Redaction

Although a Pākehā (New Zealander of European descent), ethnomusicologist Dr Richard Nunns is a leading authority on taonga pūoro, a diverse collection of traditional Maori wind and percussion instruments. Along with the late Maori scholar Hirini Melbourne and master carver Brian Flintoff, the trio's research is credited with rediscovering the forgotten knowledge of these ancient instruments. Nunns has collaborated with a wide range of different musicians, most recently teaming up with several highly creative jazz artists.

On this outing, he's paired with inventive New York/Melbourne-based jazz drummer Mark Lockett. Conceived as a shared audio-visual art installation with photographer Veronica Hodgkinson and producer Jeff Henderson, the recording is a series of spontaneous improvisations between Nunns and Lockett. At times wild and experimental, as on the tracks ‘Material Instinct’ and ‘Tripped It’, there's generally more structure as Lockett presents his crisp rhythms against Nunns’ breathy end-blown flutes, whirling poi (tethered weights) and other nature noises. Occasionally somewhat squeaky and harsh, but more often gently ambient, Nunns’ arsenal of ethereal sounds is at once spiritual and challenging. The closing 16-minute ‘La Morte’ is a slowly evolving journey, full of gently brushed cymbals and atmospheric drone. Adventurous stuff.