Voice like hot treacle

New Zealand-raised jazz sensation Leila Adu is returning home to perform a series of nationwide concerts throughout May, her first in five years. Of Ghanian descent, Adu is touring to support her most recent album, Dark Joan, which was produced with analog fervour by the great Steve Albini (Nirvana, PJ Harvey, Joanna Newsom). She will be supported in her unique blend of jazz, blues, pop and experimental by some of the great names of the New Zealand music scene including Jeff Henderson, David Long, Nick Gaffaney and Chris O’Conner. When asked about why this current tour is so important Adu said: “I get to play with some of my favorite musicians. I was born on British soil but New Zealand is my home.” Adu completed post-graduate studies in 2003 at Victoria University, majoring in composition and specialising in Electro-acoustic Music, Ethnomusicology and Orchestration.