For just under a decade, South African singer Tutu Puoane walked around with the poetry collection In A Ribbon Of Rhythm by her compatriot Lebogang Mashile under her arm. Her poems made a deep impression on her, and every time she read them, she heard music. Together with Belgian pianist Ewout Pierreux, her partner in life and music, she wrote a slew of new songs based on some of her favorites from Mashile’s collection. The result is an original and glowing repertoire, sounding like her own mix of singer-songwriting, jazz and soul.
This music forms the basis for her new album “Wrapped In Rhythm”, produced by legendary American musician Larry Klein, who previously collaborated with Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, Thomas Dybdahl,and Herbie Hancock, among others. The open and loose structures of the repertoire allow for a free, improvised and communicative approach to the music when performed live, which is the ideal context for Puoane and her Belgian-Dutch band.
Tutu Puoane vocals, Tim Finoulst pedal steel guitar, Ewout Pierreux piano, Clemens van der Feen double bass, Dré Pallemaerts drums