Each month, the music critic Sophia Fanen offers 5 novelties. For the June 2022 vintage, we offer you :
– Ebi, Shabzadehfrom the film’s soundtrack hit the road (2022)
– Pusha T, Dreamin of the Pastfrom the album It’s Almost Dry (Def Jam/Universal Music, 2022)
– Laila al Habash, Oracolofrom the album Mystic Motel (Undamento, 2022)
– Beckah Amani, I Don’t Know Why I Don’t Leave Yousingle (Rebecca Amani, 2022)
– Kendrick Lamar, United in Grievancefrom the album Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers (Aftermath/Interscope, 2022).
Then we get the New Zealand bluesman Grant Haua who presents the album Awa Blues (Dixie Frog) and who is also releasing a live album Ora Blues At The Chapel Feat. DeLanie Ututaonga.
Talents of this caliber are rare: Grant Haua possesses all the gifts: a tone of voice that Tom Jones would not deny, an astounding guitar technique, a melodic ease that challenges, a singular history between that of his Maori culture and the high peaks of New Zealand rugby and a devotion to flawless blues!
Grant Hauathe Maori phenomenon, has just completed a presentation tour in Germany and France, notably performing on the mythical television show Rock Palast or in 1time part of Fred Chapellier or Neal Black. Throughout the confinement period, Grant Haua took his guitar and went to the recording studio of Tim Julian, his longtime collaborator. They brought in Mickey Ututaonga on drums, Brian Franks on bass and DeLanie Ututaonga, the signature Maori Soul sound of the past 20 years, for some vocals. The group met at the end of February 2022 in a historic village in the Tauranga region to record 13 titles from Grant’s plethora of repertoire in front of an invited audience. The tracks range from very moving and sensual Song For Speedya title in memory of a musician who died down to the brutal and uncompromising blues of bad man. Grant also delved into a few crowd-pleasing titles like Balladeer, a piece from the repertoire of Swamp Thing, the alternative blues band that brought them international fame. Grant is set to return to Europe for new dates in July 2022 where he is sure to play some of the nuggets present on Ora Blues at the Chapel. For the occasion, he will be accompanied by DeLanie Ututaonga, the Diva, kiwi blues queen and the very recent signing of the Dixiefrog label for an album to be released in the fall of 2022.
Titles performed at the Grand studio
– Tough love momma Live RFI see the clip
– This is the placefrom the album Awa Blues see the clip
– Be Yourself Live RFI.
-Grant Hauaguitar, voice
– André Brodzkitranslator.
His : Benoit Letirant & Fabien Mugneret.
– Site : Grant Haua + DixieFrog/Grant Haua.
Grant Haua Concerts
From 1er to July 4, 2022 at Cognac Blues Passion
July 17, 2022: Cahors Blues Festival.