REVIEWS

“Great music, lovely singer”
Jacques Klöters, Radio 5

“The big ‘Four Zero’, or 40, one of the milestones in life. A time in life where you reflect on what you experienced. Judith Nijland did just that. The lessons she took out of the past and present we hear on the thirteen new, self-written, songs of her already third album. After returning from a tour in Thailand recently to promote her second album ‘Suitcase Of Songs’, she surrenders herself fully to give it all on her latest work.
Nijland is again assisted on this CD by her regular band. Guitarist Florian Zenker, percussionist Arie den Boer, on bass by Pieter Althuis and pianist Marnix van Bruggen. This prevents some worrying and probably a few extra grey hairs as well. Something this age group is more prone too. So she sings on the smoky and jazzy ‘A Grey Hair’. At long last she does not show too much resistance though against the flow of time, something that is clearly audible in the music.
The warm voice of Nijland seduces in the sultry ‘Recycle Me’. This song also shows her current drive to experiment a bit by adding some loops and samples. Something that is also reflected in ‘Music Is To Me’ a track where you can almost sense the smile on her lips in the lyrics. But it is also the melody that makes this a fun and easy-listening song.
Lying back lazy in your warm bed. That is what ‘Sunday’s Here’ is about and the drowsy relaxed feeling that comes with it, we get fully from Jasper Gloerichs trumpet solo and the sample of birds singing.
A bit more loose and bubbly is ‘Sing Around The World’ where the jazz genre is traded in for some rock and pop influences. A mundane track that is absolutely worthy of its spot on this CD.
For all the ladies that have been betrayed, ‘Every Moment’ is a recognizable theme. Resentment, but with some phenomenal class, sung by Utrechts Judith Nijland.
From there we move into the funky bass groove and key accompanied ‘Always Wanted.’
The final song of this CD ‘Complicated’ is surely the track that fits the big Four Zero best. The song is a retrospective view of the singer that will not sound unfamiliar to her peers. The entire album has something warm and syrupy sweet. The arrangements, also from Nijlands pen, are very inviting. A feeling that is delightful to be wrapped around in. If forty feels like this, we can hardly wait.”
Musicfrom.nl

“My first impression was that this is a summery album. Nimble music for a care free Sunday morning. Judith is the radiating sun in her own music. However there are phrases like ‘Every moment of every day, I hate you more than I can say.’Or ‘A grey hair appeared upon my head’ that show a different side of Judith Nijland. I think starting a CD with a grey hair is very amusing.”
Hans Schiffers, Radio 2

“For more than 15 years she is performing internationally, singing jazzy pop-classics as diverse as ‘ It’s raining men’ to ‘What a wonderful world’. But on her new, third album Four Zero, Judith truly goes deep. Only original compositions, perfect for late-night listening: a glass of wine, some cheese and the stereo on a pleasant whispery volume. ”
Esta Magazine

“The third CD of jazz singer Judith Nijland, what can we say. Four years after ‘Suitcase of Songs’, the sequel with ‘Four Zero’. Zero four, forty, ‘I have to face the fact that I’m getting old’, Nijland opens with a lounge-like jazz-jam, with that one lyric that explains ‘Four Zero’ clearly.
‘Four Zero’, but what does it matter? Judith Nijland once again hands out her business card, which will put the singer even more clearly on the map, in the jazz scene.
Nijland by now has become well known far across the borders and also in our own country jazz-clubs can relive her performances time and time again. Opening song ‘Grey Hair’ leaves little to the imagination, Nijland is in the middle stages of her life. ‘Recycle Me’ goes in the opposite direction. While the opening song sounded a bit like British jazz funk band ‘YCB’, later on this record, Nijland leaves the up-tempo a bit behind, without failing to keep the sound swinging.
On ‘Four Zero’ Nijland lets her life pass her by. Inspirations, reflections, musings about life, this is what ‘Four Zero’ is about. Lovely, relaxed at the warm fireplace with a glace of red wine or whisky. And don’t forget a piece of old cheese. Nijland makes music that can be appreciated by everyone. And despite that calmness it is most certainly also very suitable for, preferably old, jazz clubs. Calm, composed, Nijland makes her own songs to a relaxed mix. Her band should in all this certainly not be forgotten though.
‘Sing around the world’ seems written by Nijland as a realization that not everything on this album has to be slow-paced. This funky song is the end of the calmer section of this CD. But Nijland never jumps of the wagon, keeps it within the framework, uses a sound effect here and there, but remains down to earth. Nijland’s voice is and stays a joy to listen to and she delivers with ‘Four Zero’ perhaps one of the most perfect ‘rainy Friday-evening’ albums of the year.
Judith Nijland is currently picked up nicely on Radio 6, Jazz & Soul and that is exactly what Nijland is about. Jazz accompanied by a sharp soul edge, a joy to listen to. Nijland is heavily underappreciated, but hopefully things will be changing now. (8/10) (Off the Records)”
Maxazine.nl