Auckland based singer/songwriter Karen Hunter returns to Raglan this week with her unique blend of jazz, dirty blues and performance poetry. Hunter is currently touring NZ with her Words and Groove Summer Tour and will be performing at Orca on Friday 15th January.
Hunter first appeared on the Auckland music scene in the early 90’s with an original style of blues-based acoustic funk and a voice described in the NZ Herald as ‘one of the most sensuous in the country’. Hunter’s work can be described as gritty jazz/folk. Songs are infused with dirty blues grooves using spoken word poetry and jazz scatting to create powerfully thoughtful and dynamic performances.
Words&Groove, her latest album, was recorded in collaboration with the first rate rhythm section of drummer Ron Samsom (Nathan Haines, Samsom Nacey Haines, Whirimako Black) and bassist Aaron Coddel (King Kapisi, Caitlin Smith, Jennifer Ward-Lealand). This stunning collection of new work was realised in two weekend
recording sessions under the care of award winning local Producer Steve Garden, concluding a yearlong process of ‘work-shopping’ songs through reinterpretation and improvisation.
Although Samsom and Coddel are jazz musicians, Hunter’s blues, roots and folk influences are prominent. The Words&Groove summer tour 2010 will see Hunter exploring solo versions of these songs and incorporating the best material from her previous nine albums.
