Whirimako Black makes her eagerly awaited return with the release of a new album 

The Late Night Plays will be released on Ode Records on the 3rd of October 2011.

Best known for her albums sung in Te Reo Maori, Whirimako Black explores new territory on The Late Night Plays with full English renditions of some her favourite songs from the twentieth century.

 The track selection will be familiar to most with songs made famous by U2, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Billie Holliday, Etta James and Leonard Cohen. Whirimako's velvet delivery of each ensures a consistency throughout the album and a uniqueness that makes you forget the songs aren't hers.

The Late Night Plays was produced by Whirimako and long-time collaborator Russel Walder.  Russel, known for his own performance career, his compositions and associations with prestigious label Windham Hill, helped assemble a top raft of players including Michael Chaves (Guitarist for Sarah McLaughlin),  Aron Ottignon (Parisian based Pianist), Kim Paterson (known as "New Zealand's own Miles Davis") and Jonathan Zwartz (and his 100 year old bass).  

The Late Night Plays was recorded during live sessions at Auckland's Roundhead Studios. Whirimako turns back to a time when performers sang live with their band and had only a few days rehearsal. The energy around the making of The Late Night Plays was a creative whirlwind, harnessing the creativity of all concerned. There are no overdubs on the live sessions

Forthcoming Releases

Latin Beat (Putumayo)

African Beat (Putumayo)

Acoustic Cafe (Putumayo) - A captivating collection of singer-songwriters from the USA, Canada, South Africa and Australia

Celtic Christmas (Putumayo) - Beautiful Irish and Scottish voices, entrancing Celtic instrumentation and classic Christmas carols provide an uplifting soundtrack for the holiday season.

Paul Hillier / Theatre of Voices - The Christmas Story (Harmonia Mundi )
Inspired by the much-loved service of "nine Lessons and Carols" given every Christmas Eve in England, this recording presents the Nativity story told through plainchant, motets, 17th Century dialogues and traditional folk carols.

Bejun Mehta - Down By the Salley Gardens, Jules Drake, piano (Harmonia Mundi)
C20th English songs ranging from the Edwardian aesthetic of Quilter and early Vaughan Williams to the intensely expressive style of Howells and Finzi.

De Falla - Noches / Javier Perianes, BBC Symphony Orchestra (Harmonia Mundi)

Anthony Richie - Octopus, Chamber Music (Atoll)

Phil Broadhurst Quartet - Delayed Reaction (Rattle / Independent Artists)
The first in the new Rattle imprint Independent Artists.

Dave Lisik - Donated by Cantor Fitzgerald, A Threnody (Rattle)

Conspirare / Craig Hella Johnson & Company of Voices - Sing Freedom! (Harmonia Mundi)
One of the seminal American musical traditions, the spiritual is dramatic, powerful, and profoundly beautiful.

Kids Sing Bob Dylan (Universal Children's Audio)