(2017) Groovy Retro Pop

Pia Fridhill (Vocals), Adam Rafferty (E-Guitar/Acoustic Guitar), Jens Hoffmann (Acoustic Guitar/Vocals), Johanna Stein (Cello/Vocals), Stefan Michalke (Klavier/Fender Rhodes/Accordion), Jochen Fink (Drums/Percussion)

"Every Morning Is A New Song" is the preliminary highlight in the joint history of the songwriter couple Fridhill / Hoffmann. After the premiere with "Breakfast On The Roof" in 2002, the intimate, purely acoustic "Songbook" and the atmospheric "Four", Pia Fridhill and band present 10 varied songs on this album. The scale of styles ranges from airy acoustic-pop songs ("Summer Breeze", "Freedom Feet") to funky numbers ("Soul Cooking") to the melancholic "Autumn Love" and the bluesy, jazzy "Insomnia Madness". "Hot in July" as a driving rock number concludes an album produced with a lot of groove and musical finesse.

REVIEWS ON "EVERY MORNING IS A NEW SONG":

"...extremely innovative and varied pop songs: The current album of the Swedish singer, who lives in Germany, offers ten extremely innovative and diversified pop songs with clear influences from soul, funk and jazz. The album was created with the participation of various guest musicians: Jens Hoffmann and fingerstyle icon Adam Rafferty can be heard on the acoustic guitar. Furthermore, Rafferty refines the songs with tasteful Telecaster licks". ((4.5 of 5 stars) Wolrath Wolff, Guitar Acoustic)

"...too good for the fast moving charts: With highly qualified artists, a sound has been created that is outside of what is even approximately anchored in the mainstream, very individual, but not necessarily accessible to many music consumers. But this interesting and versatile mix of different style elements is highly entertaining and accessible. Even in the sophisticated pop camp, the melody and harmony should give rise to joy. Only for the fast-moving charts this music, which is probably too good for that, is certainly not suitable, although I would like to see something like that there. Also the instrumentation, especially the cello accompaniment, is of the finest, the sounds float almost weightlessly through the room. A recommendable disc for all those who dare to look beyond their own musical horizons". (Wolfgang Giese, RockTimes)

"The Power of Groove: "Every Morning Is A New Song" is a finely grooving pop melange of filigree interpretations to nuanced arrangements. The listener encounters all of this in a completely relaxed to detached manner - not least thanks to the independent sound volume of Pia Fridhill's effectively music-making enthusiast ensemble. First successes in, why not, California soul radio can be assumed. Then, for example, the WDR-Nieselregen-DJs would finally be able to listen and play. (Jochen Arlt, juror PdSK (German Record Critics' Prize))

(2014) ELCH-POP: JazzPopFolkBossaRockChanson

Pia Fridhill (Vocals, Mouth Harp, Stomp box) Jens Hoffmann (Acoustic Guitar, Vocals) Shakya Matthias Grahe (Cello, Vocals) Stefan Michalke (Fender Rhodes) Special guest: Johanna Schmidt (Viola, violin)

REVIEWS ON "FOUR":

"Simply beautiful to listen to" "Elch-Pop" is what Pia Fridhill calls her modern romantic sounds (eg. elk-pop). Critics may nag that these harmonizing notes are a bit too close to mainstream. The music is simply beautiful to listen to, in addition to unusual tonal constellations, and is by no means intended to conquer the charts with a sordid boom. (The Editorial)

"Original music of the finest intensity: f o u r - an album rooted in best Bacharach/David Warwick traditions. The Pia Fridhill Quartet proffers from "Off Of This Train" over "Cradle Of Love" to the final "Dive" consistently ear candy. Original music of the finest intensity. (Jochen Arlt, juror of the "German Record Critics" Award)

"Like a pleasantly warm bath" ...melodies that relax and contribute spontaneously to deceleration...[...]...musical craftsmanship at its finest. Sometimes jazzy, sometimes more folk-oriented, sometimes infused with bossa-nova rhythms - in any case, always beautifully arranged and with guaranteed humming along effect. [...] Pia Fridhill's vocal range is remarkable. Sometimes she sings clear as a bell and straight out, without unnecessary flourish, then again in best jazz club manner. In other passages she plays out her femininity with a smoky, wicked charm. Some of the melodies, all written by Fridhill and her husband and guitarist Jens Hoffmann themselves, stay in your head, resonate and accompany you the rest of the day. "(Kölner Stadtanzeiger, 24.10.2014)

Recorded and mixed by Shakya Matthias Grahe, mastered by Radu Marinescu.

(2012) Swedish Folk Songs in Jazzy Arrangements.

Pia Fridhill (Vocals) Stefan Michalke (Piano, Arrangements) Steffen Thormählen (Drums) Johannes Zink (Guitars, Lute) Johannes Flamm (Saxophones, Clarinets) David Andres (Bass)

REVIEWS ON "MY SWEDISH SONGBOOK":

"The fact is that the music world has gained a wonderful jazz singer. Jazz and folk blend together in a harmonious way. Her voice is clear and expressive, yet feminine and sensitive. "My Swedish Songbook" is not a phony package of Swedish clichés, but exquisite Swedish jazz. "Pia Fridhill can be heard on Radio Skala's program in the programs World Jazz, Northern Lights, the night program and of course in Womens Voices. (Radio Scala, January 2013)

CD of the month in STEREOPLAY 10/12: "Relaxed and charming: Fridhill succeeds in reinterpreting the classical songs of her homeland in a modern, light-footed and unagitated way. (STEREOPLAY, October 2012)

"...these magically warm songs to be heard here [are] all songs from Fridhill's Swedish homeland from three centuries. And Pia Fridhill sings them exclusively in Swedish. This is also the magic of this CD, which takes the listener on a colorful musical journey through Sweden, very soulful and gentle, sometimes melancholically introverted, sometimes with bluesy soul. Pia Fridhill's singing sounds honest and full of human warmth, around which her six-piece band nestles wonderfully. (jazz thing)

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Klaus Genuit, Hansahaus Studios in Bonn.