The Ark @

- Ann Arbor @

, MI @

- Tue, Feb 8, 2011 @

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Review 16 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

world's best jazz vocalist

The Ark @

- Ann Arbor @

, MI @

- Tue, Feb 8, 2011 @

Posted 02/11/2011

by goldenvoice

Location:Michigan

Incredible show in a nice smallish venue. The quarter was joined by guitarist John McLean. There's a reason Elling is Downbeat's top jazz vocalist for the 11th year, because he IS the best. A consumate master of every facet of jazz song, a fine lyricist, terrific stylist, deep thinker, and great performer. Even his patter bewtween songs is ultra-cool. He is the best

The Ark @

- Ann Arbor @

, MI @

- Tue, Feb 8, 2011 @

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Review 17 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

An astounding performance!

The Ark @

- Ann Arbor @

, MI @

- Tue, Feb 8, 2011 @

Favorite moment: The band's performance of the King Krimson tune Matte Kudasai from "Discipline" was totally unexpected and really beautiful. @

Posted 02/11/2011

by Gretschdude

Location:Williamston, Michigan

This was hands down one of the best jazz club shows I have seen in over 35 years of attending them, and by the audience's reaction, I was not alone in this feeling. Elling and his band blew us away. He is an artist of singular style and talent and his band was completely sympathetic in support of him. Elling's pianist and collaborator Lawrence Hobgood is also truly a musician deserving of much wider recognition. On this night we heard songs ranging from Joe Jackson (Stepping Out), to The Beatles (Norwegian Wood), to Stevie Wonder (Golden Lady) to Gershwin (Embraceable You) and several others, including some spoken word poetry. Everything about this show made the trip from Lansing to Ann Arbor in the dead of winter worth the time and money. It is hard to imagine any true jazz fan not enjoying the hell out of Kurt Elling and his current band. Their vibe is something to behold.

The Ark @

- Ann Arbor @

, MI @

- Tue, Feb 8, 2011 @

Favorite moment: The band's performance of the King Krimson tune Matte Kudasai from "Discipline" was totally unexpected and really beautiful. @

1 of 1 found this review helpful.

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Review 18 for Kurt Elling

5 / 5

Kurt Elling was awesome!

The Ark @

- Ann Arbor @

, MI @

- Tue, Feb 8, 2011 @

Favorite moment: There wasn't only one moment - the whole concert was great!!!!! @

Posted 02/11/2011

by slink45

The concert was truly amazing. He is so smooth, talented, and extremely entertaining, not to mention good looking. My husband and I were mesmerized by his performance. His band was also remarkable! The Ark is a great venue; I felt like I had a personal concert from Kurt and his band. I look forward to seeing Kurt in concert again!!!!!

The Ark @

- Ann Arbor @

, MI @

- Tue, Feb 8, 2011 @

Favorite moment: There wasn't only one moment - the whole concert was great!!!!! @

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