Jazz star comes home for festival

Leila Adu

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Leila Adu has been labelled this generation's "Nina Simone'' and drawn numerous comparisons to PJ Harvey.

The singer/songwriter/improv sensation is happy to be home again.

The Rome-based star hasn't performed here in over five years and is eager to showcase her new album Dark Joan to a hometown crowd with a performance at the Bedford tonight as part of the New Zealand International Jazz and Blues Festival.

"Since I've been back I've been hanging out at my mum's, walking on the beach and enjoying all the nature I've missed,'' Adu says.

Of Ghanaian and British descent, Adu attended Christchurch Girls' High School before completing post-graduate studies in 2003 at Victoria University of Wellington, majoring in composition and specialising in Electro-acoustic Music, Ethnomusicology and Orchestration.

Eventually this led her to Europe.

This talented artist has three critically acclaimed albums under her belt, and is also a talented composer who has written for and sung with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, toured and received radio play around the globe.

It is this sense of where she belongs in the world which sees Adu return home.

She says that this New Zealand tour which sees her take in dates in Wellington, Palmerston North and Auckland, is her opportunity to "give the homeland an up close and personal experience in her growth as an international artist''.

Her sound has been described as "oscillating between series commentary and flippantry'' and, accurately to my ears, "cryptic'', as Adu blends elements of jazz, blues, pop and experimental sounds and themes as varied as love and social change.

Dark Joan was recorded in Chicago with acclaimed engineer Steve Albini (Nirvana, Joanna Newsom, PJ Harvey, Pixies) and with much analogue fever.

"Chicago was beautiful, I really loved all the architecture there. The recording process was quite intense, we did it in 24 hours. That's how he works, you stay there. In the studio next to me was Kim Deal from The Breeders. I had to just play it pretty cool, 'hi, Kim', instead of asking her too many questions,'' Adu laughs.

Joining Adu tonight is respected Christchurch-based drummer Nick Gaffaney (Cairo Knife Fight/Goldenhorse/Anika Moa band).

"He's an amazing drummer, it's going to be great to perform with him.''

Also on this tour are other respected names on the New Zealand music scene Jeff Henderson, David Long and Chris O'Conner.

The night before leaving for New Zealand, Adu had the world premiere in London for her new video for the song Dark Joan Directed by award winning New Zealand director, Stephen Bain, the Dark Joan video features Leila as Joan of Arc along with an army of girls in creative cardboard armour.

Joining Adu - who features on vocals and grand piano -  are veterans of the London improv/jazz/punk scene, John Edwards (double bass) and Steve Noble (drums).

"It was the most amazing night. I can't wait to perform these songs here.''

Leila Adu at the Bedford, tonight, 9pm. Door sales available.

- © Fairfax NZ News