Eliana Burki

The recording of Eliana Burki's debut album didn't take place in Switzerland, as one would have expected. Instead, the artist chose a very special place indeed for her first piece of work: L.A. - the city of angels. Last Thursday, after two months of constant work, her friends, her family and many guests could finally listen to the sound of her alphorn and her singing. "This CD is the result of 15 years experience.

"This CD is the result of 15 years experience. To reach this result Eliana has worked and fought hard" commented the musician's manager Astrid van der Haegen in front of the guests crowding the cultural room of the restaurant Sol Heure. Luis van der Haegen, who is responsible for the young artist's booking, added: "I've felt something in my heart from the first moment I heard her play." After that he recollected the musician's numerous past performances, from the visit to Spain next to Federal Councillor Pascal Couchepin to performances in Las Vegas. She has been even asked to appear as actress in a film.

From the folkloric costume to trendy outfits

"It began as a collaboration and it ended up in a product" said Burki's producer Gino Tedesco. At last the artist herself thanked everyone for the support she had been given. "Life is not always easy when someone's got such a crazy childhood dream as I had at the age of 6" the most popular Swiss alphorn player commented with a smile.

Eliana has been playing the alphorn since the age of six. At the time she didn't want to play the piano and opted for the unusual instrument instead. Even as a teenager she abandoned the folkloric costumes and the traditional melodies and turned to trendy outfits and modern latino, blues and jazz rhythms. The young woman has started her career as a professional musician one year ago.

Godfather Pepe Lienhard

"I'm very happy to be allowed to baptise my CD baby" Eliana Burki told the guests during the second part of the evening. The artist presented a convincing selection of songs from her record: starting with a rock song and ending with a soft ballad she managed to offer a full view of her repertoire in which the sound of her voice mingles with that of the horn. Then the crucial moment came: Eliana and musician Pepe Lienhard toasted on the debut work. "Right in this time of Superstars and Music stars who often don't have much of a gift, Eliana offers a remarkable example in the other direction" Pepe Lienhard said. She shows how hard one must work for a career Lienhard added.

Exciting combination

Unusual it may seem, the combination of alphorn, jazz, pop, soul and funk works perfectly. While playing the alphorn the 21-year-old manages impressive musical acrobatics in which she pushes her instrument to its limits. Also the trip to L.A., where the CD was produced, proved worth doing. The band playing with Eliana accompanies her through the 15 tracks in a fresh and compact fashion. The songs, mostly arranged by pianist Gino Tedesco, take the young musician to explore the fields of samba and latino. For the first time Eliana also brings her vocal capacities to their best. Both in Swiss German dialect and English she manages to add an unmistakable personal note to her songs.

The CD ?Eliana? can be bought on the internet www.elianaburki.ch as well as in many music shops.