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| © Nick George |
An effervescent presence on New Zealand’s currently vital jazz scene,
Lavën (pronounced Lah-venn) is a double graduate from the New Zealand School of
Music and brings his degrees in jazz and classical music to bear on both the
music and the personnel featured on Elegant Calamity.
“I wrote Elegant Calamity in pursuit of a sound that allows the personalities of the eclectic mix of musicians to shine through,” he says. “These players represent different corners of the vibrant New Zealand art music scene and I hope listeners around the globe will be able to appreciate this through this album.”
Bringing together string players alongside woodwinds, brass and a
five-piece rhythm section, Lavën has produced what he describes as “music that
blends forward-facing boldness with a certain shade of cinematic nostalgia”.
Influences including trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie’s Afro-Cuban experiments,
Ennio Morricone’s atmospheric film soundtracks and bandoneon master Astor
Piazzolla’s nuevo tango can be detected, as can the sophistication of Duke
Ellington’s jazz orchestra and bassist Charles Mingus’ mighty gospel-infused
excitement.
The compositions were made possible through trumpeter Michael Costeloe’s
groundbreaking Jazz Orchestra Composer Series, which offers musicians both freedom
to create imaginatively and a platform to perform. Elegant Calamity was
recorded live at the intimate Bedlam & Squalor venue in Wellington with the
audience needing little encouragement to become involved. It was engineered and
mastered by Alistair Isdale.
“This was a very spirited, joyful process from beginning to end,” says Lavën. “I hope people will enjoy listening to Elegant Calamity as much as we enjoyed playing it."
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