Show Description

"Imagine the earthy gutsiness of Nina Simone and the vocal beauty of Dianne Reeves. Such is Somi."
- Jazz Times

Dedicating the evening to the Valentine season, rising East African singer/songwriter Somi returns to Joe's Pub to perform an intimate set of both originals and unexpected covers. The evening will also debut a number of Somi's newest pieces of writing while offering a comprehensive perspective on journeys in love and truth. Alongside guitarists Brandon Ross and Liberty Ellman, the night will feature new arrangements for voice, two guitars, cello, and percussion. Originally from Uganda and Rwanda, Somi's music gives voice to the post-colonial African experience in the Diaspora with an authentic blend of the contemporary and the traditional. Having worked with the likes of Mos Def, Amel Larrieux, Manu Dibango, Roy Hargrove, and the legendary Cheik Tidiane Seck, Somi's international appeal is a reflection of her diverse experience and influences. With the critical acclaim of her sophomore album "Red Soil In My Eyes", Somi's ferociously beautiful acoustic band continue to captivate audiences worldwide, while her mellifluous voice flows over, through, and in-between nuances of urban jazz, downtempo soul, and African folk.