Review: Whiramako Black

Whiramako Black
Otago Girls' High School auditorium
October 8, 2012

New Zealand's jazz singer supreme, Whirimako Black, made her Otago Festival of the Arts debut in the impressive Otago Girls' High School Auditorium on Monday night.

Enjoying two sets drawn largely from her latest album, The Late Night Plays, the large audience savoured every moment. To suggest she went over well would be to severely understate the enthusiasm and warmth with which she was received.

Black's excellent band featured the creme de la creme of Christchurch jazz in pianist and musical director Tom Rainey, guitarist Harry Harrison and bassist Richard Pickard.

Completing the quartet of top-quality musicians was Wellington drummer Riki Gooch. Sound engineer Dave Craig got things absolutely right from start to finish.

With a repertoire consisting mainly of slow-medium tempo standards, her impressive opener, The Look of Love, was followed by Black Coffee, Georgia, Lover Man, Cry Me A River, I Loves You Porgy and others.

The pick of the first set was the duet with guitarist Harrison on My Funny Valentine, sung in Black's trademark style using both Maori and English languages.

It is hard to bring originality to mainstream jazz, but Black has a point of difference - her bilingual approach - and that was never better highlighted than during this song.

Under her charge, the Maori language sounds absolutely beautiful and right when used on this material. Songs we've heard a thousand times are given new life, and this is the artist's special magic.

Black upped the ante with some welcome changes in feel and tempo as the concert progressed, most especially in the funky version of I Only Have Eyes For You.

While it is a pity we did not hear her open right up and give vent to the full power she clearly possesses - for much of the concert she appeared to sing well within herself - her tone, depth and beautiful phrasing made this a concert to remember.

Nobody left disappointed.