On October 22nd, 2009 Jan Hellriegel returned!

This is my personal impression of the night, not an “official review”. Back in the days of working in the industry we produced a cabaret show with Jan and I got to photograph her performance in Geraldine because Mika – the Maori superstar – was in the video (along with the dance/costume genius of Morag Magnolia Brownlee – again working with Mika this weekend). This was a ground-breakingly gorgeous Kerry Brown video for the hit song . It was a not in this show.

Her album All Grown Up has just been released as a full size LP with some of the most exquisite artwork you will ever see, its very scale makes CD cover-art seem like a sorry mistake.

These 12 years Jan was away from the charts we indulged in CDs and then ripped them. The dynamics of the music business was turned on its head, and instead of the dumb logic that has denied the record labels access to their market, Jan Hellriegel did something spectacular. She returned to the time of her terrific success and produced a proper vinyl LP (as well as CDs), plus of course online sales via Amplifier.co.nz

For an artist to succeed they had to sound good as in those days sound manipulation was not as easy, cheap or disposable as now. Quality seems to have been forgotten in the rush to “get your music out there”. Not that there is anything wrong with the pop industry but it does get a tad repetitive.

Since I listened to Jan’s new album the “new” songs were by now familiar territory, and a couple already grabbing places in my current personal top twenty. The LP album as an artifact has now had the wonder of experience added to the mix, the artist is “exposed” in multifacted tones and we are far richer for it.

There is something achingly beautiful about her performance that is inherited from 1920 jazz artists that surpasses the westie rock chic.

The same experience in memory is not being conveyed on the internet, not yet. Jan has proven it can be done. 12 years since her last release. Would her audience remember? Would they warm to her new songs? Jan Hellriegel composes rock songs with a gigantic heart with a sense of emotional risk. And the time distance. How was it going to be standing in front of an audience after all this time? The anticipation continued.

The vivaciously wonderful singer Kiri Eriwata opened with her band and also pitched in vocal backing vocal duty on 11 songs of Jan’s set. Kiri’s on stage appeal and performance is pure vibrant joy. Her band looks fantastic too and they ploughed through a thoroughly appreciated 20 minute set. Kiri introduced herself carefully pointing out that despite her being mistaken for Jan several times today, she was definitely not Jan. But you can sense the musical heritage here and the same with the first support act, Tim (a fantastic song writer to watch). more on Kiri Eriwata

After a longish break between bands, the band appeared and Jan Hellriegel made her entrance to return to the musical mindset of a city that has become more cynical than she has. This concert had that warm and affectionate personal feeling – Jan makes her audience feel special.

Her set mixed in a suitable number of past hits and a good selection from her album. In the same way her LP reversed time, this show reveals the great flaw in expensive production. It was a band of some of the best session talent rarely seen live together. Wayne Bell’s work with Jan on her recording is partly her angelic sense and partly his rock sense, as I understand it. Perhaps the less musically adventurous parts of her new work was placed around her old work. No real point complaining – this was a flawed jewel, but a valuable one.

But most of her new album is infectious, artful and emotionally connected. Some feel incredibly tender. It is true that some poets write a lot after breaking up, but one can take only so much resolution. Jan then invited collaborators to the stage with her single 2×2. Mika and Jackie Clarke joined in.

The band was excellent – the lead guitarist Brett Adams pure gold. For me Orange Liquor and Libby’s Song were the heart of the show. Her first great hit Way I feel remains one of her strongest songs, but these and her closing song (on the CD, and this performance) are in the same league.

Her all-hands-in chorus line for Goodbye Adieu

There is something achingly beautiful about her performance that is inherited from 1920 jazz artists that surpasses the westie rock chic. I believe that is why her show fits the now. The earlier version of this crossover rock cabaret (when Jan did shows with Mika) felt a bit ahead of it’s time. It has arrived.

- Nicholas Alexander