The young jazz musician Alma Naidu, praised as highly talented, presents all her vocal and compositional skills on her debut album Alma. The pieces on the longplayer show the successful transition from ensemble to the solo stage.
Growing up in a family of musicians, Alma Naidu received piano lessons at the age of five. She later added violin and guitar, as well as classical musical singing. The Munich-based musician and composer is currently studying jazz singing at the University of Music and Theatre in Munich and will release her debut album on Leopard Records on 11th February.
Alma Naidu has received several awards (including the Kurt Maas Jazz Award 2021 and the Bavarian Arts Promotion Prize in the category “Music”) and is described as “one of the greatest vocal talents of the Republic” (Süddeutsche Zeitung). All this makes one curious about the debut of a musician who has already shone on musical stages and with large ensembles.
The step onto your own stage
Discovered, promoted and produced by jazz and funk drummer Wolfgang Haffner, a record has been created that shows the artist’s outstanding vocal talent. The three tracks released so far give an idea of what this first album will bring. White Tulip has the softness and incredible suppleness in her voice that one might initially associate with Diana Krall. Towards the end, however, the musician increases her intensity beyond anything imaginable before ending gently again.
The most recently released single Illusion almost makes us suspect pop music traits in the album. The piece is light and floating, wrapped in soft piano parts with percussion. Alma Naidu narrates her dreams and illusions about love and devotion. The third single Something ’bout The Rain reminds me personally of a great musical piece. It could be one of the usual solo parts in a final act here, but with Alma Naidu’s vocal talent it is again very authentic and bridges the gap from her education to today.
In addition to the subtlety and vocal power, Alma Naidu definitely convinces with her ability to create great compositions. Her experience in large ensembles (including the Landesjugendjazzorchester Bayern) is always recognisable. The album also features great guest musicians like Nils Landgren (trombone) and Dominic Miller (guitar). I really like the composition of the instruments in the pieces. The drums seem to dominate alongside the piano throughout and accompany the singer through the pieces. It often takes on more than just the role of a rhythm instrument, almost becoming a second voice.
Alma Naidu manages to show the entire volume of her voice in her pieces. From time to time, however, I miss a real second voice that serves as a counterweight and thus supports this incredible singer. I think it would make the songs even more lively and diverse. The shallow background vocals are often not enough for me. This would have been conceivable in the piece Walberla, which gets by as a second voice with a gentle bass. Of course, this is also a beautiful realisation that is so harmonious in itself that the musician leaves us almost melancholy.
Alma Naidu on tour 2022
Alma is a beautiful and gentle debut that shows the greatness of Alma Naidu with powerful vocal sections. A musician who can be experienced on many stages in 2022. The following dates are currently announced.
16.03.2022 Stuttgart, Bix Club
17.03. 2022 Baden-Baden Mr. M´s Jazzclub
18.03.2022 Berlin, A-Train
22.03.2022 Köln, Altes Pfandhaus
23.03.2022 Paris, Sunset Jazz Club
26.03.2022 München, Jazzclub Unterfahrt
27.03.2022 Burghausen, Jazzwoche
28.03.2022 Koblenz, Café Hahn
Tickets and more information you find here.
