Richard Nunns (taonga pūoro), David Long (banjo with effects) and Natalia Mann (harp) with Rattle records are proud to present the album ‘utterance’. Utterance distills four sessions of improvised soundscapes into vignettes, states, memories, and imagery. Recorded in 2013, and finally released after four years, the organic futurism of the album retains a timeless quality. The Utterance recording proved to be Richard’s last, before reluctant retirement due to his long struggle with Parkinsons disease. This special performance honours him as a musician, mentor and friend.
Utterance album is available on the night or from www.rattle.co.nz
About the artists:
Richard Nunns has been an inspiration to countless artists across a range of disciplines around the world, but his influence on the cultural landscape of Aotearoa is enormous.
A few weeks after this recording, his illness compelled him to pack his wonderful collection of taonga pūoro away permanently, instruments that for decades were an extension of his body, his breath, his heart, and his soul. This album is therefore the culmination of a lifetime of passionate commitment to an artistic discipline on one hand, and deeply held beliefs and hope on the other – a philosophical, cultural, creative, and deeply personal journey that was in essence a selfless act of giving.
While he is perhaps best know for his extensive background scoring documentary and narrative films, or as a founding member of rock-band The Mutton Birds, David Long has a extensive parallel history. Fundamental to this ‘second-history’ is Longs work as a composer for orchestras, as well as large and small experimental ensembles: in 2016, following his time as composer in residence at Victoria University, he premiered a piece for orchestra, electric guitar and robotics (working with Jim Murphy of the NZSM). Additionally, David has also had a long association with contemporary dance, writing many pieces for New Zealand’s pre-eminent choreographer Douglas Wright.
Natalia Mann is a contemporary harpist. She plays in an improvisational, intuitive way, with deep listening open to dialogue and connection. Her mentors include Richard Nunns and Ros Bandt. Her experience includes street, world, hiphop & experimental scenes in Melbourne, classical Turkish music in Istanbul, jazz in Macedonia and time as principal harpist of the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra. She premiered the Golden Bull-Lyre of Tauranga, founded the Samoan trio Sunga (Suga), and worked with Bic Runga, Riki Gooch, NZSO, Stroma, Neil Ieremia & Black Grace, and Greenfire Islands (Ireland tour). Natalia is an expat Wellingtonian and now lives in Cairns, Australia with her family.
Ariana Tikao and Alistair Fraser have performed together since 2008 when Alistair accompanied Ariana and her band for a Pao Pao Pao concert in the Wellington Town Hall in 2008. They blend Ariana’s ethereal voice with taonga puoro improvisations, performing a mix of modern waiata and mōteatea, many of which are inspired from the teachings of Ariana’s Pōua, Teone Taare Tikao. Alistair is one of the most respected players, makers, and researchers of taonga puoro, and background in jazz performance enables him to provide a sensitivity that suits the intimate nature of these remarkable instruments. They dedicate this performance at the Pyramid Club to their mentor Richard Nunns.
