Nicknamed “the little woman with the big voice,” vocalist, songwriter, and bandleader Akina Adderley was born into music.
Despite the nickname, Akina Adderley is much more than “the little woman with the big voice.” A rock/soul vocalist, songwriter, bandleader, arranger, and producer based in Austin, Texas, Adderley’s music reflects both her modern rock ‘n roll sensibility and her deep jazz roots. Margaret Moser (Austin Chronicle) wrote, “Jazz is in Akina Adderley’s blood, and it flows with a warm mix of old-school soul and R&B.” Akina’s father is acclaimed jazz pianist and arranger Nat Adderley, Jr. (long-time bandleader for Luther Vandross), and her grandfather and granduncle were venerated jazz musicians: cornetist Nat Adderley, Sr. and alto saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley (Miles Davis, Kind of Blue). While their towering musical legacy flows through her, Akina’s artistry is all her own. Adderley grew up in New York City and lived in both New York and Los Angeles before settling in Austin, collecting sounds along the way to weave with her musical DNA — resulting in her dynamic, unique style.
Akina’s music crackles with infectious grooves and incisive lyrics, but live performances bring that heat to a whole other level. Audiences “instantly fall for her dynamism and her superstar performance,” says Laurie Gallardo of KUTX-FM, moved by what the Austin American-Statesman calls her “rich, emotive pipes.” Drawing comparisons to Tina Turner and Sharon Jones, Akina’s stage presence is captivating and electrifying. Akina has performed across the country, sharing bills with Booker T., Budos Band, and Big Sam’s Funky Nation, as well as with Austin favorites Gary Clark, Jr., Jackie Venson, Shinyribs, Bright Light Social Hour, Bob Schneider, Alejandro Escovedo, and Carolyn Wonderland. She is a featured backing vocalist on recordings by Charlie Mars, James McMurtry, and Gregg Rolie (Santana and Journey), among others. Akina has produced two albums and toured extensively with her 8-piece soul band, Akina Adderley & The Vintage Playboys, and released an EP and two full-length records with nu-jazz group Nori. A local Austin favorite, Akina is a Black Fret artist, a songwriter with The House of Songs, and was honored in 2012 by the mayoral proclamation of Akina Adderley Day in Austin.
Akina is also a proud educator (another passion woven into her DNA); she’s the Music Director at Griffin School, was a long-time instructor and band coach at Girls Rock Camp, conducts musicals for the Adderley Repertory Theatre Ensemble, and teaches private voice lessons.