Tara Iti Quartet

God in the Music Records presents:

Tara Iti Quartet

Exploratory sound and free improvisation quartet featuring taonga pūoro, electronics and percussion presenting two sets of new music.

Rob Thorne (Ngāti Tumutumu) - taonga pūoro
Noel Meek - no input mixing board
Reece McNaughten - percussion
Jonty O'Connor - percussion

Rob Thorne - Māori composer, performer, improvisor, collaborator, anthropologist and specialist Rob Thorne (Ngāti Tumutumu) is a diverse and original explorer in the evolving journey of taonga pūoro, fusing these ancient voices with modern sounds and technology. Thorne’s combined musical and academic experience and skills are multitudinal. A musician with over 25 years performance experience in bands and solo, predominantly within alternative rock, free noise, experimental, and improvisational sound art, his work since 2001 with traditional taonga pūoro has seen him intelligently blending the modern with the ancient.

Noel Meek is an improviser and composer based in Ōtautahi, working with electronic, electroacoustic and found instruments. He has played and recorded with the likes of Sun Araw, Lasse Marhaug, Richard Youngs, Mette Rasmussen, Yan Jun, Patrick Shiroishi, Roger Turner, Neil Campbell, Tetuzi Akiyama and Bruce Russell.

Reece McNaughten is one of Aotearoa's most sought after drummers. Aside from numerous high octane solo and small group projects (Big Flip The Massive, West Cost Bullies, Ballah Playah Gnah) he has toured and recorded with the likes of Bonaparte, Orchestra of Spheres and Grayson Gilmore.

Jonty O'Connor is a versatile and dynamic drummer and composer with a wide ranging background. Working comfortably across electronic, experimental, pop, country, jazz and rock music, performing with everyone from Scribe to Delaney Davidson, O'Connor also produces music under the moniker Zane 2000.