Vocalist
“Jazz is in Akina Adderley’s blood, and it flows with a warm mix of old-school soul and R&B.” –Margaret Moser, The Austin Chronicle
Akina Adderley is a vocalist, songwriter, bandleader, conductor, and educator based in Austin, Texas. Nicknamed ‘the little woman with the big voice,” Akina currently fronts three projects: her 5-piece jazz-rooted neo-soul band, Akina Adderley and the Upper East Side; her 9-piece horn-driven soul band, Akina Adderley & The Vintage Playboys (with whom she has released two records), and jazz/folk/world outfit, Nori (with whom she has released an EP, a full-length record, and most recently, a single for Valentine’s Day 2017 called “Tumbao”). Akina has performed all over the country, shared bills with the likes of Bob Schneider, Gary Clark, Jr., Alejandro Escovedo, Pinetop Perkins, Carolyn Wonderland, Booker T., Budos Band, and Big Sam’s Funky Nation, and sung backing vocals on the albums of Charlie Mars and Gregg Rolie (of Santana and Journey). Sometimes a soul singer, sometimes a jazz songstress, Akina will always move you with what the Austin American Statesman calls her “rich, emotive pipes.”