Best known for her albums sung in Te Reo Maori, Whirimako Black explores new
territory on The Late Night Plays (Oct 2011)with full English renditions of some
her favourite songs from the twentieth century.
The track selection will be familiar to most with songs made famous by
U2, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Billie Holiday, Etta James and Leonard Cohen.
Whirimako's velvet delivery of each ensures a consistency throughout the album
and a uniqueness that makes you forget the songs aren't hers.
The Late Night Plays was produced by Whirimako and long-time collaborator
Russel Walder. Russel, known for his own performance career and his
compositions and associations with prestigious label Windham Hill, helped
assemble a top raft of players including Michael Chaves (Guitarist for Sarah
McLaughlin), Aron Ottignon (Parisian based Pianist), Kim Paterson (known
as "New Zealand's own Miles Davis") and Jonathan Zwartz (and his 100 year old
bass).
The Late Night Plays was recorded during live sessions at Auckland's
Roundhead Studios. Whirimako turns back to a time when performers sang live with
their band and had only a few days rehearsal. The energy around the making of
The Late Night Plays was a creative whirlwind, harnessing the creativity of all
concerned. There are no overdubs on the live sessions
Tracks:
1. When Did You Leave Heaven
2. Lover Man
3. At Last
4. On And
On
5. Dance Me To The End Of Love
6. Love Is Blindness
7. Both Sides
Now
8. Simply Beautiful
9. Fragile
10. My One And Only Love
11. Run
the Voodoo Down
12. If It's Magic