Do we need another version of Harvest Moon? Elizabeth Zeder and her “weird well of musicians”

Elizabeth Zeder - Karl Smallman

I seldom get excited when asked to review the recording of a cover version of a song of which I am particularly fond of the original. I am a staunch believer that original versions cannot be bettered. How can a cover version be better than what the composer originally envisaged for their music? Of course, there are exceptions, but few and far between. What is even more difficult is when the request for a critical ear comes from a friend, acquaintance or someone I respect. As I said, there are, occasionally, exceptions to the rule, one of which landed on my desk recently. 

Last year, I had the pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth Zeder, an American jazz singer based in Gaucín. Elizabeth has established herself among what is fast becoming a thriving music community in the Serranía de Ronda (Málaga), and so she had no trouble selecting suitable musicians to participate in the recording of her latest offering, a jazzy-pop-style version of Harvest Moon. 

The song was composed by Neil Young and released as the first single from the album of the same name in 1992. Music critic Matthew Greenwald claimed at the time that the song was “the power of nature and music”, which he captures in his “typically literate, artless style”. 

Having been a fan of Neil Young since the 1970s, I was intrigued to see what an American jazz singer and a collection of British and Gibraltarian musicians had done to his song. 

Elizabeth’s version was mixed and mastered by José María Sagrista (at the Punto Paloma studio), former member of the Andalusian flamenco-infused rock band, Triana. The musicians: Neil Armstrong (an apt name for a song with moon in the title!) on piano; Marcus Myers (a ‘rock n roller’ who played with several established bands on the UK music scene of the 1970s, ’80s and ‘90s) on guitar; and Francis Pecino, one of the most sought-after jazz drummers in the area. And, of course, Elizabeth, a versatile singer whose unique voice adapts well to crossover jazz. The double bass was, for some reason, recorded almost 5,000 miles away in Brazil. 

The result is 4.22 minutes of a mellow, smooth, almost easy-listening strain of pop that retains the melodic and rhythmically swinging qualities of jazz - carried along by velvet-smooth vocals, and backed by a perfect musical arrangement. A flawless melody created by the extraordinary musicianship of band, the song captures the feel of the ‘80s pop-jazz movement (sometimes referred to as ‘smooth jazz’) spearheaded by bands such as Vaya con Dios, Swing Out Sister and Fairground Attraction, although any similarity is immaterial. More important is the construction of the song: laid-back brushwork carried along by the low-pitched upright bass and the crystal clear piano and flowing rhythm guitar. 

Neil Armstrong, a classically trained pianist originally from Oban, Scotland, said, “It is a tribute to Elizabeth’s patience and perseverance that we managed to really breathe a new life into the song, creating an intimate feel, despite the fact that the bass player recorded in Brazil and the drum takes and final vocals were recorded almost four months apart.” 

 Greenwald’s observations of Neil Young’s version of the song would apply here also, because Elizabeth Zeder’s version certainly produces a “typically literate, artless style” that creates the ambience of the Paris café jazz scene. 

During our interview in 2023, Elizabeth referred to the “weird well of musicians that reside in this area, which creates a strange confluence of opportunities”. Her version of Harvest Moon seems to demonstrate what she meant by this, because the song is masterfully executed by an ensemble of truly talented musicians.

In the words of José María Sagrista, “I have worked with Neil Armstrong on a number of projects, but it’s the first time I have worked with Elizabeth Zeder. What a lovely surprise; she has that warm, emotional voice, a quality reminiscent of some of the great jazz voices of the past.” 

Harvest Moon will be available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and Deezer on 9 February

Tony Bryant is the author of A Cohort of Creative Bohemians and other interesting individuals

Through his work as a journalist for SUR in English, the author has become acquainted with some of the Costa del Sol’s most celebrated artists, literary figures and musicians, along with other interesting characters such as local priests, sports personalities, historians, war veterans, stand-up comedians and people who have done extraordinary things, including some who committed prosecutable offences in doing so.  This book highlights some of the author’s favourite interviewees, and opens up the world of the expatriate art and entertainment scene of the Costa del Sol.

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