playlist
Someday My Prince part A+B
from duo
DUNCAN HAYNES
NERO'S CAPER
from biathanatos
news
Interior drones
from the urban choreograhic
beautiful love
with tim robertson and pat levett
reviews
welcome...
MARCH 2010
So the Civilized Tears project to fund the release of the first single and video is launched! We need to raise $6,500 in the next 90 days. If you feel so inclined please visit the KICKSTART website at http://bit.ly/cXXXP7 You can donate anything from $1 and yes there are rewards :)On the jazz side I had a lovely gig at Ronnie Scotts his month with vocalist Iain MacKenzie and Dave Foster's Swing City. A great band, nice piano, wonderful room and very appreciative audience - who could ask for more!
So the Civilized Tears project to fund the release of the first single and video is launched! We need to raise $6,500 in the next 90 days. If you feel so inclined please visit the KICKSTART website at http://bit.ly/cXXXP7 You can donate anything from $1 and yes there are rewards :)
On the jazz side I had a lovely gig at Ronnie Scotts his month with vocalist Iain MacKenzie and Dave Foster's Swing City. A great band, nice piano, wonderful room and very appreciative audience - who could ask for more!
tomodo
I came across this in a speech by Brutus from Julius Caesar recently. Inspired and happily amazed at Shakespeare; so rich an understanding of the human condition alloyed with the most sublime way of describing it:"There is a tide in the affairs of men/ Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;/ Omitted, all the voyage of their life/ Is bound in shallows and in miseries./ On such a full sea are we now afloat;/ And we must take the current when it serves,/ Or lose our ventures."
I came across this in a speech by Brutus from Julius Caesar recently. Inspired and happily amazed at Shakespeare; so rich an understanding of the human condition alloyed with the most sublime way of describing it:
"There is a tide in the affairs of men/ Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;/ Omitted, all the voyage of their life/ Is bound in shallows and in miseries./ On such a full sea are we now afloat;/ And we must take the current when it serves,/ Or lose our ventures."
previously
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
reviews...
There is a fleetness of touch in the musicians' performances that makes the music seem to take flight. The result is a mysteriously beautiful composition that I never wanted to end. To create an articulate structure with contextual logic and a followable narrative is an art-form; to do so in a group context is even more challenging. That Mitchell and Haynes make it sound so easy, so suffused with consummate musicianship is a credit to their promising talent and impeccable taste. CHRISTIAN CAREYSplendid ezine
There is a fleetness of touch in the musicians' performances that makes the music seem to take flight. The result is a mysteriously beautiful composition that I never wanted to end. To create an articulate structure with contextual logic and a followable narrative is an art-form; to do so in a group context is even more challenging. That Mitchell and Haynes make it sound so easy, so suffused with consummate musicianship is a credit to their promising talent and impeccable taste.
CHRISTIAN CAREY
Splendid ezine
The set concludes on a piece with gospel inflections, a perfect summary of the duo's chemistry and deep understanding. There is no denying its artistry, creativity and understated charm. FRANCOIS COUTUREAllMusic.com
The set concludes on a piece with gospel inflections, a perfect summary of the duo's chemistry and deep understanding. There is no denying its artistry, creativity and understated charm.
FRANCOIS COUTURE
AllMusic.com
The consistently fabulous Leo label continues to unearth creative music form spirits known and often unknown. intricate ideas, majestic and melodic, melancholy and elegant. DOWNTOWN MUSIC GALLERYNew York
The consistently fabulous Leo label continues to unearth creative music form spirits known and often unknown. intricate ideas, majestic and melodic, melancholy and elegant.
DOWNTOWN MUSIC GALLERY
New York
Sophie Garner makes a striking CD debut. She has the knack of making a song swing ... Her band is excellent, especially pianist Duncan Haynes and saxophonist Brandon Allen. DAVE GELLY The Observer
Sophie Garner makes a striking CD debut. She has the knack of making a song swing ... Her band is excellent, especially pianist Duncan Haynes and saxophonist Brandon Allen.
DAVE GELLY
The Observer
discography...
