Yamil Borges

It was a jam session night at a small intimate club in Berlin, in the spring of 2000. A jam session night like any other. At least I thought so until this attractive lady walked onto the band stand, distributed some lead sheets to the house musicians and delivered a peformance unlike any other vocal I had seen before in this city.

Now waidaminute ... she reminded me of someone. That emotional force with which she rendered her versions of the ballads "As Time Goes By" and "I Wish You Love", the powerful vocals combined with charismatic stage presence, the glamour she projected, her deep involvement with the contents of the songs - that unique style rang familiar. Didn't I once work with someone like her in Cologne a year earlier?

When she finished I walked up to her: "Excuse me but you look like someone I did a small gig with in Cologne last year. You sing like her. Her name was Yamil ... ". "I AM Yamil," she cuts in, and yes, she vividly remembers me too and would I like to do a gig with her in May? Without hesitation I said, sure.

Yamil and I scraped up two sets worth of standard repertoire and I managed to win over one of Berlin's busiest and versatile bass players and HDK genius Oliver Potratz, who from the beginning on showed amazing enthusiasm and became the pulsiating element in the group.

The story didn't end after this first gig. The musical and personal chemistry kept us glued together and, within a short period of time, attracted three more characters: Christian Wasdaris whose schooled hands not only soothe body pains but also stimulate anybody's sense of rhythm when directing all of his physical therapist's care and attention towards his set of percussions, the evervescent studio owner Emmanuel Hauptmann who enhances large quantities of energy and generates electrifying, roaring swing. This unique musical entity wouldn't be complete without Mike Segal, a seemingly calm Canadian who transforms into a screaming virtuoso who wrings his heart and soul out the second his lips touch the alto reeds.

Over the past two years, Ymail Borges and Friends has evolved into one of Berlin's respectable jazz vocal groups whioch is also receiving nationwide attention. There has, however, been one minor embarassment. Not one live performance would go by by without people constantly asking us for CDs during the breaks. Well, no more beating around the bush, no more excuses like, "Well, uh, we don't have a CD just yet, but it's in the making, it'll be out soon, we'll letya know..." That's over now, cause here it is, we finally have hard evidence of Yamil Borges and Friends Clubbin' in Berlin.

I've always been proud of being a part of the group and honored for working with such an extraordinary woman and inspiring artist like Yamil Borges. Listening to the CD made me realize what we have accomplished over the past two years. We have developed our own tight sound, and built up a diverse repertoire of jazz and Latin classics, groove tunes and originals. It also reminded me once more of Yamil's unique gift of integrating her musical theatre background into her feel for the blues and swing tradition as well as her affinity to legends such as Dinah Washington and Nancy Wilson that she grew up with.

Keep swinging, Yamil

Lionel Haas