Nori is an eclectic modern jazz band featuring Akina Adderley on vocals, Erik Telford on trumpet, Nick Litterski on keys, Aaron Allen on upright bass, and Andy Beaudoin on drums. Festival Peak describes Nori as “a five-person gift from Austin, TX.” Enriching an aesthetic deeply rooted in American jazz and folk music, the ensemble playfully weaves together a myriad of global influences giving rise to a seamless synthesis of sound. These musical explorations expertly balance the narrative of ... view more »
Nori is an eclectic modern jazz band featuring Akina Adderley on vocals, Erik Telford on trumpet, Nick Litterski on keys, Aaron Allen on upright bass, and Andy Beaudoin on drums. Festival Peak describes Nori as “a five-person gift from Austin, TX.” Enriching an aesthetic deeply rooted in American jazz and folk music, the ensemble playfully weaves together a myriad of global influences giving rise to a seamless synthesis of sound. These musical explorations expertly balance the narrative of the song with wide-open improvisations, echoing the transcendent tones of Nina Simone, Bill Frisell, John Coltrane, and Joni Mitchell. The band’s debut album ‘World Anew’ received much critical acclaim after its release in 2016. Their 2018 follow-up ‘Bruise Blood’ highlighted visceral themes of social divisions in 21st century America. Nori released a self-titled album exclusively on vinyl in 2021 that documented the band’s diverse catalogue and featured a sweeping cover of Nina Simone’s “Four Women.” Nina Simone has been a guiding inspiration for Nori since the conception of the band. In fact, the members of Nori often refer to Nina Simone as their patron saint of music. Simone was a genre-bending musician, she was a master storyteller, and she was a fierce activist. Nori strives to excel at all three of these facets. Nori has been awarded a 2024 Austin Live Music Fund Grant. With this grant, Nori will be curating and performing a Nina Simone tribute show at The 04 Center on Saturday, July 13. The concert will feature both original compositions and selected arrangements from Simone’s celebrated catalogue. Furthermore, Nori will be accompanied by a 9-piece string orchestra!
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