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In this TBI Q&A we hear from composer and pianist Norman Meehan, who tells us about the collaboration with poet Bill Manhire for the Auckland Jazz Festival.

In this TBI Q&A we hear from composer and pianist Norman Meehan, who tells us about the collaboration with poet Bill Manhire for the Auckland Jazz Festival.

"Vocalist Hannah Griffin, saxophonist Colin Hemmingsen and I will perform song settings of poems by a range of New Zealand poets. The performance is presented by NZ inaugural Poet Laureate Bill Manhire, who introduces the poems and poets, and reads some of the texts."

Meehan, Griffin, Manhire & Hemmingsen is on 19 October, at 1885 Britomart, as part of the Auckland Jazz Festival 2015.

During what hours of the day do you feel most inspired?

6:30am - 10:00 am

How would a good friend describe your aesthetic or style?

Melodic, nuanced.

What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?

Recording original music.

How does your environment affect your work?

Significantly. So I like quiet, peaceful spaces with good light and few interruptions. And plenty of tea.

Do you like to look at the big picture or focus on the details?

Mainly big picture, but details are important when finishing things off.

What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?

Be polite to everyone.

Which of your projects to date has given you the most satisfaction?

My collaboration with Bill Manhire and Hannah Griffin.

Who or what has inspired you recently?

Dennis Glover’s poetry, and particularly Sings Harry.

Tell us a bit about your background

My mum played and taught piano and I was one of her students. It was a great start, but I really started to learn stuff when I began to work things out by ear and participate in bands. I have been active as a performer for about 25 years, and spent 18 of those years also working as a teacher of music – which was enormously rewarding work.

Tell us about some of your recent and upcoming projects

We (Hannah Griffin, Hayden Chisholm and I) have just released an album of song settings of texts by NZ poets. It is a beautiful recording captured by Thomas Voyce and mixed by Steve Garden of Rattle Records. We are touring that album nationally through October and November this year (2015).

Hannah and I are currently working on a new project with poet Bill Manhire, setting a number of his texts as songs. These texts are all charms and riddles and so the musical settings have been fun to make – sometimes little cyphers or musical conundrums. We hope to be in a position to record that in 2016.

What are you planning for the Auckland Jazz Festival?

Vocalist Hannah Griffin, saxophonist Colin Hemmingsen and I will perform song settings of poems by a range of New Zealand poets. The performance is presented by NZ inaugural Poet Laureate Bill Manhire, who introduces the poems and poets, and reads some of the texts.

If you could go back and choose a completely different career path to the one you've chosen, what would it be?

Furniture maker.

What place is always with you, wherever you go?

Island Bay, Wellington.

What's the best way to listen to music, and why?

In the dark, and alone. There are no distractions and the experience is more immersive.

You are given a piece of string, a stick and some fabric. What do you make?

A flag for my youngest child. Or maybe a boat.

What's the best stress relief advice you've ever been given?

Commence and sustain a regularly yoga practice.

What’s great about the Auckland Jazz Festival?

Wonderful musicians making music in a beautiful city. Yeah.

What’s your big idea for 2016?

Less industry, more reflection. And a new album of original jazz music with Hayden Chisholm and Paul Dyne, modelled on the Jimmy Giuffre trio’s approach (with Paul Bley and Steve Swallow) where melodic dialogue eclipses harmonic concerns.
 

• The Auckland Jazz Festival is on from 14 - 25 October.