Think melodic jazz infused female vocals, and stripped back accompaniment that is more alt country than folk. Think snare
shuffles and guitars that meander, most of all think of story telling lyrics introduced by unstrained singing - amplifier.co.nz

July 27th - I started my Masters of Music (Composition) study last week!.... I have started collecting ideas for my pieces and allowing my 'muse' to surface - I think I'm in for a fun ride - my last album was essentially working on what made a Tom Waits song work - this next batch of songs will be very different but will obviously be using some of the awesome musicians I worked with last year.

My collection so far includes the following quotes....

" all you need to write a great song is three chords and the truth"

I got this pearl of wisdom from the great Auckland Vocalist Bex Peterson - she heard it from Erikah Badu but I just did a google search and see it's really attributed to Harlan Howard - I also found two separate country music albums with " 3 chords and the Truth " as a title - well it does take a while for stuff to filter down here to NZ I guess - great quote - I'm using it!

" One minite you're in, the next you're out"
from the lips of Heidi Klum ............... well..........exactly.....

NZ Film Festival

The New Zealand Film Festival has been running in Auckland and this year I have been seeing mainly music films - good inspiration. So far I have seen films about ....

Anita O'Day ( excellent doco - great information and I learnt a lot about this stunning woman)
Lou Reed - Berline ( great concert - particularly as I grew up on the album and others by Mr Reed)
Patti Smith ( A little long perhaps but a great fly on the wall glimpse of Patti Smith - wonderful woman - very eccentric)
Keith Haring ( the artist) This film was a real surpise - literally - i had no idea who he was when I went with a friend - inspirational life making fabulous people orientated art - I'm very glad I went
Tigi Ness - Nuie/Kiwi musician with a strong history of working as a human rights activist here in Aotearoa - I know Tigi in the late 70's so it was great to see this doco - highly recommended
Albert Ayler - legendary Jazz saxophonist and peer of John Coltrane - informative doco about one of the more obscure but highly influencial Jazz greats

New Tunes for free download

The following (retro) tunes have added to my music page.......

Seven tunes from the Spinning Wheel cassette release and
The entire Kirtan Chants CD

June 9th - I recently had to recreate my mailing list as I was hit by a virus - if you want to double check you are still on the list please add yourself again

May 19th - I sang a piece by Eve De Castro Robinson last nigh at the University of Auckland Music Theatre . Dedicated to Mahinarangi Tocker and performed as part of the Karlheinz company Stockhausen tribute. 'Hau' is a short lament forsolo voice and crystal glass. It was an honour to sing amongst a programme of contemporary classical music - talk about getting me out of my confort zone!

Last weekend I participated in an NZ music month seminar with Simon Holloway, Shona Laing and Paul McLaney in Whangarei. We all lead workshops and spoke on a panel discussion about 'Longevity in Music' ( well that's what it was supposed to be about!).

This past week has been pretty rough though! Lots of drama in the air! Not to mention I got hit with a nasty virus that took out my email programme and mailing lists! e-gad! I guess I'll be on a fairly sharp learning curve getting all that data back!

take it easy on tonights full moon ( it's a 'flower moon' if you're in Pagan- not sure what that means but it sounds good)

peace k

May 7th - Getting ready to head up to Whangarei this weekend for a couple of days of music workshops, a gig ( with living legend Shona Laing ) and a seminar in which I will be on a panel discussion around 'Longevity in the Music Industry" . Aside from Shona and myself Paul McLaney and Simon Holloway will also be leading workshops and speaking.

I noticed that our government has passed the third reading of a bill which will address some of the copyright issues that have arisen recently - have you read Judith Tizards speech circulating? it's here .
Have a look - stay informed! It will effect you!

I have some great downloadable live tunes from the

My recent Christchurch Jazz Festival gig was recorded and I have put five tunes from that recording on myspace. I am really pleased with how my live loop station percussion adventures are sounding so it's great to be able to offer it to you.

I have also updated my photoblog to include pics of my recent trip to Dunedin and Christchurch.

smiles -do get in touch if you want to find out more

k

The following tribute is dedicated to Mahinarangi Tocker – that bolshy girl who spoke her mind and whose creativity, passion and longevity as a female singer/songwriter inspired me to keep looking for new ways to work as a musician in Aotearoa.