THE URBAN CHOREOGRAPHIC
Duncan Haynes & Matthew Mitchell
Leo Records 2006
piano & composition
TRIM-TRIMPO
Trim-Trimpo
Rec Rotterdam 2007
piano
THE PERSISTENCE
OF MEMORY
Mistral Trio
Rec London 2010
CHAMPAGNE & FALSE EYELASHES Sophie Garner
Silk Records 2005
BEAUTIFUL COLLISION
Bic Runga
Sony 2003
String arrangements
BIATHANATOS
Leo Records 2004
TOUCHWOOD
Nigel Gavin's Gitbox
Rattle Records 1998
Cello
DRIVE
Sony 2001
SCORPIO RIGHTING Garageland
Foodcahin 2002
Brass arrangements
past...
Having studied classical music, playing piano, cello and trombone as a child, I won a national competition in New Zealand at age 16 performing the Bartok Concerto for Two Pianos and Percussion. It was about this time I also began exploring jazz and improvised music.
As a composer my commissions include a work for choir and jazz piano trio for one of NZ's leading choirs, a classical piano trio, and numerous works for RadioNZ sessions for jazz quintet recorded at York St.
As an arranger I worked with Bic Runga, NZ's no.1 recording artist, on Drive 1998 and Beautiful Collision 2002 - both multi-platinum selling albums. I also had orchestrations performed before audiences of 50,000 (Wellington City millennium celebrations) and 100,000 (Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony Under the Stars 1998).
As a performer my trio have supported acts as diverse as Dudley Moore and Will Young. Appearances include Krakow Jazz Festival; Derry Jazz Festival; Conservatory of the Hague; Wembley stadium and London jazz clubs Ronnie Scotts; Pizza Express Dean St; Live on the Park; Lisbon jazz clubs Ondajazz and Braco de Prata. Other live performances include the Platters, the Coasters and the house band on ITV's Xtra Factor.
present...
Civilized Tears with Tim Bennett, Ed Sethardwright
UK/US/NZ rock
Duo with Tim Robertson bass/guitar
exploring standards
Mistral Trio with Jules Jackson bass & Simon Pearson drums
piano trio jazz originals
Trim-Trimpo with Gonzo Almeida bass & Luis Candeias drums
free improv
with Matthew Mitchell guitar
two albums of improvised music for Leo Records
links...
Please email me if you would like to buy an album direct (free postage!)
Otherwise I recommend cdbaby or jazzcds.co.uk.
Artists & venues with whom I've been associated - and recommend :)
tim robertson
bic runga
goncalo almeida
nigel gavin
rough ramblers
ondajazz
luis candeias
leo records
ariana tikao
creative sources
functions+corporate...
With years of experience playing for weddings, parties & corporate events I can also provide you with top drawer swing/pop/rock/funk/soul.
Please call or email me with details of what you need and I'll put together just the right people.
Collective credits include Amy Winehouse, Just Jack, Candi Staton, Marlene Shaw, Newton Faulkner, Jacqui Dankworth, Jamie Cullum...
I've also included here links to some of the great working bands I'm lucky to perform with...
TOM RUST BAND
FUNKIFICATION
SING OUT SISTER
BACKBEAT VILLAGE
SEJUICE
PROFOUND MUSIC
»»
THURN+TAXIS
from trim-trimpo
discography
salaspilS
past+present
the persistence of memory
PIANO DRUM DUO
links
re:person i knew
inspiration
"As beautiful as the chance meeting of
a sewing machine and an umrella on a
dissection table."
COMTE DE LAUTREAMONT
"Music doesn't come from music."
KEITH JARRETT
The Japanese have a word (ma) for an
interval of silence that gives shape
to the whole eg the sudden quiet when
a bee has just flown out the window.
"...where virtuosity within sentences meets
the unplannable energy of the imagination,
harnesses it to a narrative and enacts an
entirely new and exhilarating occurrence
dedicated to renewal."
