Biography
Susanne Abbuehl, a Swiss/Dutch jazz vocalist, entered the world in 1970 in Berne, Switzerland. Music drew her attention from an early age, prompting her to create compositions and craft lyrics while still a child and to take up harpsichord. In 1987 she relocated to Los Angeles for vocal instruction and traveled across the United States and Canada alongside a jazz ensemble. After returning to Europe she pursued studies in jazz and classical voice, among them North Indian classical voice, at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. Her ECM debut April arrived in 2001 and received warm notices that linked her to other present-day female jazz vocalists such as Cassandra Wilson and Norah Jones. Compass appeared on the same label in 2007. Extensive European touring followed over the ensuing years, during which her ensemble underwent substantial change. Pianist Wolfert Brederode stayed on, while flügelhorn player Matthieu Michel joined in 2009 and young Finnish drummer/percussionist Olavi Louhivuori (Tomasz Stanko, Marilyn Crispell) arrived shortly afterward. The Gift surfaced on ECM in June of 2013.
Albums
