With 'Sophisticated Lady' violinist Wilma Thalen (1964) makes her first appearance on Turtle Records. And even though in jazz the violin remains an unusual instrument, recording an album of jazz standards seems like a logical step in her career. After her education (next to the conservatory Thalen attended the so called 'Russian school' of Philippe Hirshhorn) Thalen played for years in various renowned chamber music ensembles and symphony orchestras all over the world. It got her and her instrument to Africa, Asia, the US and Europe, especially Scandinavia. Since the early nineties Thalen also buckled down to music theatre and occasionally she makes excursions to klezmer, tango en popmusic. Heavily rooted in classical music she now actually masters all styles. On 'Sophisticated Lady' Thalen plays jazz standards in their most vulnerable form, only accompanied by pianist Bert van den Brink and Hein van de Geyn on double bass. Her violin mainly sticks with the original melody and does not immediately flee towards the usual improvisation. In a frank and honest fashion Thalen wants to make these songs heard as they are. This seems cushy and in a first hearing, the music may sound quite accessable. But apart from the fact that nowadays it isn't common to play mainly the melody, the plainnes of this approach appears to be fairly misleading. With this very instrument and without the veiling improvisation embellishment, Thalen pointblank reaches the soul and passion of these standards. Listening to her album therefore can be just rather pleasant, but with some concentration also very confronting and emotionally moving. Together with the pure and lifelike recording technique, it is this musical stratification that makes the album a typical Turtle Records production.