RICHARD FORD
piano trio album of originals drawing on the
european chamber jazz tradition.
recorded in london, february 2010
with jules jackson bass and simon pearson drums.
release on label4 records 2010.
mistralthe persistence of memoryi've never been in love beforeballadthe puplake genevadim sumwhen you wish upon a starreflection
mistral
the persistence of
memory
i've never been in
love before
ballad
the pup
lake geneva
dim sum
when you wish upon a
star
reflection
trim-trimpo
trio album of free jazz with some of portugal's
Finest improvising musicians; GONCALO 'GONZO'
ALMEIDA BASS AND LUIS CANDEIAS DRUMS.
recorded at rotterdam conservatory 2007
release pending on creative sources records.
once upon a timeAFRICAbass solofruit saladpiano drum duoofficepiano soloin the round1m30squiet nowthurn+taxis
once upon a time
AFRICA
bass solo
fruit salad
piano drum duo
office
piano solo
in the round
1m30s
quiet now
thurn+taxis
the urban choreographic
piano guitar duo album of improv based on
melodic+rhythmic fragments.
recorded at signal creative studio walthamstow,
may 2005
with matthew mitchell guitar+compositions.
released on leo records 2006.
abolitiondecay anteriorroad licearcane the mongooseterminal 5arteriumsinusurban geneticsagent decayarcadenero's caperinterior dronesstreetlight visionsabyssiniabones
abolition
decay anterior
road lice
arcane the mongoose
terminal 5
arterium
sinus
urban genetics
agent decay
arcade
nero's caper
interior drones
streetlight visions
abyssinia
bones
champagne & false eyelashes
sophie garner's album of jazz vocal standards
and originals
recorded at red gables, london.
featuring brandon allen sax.
released on silk records 2005.
one love is all i needyou better go nowchampagne and false eyelashesall gods chillunworld on a stringsuddenly in wintertimemorelullaby of birdlandwhen you breathehello young loverthe man in my dreamssomewhere over the rainbowmy heart stood stillsnug as a bugi won't dancedat dere
one love is all i need
you better go now
champagne and false
eyelashes
all gods chillun
world on a string
suddenly in wintertime
more
lullaby of birdland
when you breathe
hello young lover
the man in my dreams
somewhere over the
rainbow
my heart stood still
snug as a bug
i won't dance
dat dere
biathanatos
piano+guitar duo improvisations.
recorded live in budapest and hodmezovar-
sahely, hungary.
released on leo records 2004.
night is as the sun to no ordinary thingles fauvesbiathanatosmetaxiaincarnationtriptych part 1triptych part 2triptych part 3salaspils
night is as the sun
to no ordinary thing
les fauves
metaxia
incarnation
triptych part 1
triptych part 2
triptych part 3
salaspils
beautiful collision
bic runga's 2nd album
entered the new zealand charts at no.1
11x platinum sales
released on sony records 2002.
when i see you smileget some sleepsomething goodprecious thingthe be all and end allelection nighthonest goodbyesshe left on a mondaybeautiful collisionlistening for the weathercounting the daysgravity
when i see you smile
get some sleep
something good
precious thing
the be all and end
all
election night
honest goodbyes
she left on a monday
listening for the
weather
counting the days
gravity
scorpio righting
NZ indie rock band garageland
recorded at revolver studios, auckland
released on foodchain/flying nun 2002.
life is so sweetget somebeen aroundcrazysuperstarscarry me southhigh waygonerock and roll heartbelieve in youwho the hell do you think you areshine
life is so sweet
get some
been around
crazy
superstars
carry me south
high way
gone
rock and roll heart
believe in you
who the hell do you
think you are
shine
drive
Bic runga first studio album
drive album sales = 7x platinum
recorded revolver studios auckland
released on sony records 1997.
DriveSwayHeyBursting ThroughSwimRoll into OneSuddenly StrangeSorryHealDelightWithout You
Drive
Sway
Hey
Bursting Through
Swim
Roll into One
Suddenly Strange
Sorry
Heal
Delight
Without You
touchwood
nigel gavin's guitar orchestra 'gitbox'.
great songs, great technical skill, magic
acoustic music.
released on rattle records 1995.
