Karen Hunter
Posted: Sat Nov 7, 2009 1:58 pm

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Guitarist/Songwriter Karen Hunter's latest outing, Words & Groove, blends jazz, dirty blues and performance poetry. Embellishing on themes of local significance, Hunter entwines personal experience with liberally exaggerated stories that bridge the dangerous (drug addiction, social welfare dependency, the NZ road toll) and the mundane (infatuation, familiarity and separation).

Building on Hunter's Tom Waits inspired 2007 release Rubble, there are both personal and local stories embedded in this body of work. Poems emerge within the songs, often appearing over extended bass and drum vamps, hence the title Words & Groove.

The album also features a funky powerhouse version of the 1968 Jimi Hendrix classic 'Long Hot Summer Night', which showcases Hunter's arranging skills over a three part horn section led by Roger Manins on Tenor saxophone.

The launch party will be held at Auckland's Wine Cellar in St Kevin's arcade, Karangahape Rd on Thursday November 26th, the eve of what would have been Hendrix's 67th birthday.

Words & Groove was recorded in collaboration with the first rate rhythm section of drummer Ron Samsom (Nathan Haines, Samsom Nacey Haines, Whirimako Black) and bassist Aaron Coddel (King Kapisi, Caitlin Smith, Jennifer Ward-Lealand). This stunning collection of new work was realised in two weekend recording sessions under the care of award winning local Producer Steve Garden, concluding a yearlong process of 'workshopping' songs through reinterpretation and improvisation.

Although Samsom and Coddel are jazz musicians, Hunter's blues, roots and folk influences are prominent. Guest soloists were drawn from the Auckland jazz community and include Kevin Field (piano), Roger Manins (saxophone), Oliver Emmitt (trombone), Kingsley Melhuish (trumpet) and Jess Curtis (vocals).

The Wine Cellar, K Rd, Auckland
November 26th 8pm
Karen Hunter, Aaron Coddel, Ron Samsom, Neil Watson, Oliver Emmitt, Roger Manins, Jess Curtis, Chris Woods & Julz Taylor-Reid.

$10 (or $20 with CD).
Special guests Leopard Skin Driveway will play a short set first.

RE: Karen Hunter
Posted: Sun Aug 8, 2010 11:14 pm

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