Zoh Amba

In the organizer's words:

"Eyes Full" is Zoh Amba's songwriting debut and also his first release on Matador. After Amba (they/them) had established himself as a saxophonist in the New York free jazz scene and was soon performing at festivals around the world, all roads now lead back to his first instrument: the guitar. And to Amba's home town of Kingsport in Tennessee. The music on "Eyes Full", with its lurching blues and Appalachian folk influences, is unmistakably linked to this place; it radiates directly from its soul.

"Eyes Full" is a lesson in how to see and stay open to the universe and all the souls that live in it. Through Amba's gaze, the album restores spirit and dignity to those who are often overlooked or repressed. On "Eyes Full", Amba sings for people who rarely see themselves reflected with tenderness. It carries a painful empathy for those who have been marginalized, for those who become numb or lose touch with their inner selves. The songs insist on looking. And to return the gaze of others without looking away.

The debut album was recorded live and without overdubs at Drop of Sun Studios in Asheville, an hour from Amba's hometown. Amba's best friend Kevin Hyland plays electric guitar while the legendary Jim White, whom Amba met years ago on the streets of New York (and now describes as the closest thing she's ever had to a family) handles the drums.

Price information:

VVK: 20€ plus fees