Whirimako Black’s National Tour with Nigel Gavin

For immediate release

Soul Talk - Whirimako Black’s National Tour with Nigel Gavin 5 Nov – 5 Dec

New Zealand’s soul diva, Whirimako Black, is acclaimed for her jazz and blues interpretations and is a leading singer in Te Reo Māori.

Her ‘sublime and exceptionally expressive voice’ has been described as pure velvet - with ‘…a dry and smoky lower register and an uncluttered delivery that owes much to great singers such as Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone and Dionne Warwick’.

Of Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, and Te Arawa descent, her musical achievements include composing and singing the titles for the acclaimed TVNZ series, ’The New Zealand Wars’, as well as revising and modernising traditional Waiata, ‘to fulfil the dreams of my ancestors’.

Whirimako is the winner of numerous awards and has performed in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Taipei, Korea and Australia, as well as in this country. See below for details of her Arts on Tour NZ itinerary.

Accompanying her on this tour is master guitarist and string player, Nigel Gavin of Nairobi Trio, the Jews Brothers Band, Bravura, Gitbox Rebellion and Robert Fripps’ legendary League of Crafty Guitarists fame.

“Nigel Gavin is one of New Zealand’s musical treasures. The eccentric range of his musical projects is matched only be his astonishing virtuosity with stringed instruments and his prodigious musical imagination. Guitarists will be simply astonished by the technique on display ….Nigel’s finger-picking is so fast, so smooth, and so laden with sudden virtuoso explosions that it is damn near impossible to work out either what he’s doing, or how he’s doing it.”
- Tauranga Weekend Sun
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For more information, contact:
Diana Moir, 03 355 2691, mobile: 021 126 5738, Email: dhmoir@xtra.co.nz
Steve Thomas, Arts On Tour NZ Trust, 03 366 6167, mobile 0274 386 154
www.aotnz.co.nz and www.whirimako.org
Whirimako Black – Awards
• NZ Music Tui (2008) for best Jazz Album
• APRA Silver Scroll Award (2007) for best composition in Te Reo Māori
• NZ Order of Merit (2006) for services to Māori music
• Te Waka Toi Award (2004) for contemporary Waiata
• APRA Maioha Award (2004) for song writing in Te Reo Māori
• NZ Music Award (2001) – Best Māori Album
Solo Albums
• Whirimako Black Sings – Te Reo Māori Version (2007)
• Whirimako Black Sings (2007)
• Soul Sessions (2006)
• Kura Huna (2005)
• Tangihaku (2004)
• Hohou Te Rongo: Cultivate Peace (2003)
• Hinepukohurangi: Shrouded in the Mist (2001)
Collaboration Albums
• 1 Giant Leap album (2001/2), a world music project that saw worldwide release
• Land of Our Fathers movie soundtrack (2004), with Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi
• Hone Tuwhare album project (2005), produced by Charlotte Yates and featuring some of NZ’s top artists
• Feel The Seasons Change (2008), with Salmonella Dub, as featured vocalist
DVD
• An Evening With Whirimako Black (2007) , in concert with Joel Haines and Russel Walder at the Trinity Cathedral
Arts on Tour NZ Itinerary
Friday 5 November 8pm – Upper Hutt
Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre
Book: Expressions, 836 Fergusson Drive 04 527 2168

Saturday 6 November 7pm - Masterton
Aratoi Museum of Art and History
$20 Book: Aratoi Museum of Art and History

Tuesday 9 November 7.30pm - Motueka
Chanel Arts Centre $20 adults, students $5
Book: Floral Affaire

Wednesday 10 November 7.30pm - Takaka
The Mussel Inn 8.30pm

Thursday 11 November 7.30pm - Nelson
Nelson School of Music
Adult $27, Senior $22, NSOM Friends & Students $20
Book: www.nsom.co.nz 03 548 9477 or NSOM 48 Nile St

Friday 12 November 8pm - Reefton
Area School Library
$10 adult, $5 student, $20 family
Door sales or phone 03 732 8542

Wednesday 17 November 7.30pm - Wanaka
The Riverhouse $25 Book: Video Ezy Wanaka

Thursday 18 November 7.30pm - Oamaru
Otago Daily Times Inkbox, Oamaru Opera House
$19.90 plus service fee
Book: The Oamaru Opera House or Ticketdirect 03 433 0770

Friday 19 November 8pm - Dunedin
St Martins Hall, Northumberland St North East Valley $25

Saturday 20 November 8pm - Ashburton
The Ashburton Art Gallery
$25 or $20 for Friends of AAG
Book: Ashburton Art Gallery, Regent Cinema
or www.iticket.co.nz/

Sunday 21 November 8pm - Rangiora
Chamber Gallery Rangiora Library
$25 adult $10 children/students
Book: Rangiora Library

Tuesday 23 November 8pm - Akaroa
The Gaiety
$20 Book: Akaroa Museum

Thursday 25 November 7.30pm - Coromandel
Anglican Church Hall
$20/$15 Book: Coromandel I-site

Friday 26 November 7.30pm - Tauranga
Tauranga Art Gallery
108 Willow St
$25/$20 (Friends of the Gallery)
Book: Tauranga Art Gallery. Ph: 07 578 7933
or email: office@artgallery.org.nz

Saturday 27 November 8pm - Gisborne
Bushmere Estate Winery
(Come early and enjoy a meal)
$22 Book: H B Williams Library

Wednesday 1 December 7.30pm - Kaikohe
The Mid North Motor Inn
Presold $20 At the door $25
Book: Nursery Box

Thursday 2 December 7.30pm - Kaitaia
Dalmatian hall
$30 Adults $10 16 years and under
Book: Banks St Art Gallery,
Finders Kaitaia, Doubtless Bay Information centre

Friday 3 December 7.30pm - Kerikeri
The Centre at Kerikeri
Book: The Centre 9am - 5pm weekdays
0800 200 411 or www.centakeri.com

Saturday 4 December - Te Atatu
The Luscious Food Store 547 Te Atatu Rd Auckland

Sunday 5 December 7pm - Onewhero
The OSPA Theatre
$20 Book: River Traders Tuakau

About Arts on Tour New Zealand
Based at the historic Arts Centre of Christchurch, 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 other talent to country districts. www.aotnz.co.nz

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