Message boards and forums have been generating great excitement and hype for the return of Koop, and “Koop Islands” kicks off where their 2001 album “Waltz for Koop” left off. If there is any slight difference, it’s that they’ve gone further back in time for the influences to the 1930’s and 1940’s and the days of swing. Bringing these ideas up to date is refreshing and a joy to listen to. Yukimi Nagano is back again on vocals and sounding as amazing as ever on tracks “Come To Me”, “I See A Different You” and “Beyond The Son”. Rob Gallagher also features and I think it’s his best work since the first Earl Zinger productions, and, finally, Norwegian vocalist Ane Brun completes the package perfectly. Oscar has been quoted as saying “We play jazz”, and they do that very well.
