Having for a long time evolved separately from other land masses, New Zealand (Aotearoa) has flora and fauna that can, to a European’s eyes, appear a little strange. It may not be too far a stretch to feel something similar about Aotearoa’s vibrant musical life, as exemplified by this poetic and captivating new Māori jazz album E Rere Rā from singer Allana Goldsmith and English-born pianist Mark Baynes who are supported admirably by the eight musicians listed at the end of this article.
Hailing from the Tairawhiti region on the east coast of Aotearoa’s North Island, Goldsmith’s iwi (tribes) are Ngati Porou and Ngai Tai. In her this rich culture combined with a Contemporary Jazz nous and a richness and openness of vocal tone, make her and her former band Wakakura a favourite at Jazz festivals across her country. In fact, it comes as some surprise that she is not better known outside of Aotearoa.
Goldsmith’s musical partner, esteemed pianist Baynes brings to the album his own long experience in Jazz. Originally from Alton, Hampshire, following studies with the likes of Gary Burton at Berklee and Andy Laverne, Baynes has over many years worked with a very wide variety of musicians including saxophonist Eric Marienthal and the Auckland Symphony Orchestra.
The album has eleven songs, all in Māori, English briefly featuring in just two tracks, Tīpuna (Ancestors) and Tō Ihu (Get Stuffed). Reading some of the English translations (which hopefully will be available with the album), the lyrics are highly poetic and seemingly deeply grounded in Māori culture.
Goldsmith shares an example: “The title of the [seventh] song Hei Kawe i a Au, for example, is taken from a whakataukī, or proverb, that translates as ‘Let me be carried by the easterly breeze,’ This is suggesting that we shouldn’t be in a hurry, but to wait until the time and conditions are right.”
Regarding her Jazz style, often Goldsmith’s voice and occasionally the other instruments, sit below the melodic line in the manner perhaps more often heard in folk music. In final track Pīata Kau Ana (Shine On Brightly) she almost seems to be singing in her own personal key, distinct from the instruments, as if perhaps she believes the two cultures she is part of should not necessarily always be fully integrated. This listener found those parts the most interesting of all.
Title track, a blessing, E Rere Rā opens the album. This tune’s lyrics were written by Donovan Te Ahunui Farnham, a Te Reo Māori consultant; they constitute a blessing. Highly atmospheric, beginning with some slight instrumental breathiness, a feeling of strength increases as it progresses, Goldsmith’s handling of the melody described above contributing to its strangeness. Thereafter follow several quite lovely songs, occasionally poppy in feel but no worse for it, some like third track Kore Rawa (with lyrics about unrequited love) allowing Goldsmith’s and indeed the whole band’s Jazz chops to shine brightly.
Fifth track Tō Ihu (Get Stuffed) has a raunchy, R & B feel, the lyrics of which indulge in (unusually for this album) a level of bolshiness, following which there are some slower tempo ballads, the album returning to the very Māori feel. Final track Pīata Kau Ana, a song mourning the death of a loved one, is a striking and beautiful album coda.
Notwithstanding the superficial light tone and Western jazziness of the album there is a courage and dignity to Goldsmith’s sharing her language and culture with a Jazz audience. This unusual and beautiful Jazz sound deserves to be heard widely, within and beyond the shores of Aotearoa.
E Rere Rā was released on 2nd September 2022.
Additional line-up: Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa (drums), Alex Griffith (electric bass), Tom Dennison (bass), Riki Bennett (Taongo Puoro), Cameron Allen (saxophones), Jono Tan (trombone), Mike Booth (trumpet and horn arrangement) and Kim Paterson (flugelhorn and trumpet).
A shorter version of this review appeared in today’s London Jazz: https://londonjazznews.com/2022/10/01/goldsmith-baynes-e-rere-ra/
1 thought on “Album review. Not a Scottish one – Kiwi in fact – but a quite unusual and lovely sound: Goldsmith Baynes’ E Rere Rā, out on Meow Jazz Label.”