Alongside the cosmic cowboys, psych rockers, and dynamic MCs, a lot of innovative jazz artists have also called Austin home. There’s Kenny Dorham’s bebop explorations; Brannen Temple’s Grammy-winning drumming and collaborations with Janet Jackson and Gary Clark Jr.; and the Deli’s recent jazz/electro/hip-hop concoctions.
Austin neo jazz quintet Nori lives in this lineage. Featuring members from across the city’s jazz scene–including vocalist and teacher Akina Adderley, who comes from the incredible Adderley family tree–Nori combines jazz tradition with a modernist, genre-bending approach. The band recently released a self-titled vinyl compilation that spans six years of work, including reimagined originals and a cover of Nina Simone, the band’s self-described “patron saint.”
You can catch Nori at Central Market on Saturday, December 11, 5:30-8:00 p.m. And this week on My KUTX, Adderley and drummer Andy Beaudoin are the guest DJs. They play an hour of the band’s influences, which include Joni Mitchell’s honesty, Nancy Wilson’s joy, Bob Moses’ jazz fusion, and a remembrance of the late Stephen Sondheim. Hear Nori’s My KUTX on Saturday, December 11 at 6 p.m. or listen anytime in the player above.
Playlist:
[intro music: Nori – “The Garden (With Strings)”]
- Nina Simone – “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free”
- Bob Moses – “Lagrimas De Alegria”
- Joni Mitchell – “Black Crow”
- Jimmy Greene – “Ana’s Way” (feat. Kurt Elling)
- Cassandra Wilson – “What A Little Moonlight Can Do”
- Allen Toussaint – “American Tune”
- Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley – “Little Unhappy Boy”
- Gretchen Parlato – “Roy Allan” (feat. Airto Moreira)
- Aretha Franklin – “Somewhere”
