Victoria-based jazz vocalist Susannah Adams is transforming traditional jazz conventions with her new album 'HEARTH', set to launch at Hermann's Jazz Club on Oct. 27, offering what she describes as an antidote to modern high-speed living.
The two-hour performance, running from 7 to 9 p.m., promises to blend the vibrancy of live jazz with the soothing elements of a sound bath. Adams will showcase her versatility alongside other local musicians, including Attila Fias on piano, Louis Rudner on double bass, and Kelby MacNayr on drums and percussion.
"The music offers a beautiful antidote to the high-speed life we're all living in," says Adams, who moved from London, UK, to Victoria 15 years ago. "Rest is radical."
The album pushes conventional boundaries with three extended compositions: "Stream", "Wayfarer", and "Red Moon". These pieces incorporate tribal beats, elegant melodies, and what Adams terms "eco-erotica" – music denoting a sensual relationship with the Earth.
A regular performer at local festivals including Victoria Jazz Fest and Rifflandia, Adams has expanded her musical repertoire beyond traditional vocals. During the performance, she will incorporate multiple instruments including a looper, lyre, wooden flute, and kalimba. The album and performance draw inspiration from various sources, including Celtic traditions and Indigenous knowledge. The song "Wayfarer" was influenced by teachings from a B.C. Indigenous Elder during a sacred medicine retreat.
"The purpose of the music is to invite the listener to come into a meditative state, receptive for dreaming and healing," Adams explains. "This is medicine music."
The performance at Hermann's represents a homecoming of sorts for Adams, who credits the venue and its community for supporting the early part of her career. While some of her recent performances have invited audiences to experience the music "sound bath-style", she plans to adapt the presentation to suit Hermann's traditional jazz club setting while maintaining the music's meditative essence.
Tickets are available for $25 plus fees through Hermann's website or at the door, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m.
