Few would argue that Richard Nunns is one of our most important musical ambassadors. If Rattle has one regret, it would be that we haven’t done more to document the extraordinary range of collaborations Richard has either instigated or participated in. Given the relative simplicity and limitations of his vast array of beautifully crafted instruments, he continues to attract the interest of the world’s most serious-minded musicians, composers and performing artists.
Canadian composer and trumpeter, Dr. David Lisik teaches jazz composition, theory and jazz pedagogy at the NZ School of Music in Wellington. Dave has a portfolio of compositions and arrangements including works for large and small jazz groups, electro-acoustic combinations, chamber ensembles and soloists. His work has been performed and recorded by many renowned musicians including Tim Hagans, Donny McCaslin, Matt Wilson, Luis Bonilla, Marvin Stamm, Bill Mays, Carl Allen, Kirk Whalum, Jeff Nelsen and Joey Tartell among many others.
Their first collaboration together, the critically acclaimed The Curse of the Queen’s Diamond (RAT-J-1005), piqued Dave’s interest in composing specifically for taonga puoro. It may seem somewhat surprising that it should take a Canadian to do what many of us have long-contemplated but as yet failed to realise – music composed solely for the vast arsenal of sounds Richard Nunns is capable of producing. Combining loops and re-contextualised phrases with layered overdubs and electronic manipulation, Dave has concocted the ultimate taonga puoro orchestra, a beautifully engineered, gorgeously produced tapestry of texture and timbre.
credits
released September 26, 2011
Dave Lisik: electronics
Richard Nunns: taonga puoro
Produced by Dave Lisik (www.davelisik.com)
Recorded and mastered by Steve Garden
Additional recording, editing, and mixing by Dr. David Lisik,
Design by UnkleFranc
Originally sung by Holocaust survivors in Yiddish, Polish and French, this moving album is now available in a gorgeous LP package. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 11, 2022
Congolese rhythms mix with drill, boom bap, and grime on this album of emancipatory jammers highlighting the lives of women. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 2, 2023
On the heels of this year's remarkable debut, the Afrobeat collective present a trio of remixed tracks from storied German DJ Gerd Janson. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 6, 2018