Here’s a vocalist I’ve never heard before, and this release of her singing in concert makes me want to delve deeper into her catalogue. Akua Allrich has a warm and sassy delivery, not unlike a young Aretha Franklin, and uses her voice in a flexible way that includes drops, falls and growls almost like an old school trumpet player. Her, at the DC club The Bohemian Caverns, she’s teamed up with Kris Funn/b, Kush Abadey/dr, Janele Gill-Warren Wolf/p and Samil Moulay/g for a collecton of earthy tunes that range from an intriguing take of the Baby Boomer hit “Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” to dramatic socio-poliitcal pieces such as Nina Simone’s “Sinnerman.” On the former, her voice pleads and agonizes, while on”Lush Life” (with wondrous piano work by Gill), she gasps and sighs through her dissipation. More rhythmic material such as “Afro Blue” gets her in a fierce delivery, and her own “Jol’Inkomo” has her clicking and clacking her tongue to create a more African atmosphere. Creative, and looking for new horizons, making this an intriguing and fresh piece of music.