Words & Groove

Guitarist / Songwriter Karen Hunter's 'Words & Groove' blends jazz, dirty blues and performance poetry. Embellishing on themes of local significance, Hunter entwines personal experience with liberally exaggerated stories that bridge the dangerous (drug addiction, social welfare dependency, the NZ road toll) and the mundane (infatuation, familiarity and separation).

Building on Hunter's Tom Waits inspired 2007 release 'Rubble', there are both personal and local stories embedded in this body of work. Poems emerge within the songs, often appearing over extended bass and drum vamps, hence the title 'Words & Groove'.

The album also features a funky powerhouse version of the 1968 Jimi Hendrix classic 'Long Hot Summer Night', which showcases Hunter's arranging skills over a three part horn section led by Roger Manins on Tenor saxophone.

'Words & Groove' 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 'workshopping' songs through reinterpretation and improvisation.

Although Samsom and Coddel are jazz musicians, Hunter's blues, roots and folk influences are prominent. Guest soloists were drawn from the Auckland jazz community and include Kevin Field (piano), Roger Manins (saxophone), Oliver Emmitt (trombone), Kingsley Melhuish (trumpet) and Jess Curtis (vocals).