In my review of Alma Naidu‘s excellent concert in Dottendorf from 2023 I was sure that her next release would take the lady from Munich away from small intimate concerts. For that reason we were lucky indeed that her sophomore album ‘Redefine’ has taken a while to be released. It meant that we got a second chance to hear this very talented young singer-songwriter/pianist in a small, intimate atmosphere, with the added bonus sound of birds chirping outside the hall between songs.
It seems that Alma Naidu has found in the Dottendorfer Jazznacht venue a perfect location to relax and experiment. There’s a lightness in the air as she and her excellent band try out musical ideas in front of an appreciative audience that makes these evenings particularly special. An instant feeling of ease, almost as if she’s just returned to the stage after a short break from that 2023 concert. But something has changed, almost imperceptably, but it is a change. The lady has a certain style update about her that reflects the pictures covering her new release ‘Redefine’. A new image dare I suggest? Or maybe just a clearer image? Clearly Alma Naidu has taken the title track of that new release very much to heart, and the lyric: “To be someone, it’s time to change. To redefine your sense of self”. The change is subtle in appearance but more apparent in the music.
Given the quality of that 2023 concert I’m surprised that there are still tickets on the door. There is though a steady flow of new arrivals so that, by 8pm, the hall looks to be full again. Stepping onto the stage dressed in a comfortable white blouse and trousers Naidu is instantly the centre of attention against her black clad band, and it is indeed difficult to take your eyes off of the lady for the rest of the set as she flits between piano, organ, stool and standing microphone. In fact, I don’t think she stayed put in one place for two songs together.
The concert here in 2023 leant heavily on debut disc ‘Alma’ which made for an excellent musical evening at the time. There were though also a couple of newly self-composed songs, at the time not published, which promised greater things still. In particular a song titled ‘How Come’ with its plaintive questioning of gender roles and expectations. It’s a number that is again one of this evening’s highlights – better than the recorded version even, thanks to the extra effects added by light screeching of guitar, drumstick scratching cymbal, and ‘thunder’ rolls courtesy of Florian Stierstorfer’s gentle tapping of bass strings. Spine-tingling stuff raising a central conundrum regarding male/female roles:
“How come our genders must define, whether I’m allowed to be loud”
The same theme comes from a different angle, on ‘To be a man’ – another new song from ‘Redefined’ which answers:
“To be a man, you’ve learned to be loud since you were a child”
It’s these two songs that make me optimistic that Alma Naidu has it in her to go beyond being purely another (albeit excellent) female jazz vocalist; moments when she finds a topic that matters to her beyond the usual romantic loves lost, found and pondered on songs. It’s no surprise then that the evening’s other real highlight is another song that goes beyond the usual lyrical stereotypes. ‘See you in my dreams’ inspired by the loss of Naidu’s Grandfather is performed foresaking both upright and electric pianos. Just sitting downt to sing about a subject that truly touches her, Naidu connects with her audience perfectly. I’m reminded of my recent interview with British Folkmusic legend Richard Thompson who said that the best songs are those that listeners connect to from experience – the songs that speak directly in a way the listener hasn’t heard a million times before.
That’s not to say that songs of romantic love are to be avoided at all costs. It’s just that they have been written so many times that it’s difficult to find a new perspective. ‘Someday My Love’ has a catchy pop chorus to sing along to for sure, and ‘Can’t fall asleep’ is one to “hug the person next to you” during (“but if it’s not your partner, please ask them first” jokes Naidu). This is also a good song for waving handy torches to. Beautiful songs beautifully sung to be sure, but it’s good to have the extra weight of heavier subjects.
It’s also good to have a bit of variety musically, so ‘Walberla’ inspired by a Swiss mountain of the same name is a welcome part of the set as an instrumental. ‘Downside of Love’ was introduced as something of a Rocksong and to his credit guitarist Andreas Dombert gave it a bit of a Joe Satriani touch on his powder blue Stratocaster. The band as a whole deserve a mention. Dombert seemed to almost be gently squeezing out melodies all night as if any note too long or too loud would be criminally investigated by the Jazz police. Drummer Valentin Renner instinctively knew when to up the tempo and the volume, but also when to make the brushes do the talking on his kit (he also got a rocking workout of sorts on ‘Back to Life’ with a lively drum solo). The most impressive addition of all to the evening’s music was undoubtedly bassist Florian Stierstorfer, especially as co-vocalist on the excellent ‘Who’s left’, going a little outside the box again from the new disc. Picking through the lyrics this is a gem of a song: “Who’s left… suddenly when all is gone… it’s just you… and that is more than plentiful… more than enough”.
All-in-all an evening that surpassed even the excellent 2023 concert by Alma Naidu and one that fulfilled a little more of the promise of that first show. As the lady enthusiastically points out in the liner notes of ‘Redefine‘ this release signifies the “next step of the journey” for her. The new disc and the live show are definitely indications of a musician maturing as both a composer and singer. I’m certainly enjoying Alma Naidu’s musical journey and I suspect we still haven’t heard the peak of it. Meanwhile though, there are already some great moments to enjoy from her concerts and her music releases. If this review has peeked your interest then I recommend getting a ticket for Stadtgarten in Cologne on 26 June where she will be appearing in the area once again.
