Arts On Tour NZ tours Gimel 15 – 30 September

Arts On Tour NZ tours Gimel 15 – 30 September

Gimel may be relatively unknown to New Zealand audiences, but its creator is not. Prolific composer Jonathan Besser has brought together a top performing bass player, a drummer, and a vibraphonist to accompany his piano playing in music especially composed for the group. Jazz and classically inspired, with room and space for improvisation, the Gimel music relates to the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet (although there are four members in the group).

The result is the Gimel Suites - music composed with the idea of three in mind – three beats, three bars, three chords, thirds in harmony, three hours and days, three stretched almost to four, suggests Besser.

The Gimel Suites take the listener on an imaginative journey through different musical genres linking New York City, New Zealand and an imaginary land where three instead of four is the currency. (Forget waltzes, says Besser). Delicate and exquisite or wild and crazy, the music walks the fine line between pushing the boundaries and drawing the audience in. Expect the unexpected when Gimel tours with Arts On Tour NZ. See full itinerary below.

Gimel performed at the 2011 Auckland Arts Festival and was the surprise hit at the Sydney’s 'Shir Madness’ Festival.

"The enchanting effect of Gimel's sounds: brought to mind spells and magic, the perfect soundtrack to a fantasy full of, say, secret romances set in a mossy forest…. I shouldn't have been surprised that such magical sounds were grounded in so much musical theory and hard work. …serious genius…”- midnighteast.com

For more information visit www.aotnz.co.nz and www.gimel.co.nz

More about the musicians

Jonathan Besser, composer and piano.
Over the last 25 years award-winning composer Jonathan Besser has written a number of large-scale works including commissions for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Royal N.Z. Ballet, Auckland Philharmonia, Wellington Symphonia, and New Zealand String Quartet, as well as writing for films. He has directed his own musical ensembles since the early1980s and released numerous original CDs on both the Rattle and Atoll Labels.

Tom Dennison, bass
Tom Dennison has performed in a number of top jazz groups, including the Alan Broadbent Trio, Mike Nock Quartet, Frank Gibson's Hardbopmobile, and the Roger Manins Quintet. Following a spell in New York where he worked under the guidance of Larry Grenadier, Matt Penman and Joe Martin, Tom returned to New Zealand to start work on his debut album Zoo. Tom is well known to Auckland jazz audiences, and is regularly called on for sessions and live shows.

Alistair Deverick, drums
Alistair Deverick has played in groups such as The Sami Sisters, The Hot Grits, Bannerman, Lisa Crawley, The Shades, Watercolours, Panther and The Zoo, Lawrence Arabia, Haunted Love, Lucid 3, and his most recent outfit, The Ruby Suns – with whom he recently toured Europe and the US.

John Bell, vibraphone
A lecturer at Massey University, John has worked nationally with the country’s leading improvising musicians, including Jeff Henderson, Anthony Donaldson, and Nigel Gavin. Over the past 25 years he has directed his own ensembles, recorded in Melbourne and performed at numerous festivals, theatre and dance productions.

Itinerary - September

Saturday 15 September Kerikeri
Downstairs at the Turner Centre 7.30pm
Adults $30, Seniors/Groups 6+ $25, Students 18 & under $5
Book: Turner Centre

Sunday 16 September Whangarei
Old Library Community Art Centre 7.30pm

Tuesday 18 September Opotiki
Senior Citizens Hall, King St 7pm
$20 Book: The Travel Shop

Wednesday 19 September Gisborne
Dome Room, Poverty Bay Club 8pm
$21 Book: Mediterranean Living at PBC

Friday 21 September Carterton
St Marks Church 7.30pm
$25 (plus booking fee)
Book: Carterton Information Centre, Masterton and Martinborough i-Sites
www.dashtickets.co.nz

Saturday 22 September Motueka
Chanel Arts Centre 7.30pm
$20 Adults, $5 High School students
Book: Floral Affaire

Sunday 23 September Takaka
The Mussel Inn 8.30pm
$10-15 Book: The Mussel Inn

Tuesday 25 September Reefton
Working Men’s Club, Bridge St 7.30pm
Adults $10, Students $5, Family $20
Door sales or ph. 03 732 8542

Wednesday 26 September Okarito
Donovan’s Store7.30pm
$25 Book: Debbie 03 753 4017, Edwina 03 753 4014

Friday 28 September Cromwell
Memorial Hall 7.30pm
Adults $25, SuperGold $20, Student/child $5
Book: Cromwell i-Site

Saturday 29 Wanaka TBC

Sunday 30 September Ashburton
Ashburton Trust Event Centre 2pm
$25 each, $22.50 each for 2 or 3, $20 each for 4 or more
Door sales all $25
Book: Ashburton Trust Event Centre Box Office or www.ticketdirect.co.nz

Arts On Tour New Zealand
Arts On Tour New Zealand (AOTNZ) organises tours of outstanding New Zealand performers to rural and smaller centres in New Zealand. The trust receives funding from Creative New Zealand and liaises with local arts councils, repertory theatres and community groups to bring the best of musical and theatrical talent to country districts. www.aotnz.co.nz

ENDS

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