iiii Records presents
iiii XV
PURCHASE AT www.iiiirecords.bandcamp.com
Bandleader / composer John Bell (Dominion Centenary Concert Band, Ruckus, Circling Sun, Dodecahedrons) began the Spoilers of Utopia to play Albert Ayler tunes arranged for Brass Band.
Since inception the Spoilers of Utopia have progressed to performing mainly original compositions and new arrangements of such diverse material as Don McGlashan pop songs and Salvation Army hymns.
The wide ranging musical material reflects the diverse backgrounds of the band members.
John Bell is Aotearoa's leading vibraharpist an outstanding composer and energetic tenor horn player, Don McGlashan (Blam Blam Blam, the Front Lawn, the Muttonbirds Seven Sisters) is one of the lands most well known and loved popular songwriters, here he contributes his wonderful Euphonium playing Kingsley Melhuish (Spargo, Brassouls) is a prolific brass player and composer / bandleader who has a background in brass bands, jazz, improvisation and Pacific music. Trombonist Ben Zilber is classically trained and performs regularly as a soloist and with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra and the NZSO. Drummer Chris O'Connor is perhaps NZ's busiest percussionist and performs regularly with such leading artists and acts as Don McGlashan, SJD, Andrew Keoghan, the Joytoys, Ruckus and the Phoenix Foundation. Neil Watson is one of Aucklands leading jazz guitarists who has performed with the Finn Brothers, Frank Gibson Jnr., Dianne Schuur and the Sami Sisters. Finn Scholes is and exciting trumpet player and composer who has performed with Kantuta, Mamaku Project, Bannerman and leads his own groups. Owen Melhuish has a background in brass bands and anchors the S.O.U with his vibrant tuba. Darren Hannah began as a jazz bass player and now is a vital member of the Vitamin S free improvisation community.
Guests on the S.O.U album include Cameron Allen on Moog, maverick brass and performance artist Gerard Crewdson and Rarotongan drummers Jacob Unuia, TJ Unuia and Tua Mete.
The Spoilers of Utopia cd is released on Tues 23 April 2013 at the Wine Cellar, St Kevins Arcade, Karangahape Road, Auckland. 8pm.
The CD release party will also farewell John Bell who is relocating to South Korea.
