Singing in Maltese is what most Maltese singers so. But choosing to become a jazz singer and still sing in Maltese is pretty much unusual. And indeed that is precisely what seasoned singer Nadine Axisa has chosen to do. She is launching her newest album - 'Il-Ħoss ta' l-Għabex' -  this month, strictly sung in Maltese and strictly jazz.

The making of this particular album represents a substantial change in direction for Nadine, which change has proven to be a significant challenge. "I have been singing jazz for some 15 years of my career now. Although I started off singing the usual pop songs that led me to successfully participate in music festivals such as the Eurovision or 'Għanja tal-Poplu', I realised, over the years that I needed a tougher bone to chew." Jazz got a hold on her and she launched her first album 'Velvet' in 2014. After which she launched a cover version called 'Miegħek Immur' with the local band 'Brodu'.

"My experience of singing in hotels and during events is all about live singing. As I began to experiment singing with established jazz bands both in Malta and abroad, I started to develop and refine my own style, also based on my research of the music of the 1930s and 1940s. This is a musical era which gives me good vibes and a great sense of energy. There is so much to learn and be inspired from. Along the way I have trained with many professional musicians and, more importantly, I listen carefully to how other seasoned singers interpret jazz. There is a lot if improvisation involved in each performance, and all professional jazz singers create an own style by experience."

Nadine's new album 'Il-Ħoss ta' l-Għabex', is all about contemporary jazz where constant melodic, harmonic and rhythmic changes are the norm. The innovative project has other very unique characteristics which added to the stimulus. "I selected a series of well-known Maltese songs so that 10 tracks within the album are all a jazzy remake of popular songs from the '70s and '80s. Some of them are considered folk music and turning them around to jazz has been an exceptional enterprise. The 11th track is a completely original new song with words from a poem by Adrian Grima and music by Joe Debono. Joe himself made all the musical arrangements of the album. Session musicians Oliver Degabriele on the bass and Manwel Pulis on the drums accompany me."

Nadine knew from the onset that this was a risky project to embark upon and it did take up two full years of hard work. When David Vella of Temple Studios proposed to produce the album for her, she admits she had her serious doubts about it and whether it would work out well. Even halfway through the process, she was still somewhat uncertain as to the outcome of it all, but by the end of the project she had absolutely no qualms about having taken the plunge.

"Singing jazz versions of songs by Maltese household names has been a healthy challenge. For instance, the Greenfields' 'Iż-Żmien Għaddej' thrilled me no end. There is a very strong nostalgic theme throughout, especially since the songs come from an era of very particular social issues such as emigration en masse. Songs such as Mary Spiteri's poignant 'Malta', a song by Sammy Galea, comes to mind. I hope my audience will be as thrilled to listen to this music, much loved Maltese song dressed in jazz."

 

Nadine Axsia shall be in live concert at the Valletta Campus Theatre, on 30 November and 1December at 19:30hrs. 'Velvet' is being released in CD format and as a 12-inch Vinyl.

For tickets: https://shop.trackagescheme.com