Jahnhalle Nordenham

Impressive groove experience by Ulrike Krebs

With charisma and professional ease, Al-Yasha Anderson mesmerized her audience.
Picture: Andreas Gruner

Soul, blues, jazz and funk, plus a bit of pop and rock: Al-Yasha Anderson and her band pulled out all stops in the Jahnhalle.

NORDENHAM: On Friday, about 60 visitors in the Jahnhalle experienced a rather unusual music evening in Nordenham, but worthwhile in every respect. For the songs presentedby Al-Yasha Anderson (vocals, guitar), Yeti Mansena (keyboards), Mathias Büsseler (drums) and Mathias Klenke (bass) cannot be assigned to a classical music genre. Sometimes they are reminiscent of soul, then of jazz, blues or funk. And elements of pop and rock music can also be found in the pieces with the consistently rhythmically accentuated groove and a high degree of improvisation.

The American singer-songwriter Al-Yasha Anderson is characterized by a very expressive and absolutely authentic soul voice, which does not weaken even with the high notes and consistently gives a variety of melodies a very personal touch. Some are reminded of jazz greats like Sarah Vaughn or Ella Fitzgerald, others of Joni Mitchell or the soul legend Aretha Franklin.

Great mood
The charismatic Al-Yasha Anderson also knows how to easily create a sense of humor in her performances, when she encourages her audience to clap along or join in, and even to dance. With a professional self-confidence she leaves the stage to pick out her dance partners from the audience.

Al-Yasha Anderson, who has lived in Oldenburg for 20 years, is already familiar with internationally known greats such as Joe Cocker, Dr. John, Lee Konitz, Axel Zwingenberger, Helmut Lotti, Inga Rumpf, Roger Cicero or Helene Fischer, has worked in musicals such as "The Lion King", "Buddy Holly Story", "Sister Act" and "Oh Happy Day". On Friday, the native New Yorker presented her audience with a mix of self-written songs, which she composed together with Yeti Mansena, and artfully arranged cover pieces like "Die Tanzerinr" (Ulla Meinecke, 1983), "Give Me One Reason" (Tracy Chapman, 1995) or as an encore "Marmor, Stein und Eisenbrecht" (Drafi Deutscher, 1965).

Their own songs often deal with relationships and love, such as the rather quiet "Passionate Embrace". But there are also plays that get really nasty when the Donald Trump opponent musically expresses her criticism of the police attacks on blacks, and again and again the dominant "Gun Shot" under the title "Black Lives Matter" sings.

Together with Yeti, whom she has known for several decades, Al-Yasha Anderson has composed a lot of songs. The two of them released a CD years ago and have been a well-rehearsed team for a long time. "We liked each other directly," recalls the singer, who also plays guitar herself when she announces the co-developed pieces like "Going Crazy" or "You're All I Dream Of".

Much applause
Much applause also received Yeti and the "M & M's" again and again - that's the Bremen musicians Mathias Büsseler and Mathias Klenke for their very successful instrumentals.

"Just great music. That's something completely different.