This woman is one of Aotearoa’s real musical treasures, our most acclaimed and prolific te reo singer. ‘Soul Sessions’ sees Whirimako perform 11 popular jazz standards such as Stormy Weather and What A Day. There is a twist here - seven of the songs are performed in te reo (the first time any of them have been translated and recorded in te reo) and to up the ante even more this is also the first time Whirimako has recorded any material in English. As you would expect she is backed by only the finest of local jazz musicians, all members of the Nathan Haines’ tour band. Lush intricate, sensitive playing is the key here and the fusion of an authentic jazz sound with Whirimako’s unique and distinctive vocal style really does cause the kettle to over boil on occasions. Recorded at York Street and Bronzewing studios, it was engineered, produced and mixed for Mai Music by Chris Macro.

Related Information

Issues

NZ Musician

October/November 2006