International jazz is struggling to find new female vocal jazz stars to add to the cohort of living artistes as Dianne Reeves, Cécile McLorin Salvant or Samara Joy. Here’s another first-round draft pick: Ekep Nkwelle.
At around 8pm on Saturday, the small outdoor amphitheatre on the Esplanade Tranquille, named Pub Molson for the duration of the FIJM, was one of the few places protected from the insistent rain, which later eased off, fortunately for our very own Dominique Fils-Aimée, who was able to give an imperious performance on the Scène TD.
On a smaller scale, this 25-year-old woman, born in Washington DC of Cameroonian parents, knocked the hundreds of people present at this authentic discovery on their asses. The illustrious unknown recorded very little, as we were all there by chance of discovery.
It starts with jazz that’s very much inclined towards gospel and soul jazz. Then it plunges straight into the world of the great Abbey Lincoln, and once again you realize that this African-American vibe is absolutely inimitable. As is the case with Ekep Nkwelle, you have to be steeped in black American life to express it in this way through jazz.
Ekep Kwelle then moves on to Betty Carter covers arranged by Brazilian Djavan, where Betty’s spirit is warmly appealed to.
La chanteuse passe ensuite à l’évocation fervente de Nina Simone et sa si puissante blackness.
And then there’s Ellington’s Solitude, and then Bobby Timmons’ Moanin’, and so on until the end of this thrilling hour.
By choosing this rather predictable repertoire of modern jazz and female vocal jazz, Ekep Kwelle could have left us cold, put us to sleep or directed us to other stages. Not so! This young singer performs miracles of expressivity, power, exuberance, ease, sensitivity, passion and guts on the table.
In her white dress, she’ll have everyone present. Without exception. There weren’t enough of us to use the “a star is born” cliché, but… we’re not far off.In her white dress, she’ll have everyone present. Without exception. There weren’t enough of us to use the “a star is born” cliché, but… we’re not far off.
