It’s been a while since i’ve posted, not that i’ve been idle… and here is quick update to everyone who is following my progress.
More medieval adventures are at hand!
I’m currently preparing for my Doctoral recital in December, date tbc, and a new recording project scheduled for the new year.
These are exciting times and I look forward to letting you know as things unfold.
More news soon!
Carolina!
This is Gone, recorded live at CJC by myslef, Caro & The Confluence of Ways with visuals and mixing by Russel Walder. Its genesis was inspired by my sister in England who told me that nearly all the birds were gone - disappearing from the skies. It's a very personal one for me, and I wanted to say something about the fragility of the beautiful place we live in and let's take care of it. So here it is.
CAROLINA MOON: MOTHER TONGUE
Reviewed by: Graham Reid
Although this enchanting album -- songs of the Sephardic Jews of Spain might seem a departure for Auckland-based jazz singer Carolina Moon, she has previously explored what we might call world music, although never with this depth and resonance.
These glorious songs -- intimate, yearning, emotional -- come from centuries ago but are here arranged for delicate piano (Kevin Field), guitars (Nigel Gavin), violin (Jessica Hindin), upright bass, hand drums and saxophones (Roger Manins). The effect is ancient music which sounds contemporary, and Moon has the vocal dexterity to explore the subtle glissandi of the style.
Where these effect a perfect marriage -- as on Como La Rosa where Moon stretches into jazz phrasing and embellishment, Yo Hanino tu hanina with keening violin and sax, the traditional Israeli song Yad Anuga -- they can be quite transporting and you could imagine yourself outside the wall of the Alhambra.
An album which embarks on a courageous journey but which will take you along for an exotic, often quite moving, voyage of discovery.
www.elsewhere.co.nz
After being on hold for quite some time, I'm really happy to announce that my medieval project Carolina Moon is entering a new phase of life.
As from January 1st, I resumed my Doctoral studies and have just returned from Melbourne where I spent some days learning from and playing with (Prof) John Griffiths, a leading Australian medievalist, lutenist and vihuela player. It's the first time I've engaged with medieval performance style in a medieval context and we worked on some 13th and 15th century Spanish pieces. It was an absolutely brilliant experience and I can't wait to do it some more!
I'll be making some posts on FB if you'd like to follow my progress.
Wish me luck!
Caro
ET ENFIN!..... La Luna & the Gadjos, in concert at The Lounge, performing Les Yeux Noirs (Dark Eyes) in all it's glory! avec Caro Manins, Roger Manins, Phillip Beatson, Travis Hill, Sam Swindells, Chris Marshall
Some recent photos from La Luna & the Gadjos in concert at The Lounge, Howick.. A big thank you to Chris and Tony who ran a fabulous night. We look forward to coming back in February!
A fascinating read ....
Ben McNicoll talks about the founding of Auckland's Creative Jazz Club by Caro / Roger Manins and Mark Robinson, his involvement and joining of the team, and how they have contributed to the growth of Auckland's live music scene.
I'm thrilled to be involved in As Far As the Ear Can Hear - a creative project of Chinmaya Dunster, performing the 'Mystic Poets Cycles'.
The project brings together a fusion of players which includes Chinmaya - sarod, guitar, poetry and vocal, Auckland's the Grateful Dads rhythm section, and augmented by myself Carolina Moon on vocals, and Basant Madhur on tabla. Nigel Gavin's Gitbox Rebellion opens the show.
Seating is very specific as there is a 'surround sound' experience.
Doors open at 7pm and doors will be .locked at 7.30pm
FULL LINE-UP
Chinmaya Dunster - sarod, guitar, poetry and vocal
Oliver Kraft - guitar
Rob Mita - guitar
Tomislav Skulic - bass guitar
Yair Katz - drums
Basant Madhur - tabla
Carolina Moon - vocals
Nigel Gavin and the Gitbox Rebellion
Some pics from La Luna's concert with the Django Junkies at Fouders Park, Nelson. The rain stopped the sun came out just in time. Special thanks to Leigh Jackson, Reuben Derrick and Peter Rainey on violin for a great gig.
Doing the Mingus album justice is not for the faint-hearted. The listener tends to associate Joni Mitchel with her biting lyrics and adamantine melodic clarity. In reality, although accessible, her tunes pivot on clever musical devices. The end result here was well worth the effort. A genuine commitment to the project made this happen, imbuing it with the integrity it deserved.
Reviewed by John Fenton on Jazzlocal32.com
Benny Lackner's "Palau" takes on a new life with Caro Manins' setting of The Raw Men, a poem by Rory Habibi in tribute to the Maori Battalion WWII
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I have a new website now up and running - big thanks to Ben McNicoll. It has details of all my projects, video, dates, pics and a shop.