EngagementWedlockSiphoBouches du MondeElfwalkSpringscapeJourneyOceanscapeBe LongingNorman X and the Major's ChequeIcescapeNeither a Candle for the Angel nor a Poker for the DevilAutumnscapeIn VocationRajasthani HeartPanda MiracleTouchWood
Engagement
Wedlock
Sipho
Bouches du Monde
Elfwalk
Springscape
Journey
Oceanscape
Be Longing
Norman X and the
Major's Cheque
Icescape
Neither a Candle for
the Angel nor a
Poker for the Devil
Autumnscape
In Vocation
Rajasthani Heart
Panda Miracle
TouchWood
email
charts
thurn and
taxis
the persistenceof memory
the persistence
of memory
JAN 2010
Well December was pretty busy and New Years Eve at the Malmaison in Newcastle lived up to expectations!Managed to survive the drive to ABV's place in Yorkshire the next day - wasn't sure if it was really snowing all the way down the A1 or it was just "New Years Day vision".Was lucky to have a couple of days in Malaga with the Tom Rust band just before Christmas. Loving playing with Ernie, Crispen and Mark - the true originators of 'rare groove' (Push/Galliano).And on the piano trio front rehearsals are going well for the album. We'll be in the studio in March. Really looking forward to getting the material out live in 2010.Plus Steve Hardy has finished mixing the Civilized Tears album in NYC; being mastered now by one of the very best, Ted Jensen. The finished product should be ready for release in the next few months... woohoo. Click on the icon to go to the CT facebook group or visit civilizedtears on reverbnation or myspace to stay up to date with tour info etc.
Well December was pretty busy and New Years Eve at the Malmaison in Newcastle lived up to expectations!
Managed to survive the drive to ABV's place in Yorkshire the next day - wasn't sure if it was really snowing all the way down the A1 or it was just "New Years Day vision".
Was lucky to have a couple of days in Malaga with the Tom Rust band just before Christmas. Loving playing with Ernie, Crispen and Mark - the true originators of 'rare groove' (Push/Galliano).
And on the piano trio front rehearsals are going well for the album. We'll be in the studio in March. Really looking forward to getting the material out live in 2010.
Plus Steve Hardy has finished mixing the Civilized Tears album in NYC; being mastered now by one of the very best, Ted Jensen. The finished product should be ready for release in the next few months... woohoo.
Click on the icon to go to the CT facebook group or visit civilizedtears on reverbnation or myspace to stay up to date with tour info etc.
FEB 2010
Have been reading up on reader-response literary theory recently, specifically Wolfgang Iser. Certain aspects of his analysis seem to me to correlate perfectly with what happens between an audience and performer at a concert. I'll try as best I can to distill these thoughts for the liner notes of the album.Speaking of which, I had planned to record the Mistral Trio album in March, but the opportunity presented itself to get a couple of days in the studio in Feb and as a result the tracks are all recorded! Jules' and Simon's contributions were terrific (just as I'd expected). Should have that mastered mid-March and out in the world shortly thereafter :)The Civilized Tears release is planned for September with single promotion and video being fan-funded. More about this in the next episode. Meanwhile to stay in touch with developments, and to contribute your ideas and support you can join the fanpage at facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CIVILIZED-TEARS/106264292368
Have been reading up on reader-response literary theory recently, specifically Wolfgang Iser. Certain aspects of his analysis seem to me to correlate perfectly with what happens between an audience and performer at a concert. I'll try as best I can to distill these thoughts for the liner notes of the album.
Speaking of which, I had planned to record the Mistral Trio album in March, but the opportunity presented itself to get a couple of days in the studio in Feb and as a result the tracks are all recorded! Jules' and Simon's contributions were terrific (just as I'd expected). Should have that mastered mid-March and out in the world shortly thereafter :)
The Civilized Tears release is planned for September with single promotion and video being fan-funded. More about this in the next episode. Meanwhile to stay in touch with developments, and to contribute your ideas and support you can join the fanpage at facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CIVILIZED-TEARS/106264292368
