"Australians are already claiming pianist Aron Ottignon as their own, but before he left a few years ago as a 17 year old jazz prodigy he had played the traps, won awards and recorded an album. Now establisheed in Sydney and with the award for best young musician 0f 2003 (and playing at Russel Crow's wedding) behind him, he here fronts his own energeyic band on a free-ranging collection of jazz with its feet in Latin-funk (the wiry and fiery opener Burn For Me), soundtrack balladry (the lovely Strange People), ambient art music (the first half of lengthy You Little Beauty), Passages of what might be called experimental music (the opening of Cabernet), and some romantic classical flourishes. The band line-up is unusual(piano, bass and two or three drummers/percussionists) but that makes sense when the energy levels rise and some quasi-polynesian elements are added. Ideas emerge, are dealt with then left behind for another - but over repeated listening that becomes the charm and seduction." NZ Hearald Review by Graham Reid May '05.
Aronas is the project of the New Zealand born, award-winning musician Aron Ottignon. Dubbed as 'punk jazz" Aronas is an explosive combination of live dance, jazz and South Pacific-influenced grooves.
"Culture Tunnels" is the first recording by Aronas and presents Aron's original compositions in a way that will invigorate dance music audiences with its driving rhythms and grooves whilst continuing to impress the jazz lover.