DOWNLOAD PROMO PICS

Carolina

Band

EPK
carolina@moonmusik.com

RADIO NATIONAL JAZZ FOOTPRINTS
In conversation with
Hannah Griffin

LIVE REVIEW

Afterword - Carolina Moon's ‘Mother Tongue live’
John Fenton - Jazz Local 33
November 2011

QUOTES

Nigel Gavin ... stunned with
his combination of lightening speed and middle eastern
modal riffs.
Jazz Local 32 -John Fenton

The solos from all band members.. sound as if they were written as part of the original compositions, but of course they were not, and that is what really lifts this release from a mere vocal-lead CD to a true fusion of traditional and improvised music
Mark Robinson UK Jazz Radio

Here, is a singer and arranger who is interested in finding the deep emotional feelings in Sephardic music. Her intonation and vocal nuances bring this ancient music alive.
Jonathon Besser - composer

"Carolina is quite something on her ‘Mother Tongue’ recording but to see her perform live is to experience much more... a stellar performer."
John Fenton Jazz Local 32
 

“…a beautifully articulated intimacy….”
Graham Reid, www.elsewhere.co.nz

“scholarly in a completely relaxed way …. powerfully expressive.”
John Clare,
Sydney Morning Herald

“…a remarkable singer who is breaking new ground”
Daily Telegraph

“ Excellent scat!”
Mike Manieri

"I have to say, I haven't felt such an emotional charge since I saw Paco Peña in 1992" - Dunedin Dec 2011

" Exquisite... just mesmerising"
Suzy (WOMAD)

Your show was a bloody triumph last night.   Still buzzing from it.   I have a few nice pics which I will send to you and Ben.  I would title this 'Just before the song begins'.
John Fenton

Kia ora Caroline
Lovely to meet with you yesterday and also to be able to acknowledge the pleasure I found in watching your performance earlier this year at the Titirangi Music Festival. I was so intrigued at the way you brought the sound of ancient music (and) across the world in your voice and bodily gesture.
Felicity

Hi Caro
Many thanks to you and your terrific ensemble for a superb evening of entertainment. It was such a pleasure to have you here, and the performance was thoroughly enjoyed by all. I hope you travelled well back to Auckland.
Stephanie - Director, Genesis Energy Theatre @ Expressions, Wellington

.. an excellent interview on Jazz Footprints last week. I was haunted all week by by the promos for the programme, of you singing "close your eyes", before actually taking note of who was singing it. I had that feeling listening to the interview that I had when first viewing films of contemporary dance pioneers, of both being inspired and awed as a beginner, by the talent and experience of those before me.
Mala

IN REVIEW

GRAHAM REID - www.elsewhere.co.nz

" Although this enchanting album - songs of the Sephardic Jews of Spain might seem a departure for Auckland-based singer, 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... The effect is ancient music which sounds contemporary, and Moon has the vocal dexterity to explore the subtle glissandi of the style. ... MORE

GARY STEEL – METRO Magazine

“ Ode raises the bar spectacularly with Mother Tongue, on which Moon breathes new life into these lovely Sephardic ruminations .

Taking inspiration from an era in which cultures merged and infiltrated each other’s music, with  Arabic, Hebrew and Spanish influences to the fore, Moon and her musos work in jazz, together with subtle infusions of other contemporary styles, to create an odd shift in time and place. MORE

MARK ROBINSON - UK JAZZ RADIO

" This is as good as anything you will hear coming out of Europe on the specialist "World Music" labels. Excellent playing, arrangements and production proving that NZ has passionate, exceptional musicians, and after several repeat hearings it still holds true.... MORE

WINSTON WATUSI - WEEKEND SUN

"The result is stunning. The melodies and language may be unknown, but the sound is beautiful and haunting, the rhythms elusive yet strangely familiar and the performance throughout superb."
MORE

JOHN FENTON : JAZZ LOCAL 32 : CD REVIEW

" Carolina’s wonderful album ‘Mother Tongue’ is beguiling and all it takes is a single listen, for the mysterious beauty of this ancient music to stay with you forever.   This album speaks of medieval Spanish Sephardic culture with absolute authority and in partaking of the journey we are connected to a time and place most New Zealanders know little about. " MORE...

JOHN FENTON : JAZZ LOCAL 32 :
Afterword – ‘Mother Tongue live’

This was an amazing night of music and to those who missed it – shame on you. If you have a domestic air ticket lying about or are living in the lower North Island or South Island you can still catch the act (see previous post). Carolina is quite something on her ‘Mother Tongue’ recording but to see her perform live is to experience much more. She is a singer who should be experienced live because she is also a stellar performer. The intricate sinuous hand gestures as she sings, create an added texture to an already rich and evocative music.
This band is first class and what they brought to the music was simply wonderful. Having two of Auckland’s best drummer/percussionists in the one band did not hurt at all. They were similar in style to Manu Katche and Nano Vasconcelos who have often performed together in such Jazz/World music. It was the second time that I had caught Chris O’Connor at a gig and I can see why he is so in demand – especially for intricate drum work like this. Ron Samsom’s skill on the drum kit was already very familiar to me and it was fascinating to watch these two percussion masters swap roles throughout the performance.
Roger Manins did not play his usual tenor saxophone but showed his chops on the bass clarinet (Eric Dolphy and others used this axe to great effect). The deeper and woodier sounds were entirely appropriate for this ancient music and Roger still managed to stretch out convincingly. He also played the more traditional clarinet and the flute.
Nigel Gavin used a resonator guitar and a manouche guitar, and he stunned with his combination of lightening speed and middle eastern modal riffs. Although his guitars were amplified and had the usual array of pedals, his contributions were so well placed and appropriate to the music that it was hard to imagine the pieces without him. Kevin Field (piano), Mostyn Cole (bass) and Jessica Hindin (violin) performed their parts with ease and this underscores their musicianship as none can have been that familiar with such diverse musical genres.
Apart from the Sephardic music we heard songs in Hebrew, English and Gaelic. There was also a standard, ‘Black is the colour’. This old english ballad was so beautifully executed that the audience seemed to hold their breath at each phrase. No one wanted to miss a single note.
I have long wondered why Jan Garbareks compositions and arrangements are not used more by Jazz musicians and on Wednesday I had that view reinforced. A version of Garbarek’s arrangement of the traditional Nordic piece ‘Gula Gula‘ from ‘I took up the Runes‘ was played. It was the best version you could ever hope to hear and Carolina who is a gifted linguist had learned the Gaelic pronunciation of the song. During this piece the band stretched out and went crazy. It was one of those moments when you hoped that the music would never stop. If I have one plea it would be; perform more Garbarek compositions and arrangements please – perhaps with a bowed electric bass Eberhard Weber style.

http://jon4jaz.wordpress.com/2011/11/07/afterword-mother-tongue-live/