Discography

Album

A Job With The Circus - released 17 Oct 08
Nigel Gavin
Ode records Cat No.dvdmanu 8005

When I wrote the liner notes for Nigel Gavin's excellent Visitation album from late 06 I described him as "a musician without portfolio, a guitarist/composer whose work comfortably commands many different styles".

Confirming that assessment were the list of people/bands he had worked with to that point: the Nairobi Trio, the Jews Brothers, the guitar orchestra Gitbox Rebellion he founded, Robert Fripp, Lorina Harding, Whirimako Black . .

But I also said that Gavin was under-represented by a sound solo album - and that's what Visitation was.

Now comes this up-close and in-concert DVD beautifully shot by Wellington film-maker Costa Botes whose previous work has included Struggle No More (the superb doco of New Zealand's least ambitious band, the Windy City Strugglers), and a profile in music of bluesman Dave Murphy which appeared at Elsewhere previously.

Botes also captured the spirited Hobnail Boots and the Shot Band live at Paramount in Wellington.

Botes knows how to shoot musicians, he gets out of their way and takes the viewer in close. Watching his films you rarely sense the presence of the film-maker, but you certainly get a feel for the artist and the music.

This live showng by Gavin before a small and attentive audience is about as intimate as it can get without you actually being there. And oddly enough sometimes you forget that Gavin is also there, his music seems to have come from the air and gone directly to the fingers on the neck of the guitar.

Beautifully shot and scrupulously recorded, what you get is astonishing acoustic music from a man who draws from many musical genres and sources to create something his own.

Graham Reid

Visitation - released 16 Feb 07
Nigel Gavin
thrum/rythmethod Cat No.thrum003

To say Gavin is a guitar virtuoso is an understatement: he's a gifted, imaginative and highly exploratory musician who uses charm and taste as the backdrop to his amazing guitar pieces. And on Visitation there are many. On the opening Quiddity he incorporates lilting grace notes with flamenco picking and nifty strums. Gavin's orchestra for a solo guitarist has begun. The Land Beyond Goodbye recalls German bassist Eberhard Webber as Gavin plays and bends his bass strings with a studied approach while ascending and descending the fretboard. And while the title track is as illuminating as a movie soundtrack, Berceuse creates the mood like that of a master painter choosing the appropriate pastel to perfect the piece. From his nifty finger-style on Repulse Monkey to the dramatic Reliquary and charming Noteworthy Praise, Gavin creates the perfect bridge between performer and listener where his wonderful flow creates the most brilliant feelings across styles and sounds.
4 and 1/2 stars
Steve Scott / the Waikato Times

Thrum
Nigel Gavin
Cat No.ThrumCD002

It's difficult not to think of Nigel Gavin as something of a minstrel for the new millennium. There is something at once medieval and contemporary in the seven-string acoustic he wields; likewise, the music he wrings from it has elements of the most diverse genres while being impossible to collect under any rubric, except perhaps that of narrative.
This reviewer has always been a strict believer in the concept that a song should stand alone with, at most, its title and possibly lyrics to guide the listener towards its meaning. If a composition needs an explanatory addendum, it has failed in some measure. Thrum is a sterling verification of this rule-even without the liner notes, the music weaves a multi-sensory spell that superbly evokes the subject matter, right down to the texture of the ground beneath the protagonist's feet. The sinister Nebuchadnezzar, teeming with megalomaniac paranoia, or A Connecticut Yankee In The Court Of King Arthur, featuring an intro of a knight in rusty armour, are perfect examples of this. Nevertheless, it must be said that the additional information on the songs does make for interesting reading, and adds an additional highlight through the music that is welcome, if not crucial.
Aside from the unbelievable flailing (Gavin has no qualm with applying 'electric' techniques such as tapping or sweep to his music), one of the big eyebrow-raisers about this album is that all the songs are one-takers. Nonchalant in production but not in results, Gavin's songs-some recorded in his kitchen, some in a New Zealand studio-transport the listener to a space as rooted in fantasy as it is in the familiar.
Standout tracks:
the Mosquito, Yezidi Circle, waiting for Seniah
GUN ARVIDSSEN
GUITARIST AUSTRALIA #4

Music for Flem II
Nigel Gavin
Cat No.thrumcd001

Nigel Gavin’s wittily titled, long-overdue album under his own name
Music for Flem: Volume 11, the first of three, makes overt references to Eno’s Music For Films albums and follows much the same ethic: soundtracks for imagined and imaginary movies. Over 16 tracks using mandolin, loops, guitars, banjos, a flower pot and other instruments, Gavin conjures up images of dark alleys behind a funky poolhall (the Waitsean Bugnuts and Beefcake), moonrise over a forest (Aspiration), what he appropriately calls “a spaghetti eastern” (dodi Li), a hypnotic rippling of repeated guitar figures (Bass Grain), some 80’s casino-lounge swing (Sving-ing-ing!), a cheerful morning on a warm pacific beach (Glad Tidings) and much more. Whatever you imagine, in fact. Lots of information here.
Graham Reid/The NZ Herald

Famouse Blue Raincoat - released 24 Sep 08
famous blue raincoat/Wayne Gillespie Rob Grosser
wayward music Cat No.na

All original tunes from this sydney based ensemble.
Nigel on electric guitars and banjo. Also features Brendan Power on harmonica and Rick Robertson on saxes.

Kokomo, In The Well - released 28 Jun 08
Kokomo
jayrem Cat No.BRPCD009

An album of Dylan tunes done in the unique style of Kokomo.
Nigel featured on all but 3 of the tracks.

Ecstacy - released 16 Jan 08
Bravura
attar Cat No.attar1003

Ecstasy Besser and Bravura
Simon Sweetman
Prolific American-born, New Zealand-based composer Jonathan Besser returns with Ecstasy – a beguiling mix of classical musical forms and world music. Bravura is a unit that evokes the gypsy spirit one minute, touching on the minimalism and after-midnight delicacy of Mike Nock the next. This nine-track cycle (inspired by the love poetry of Jalal al-Din Rumi) is not at all impenetrable. The music wafts from the speakers, Miranda Adams’ haunting violin playing the lead one moment, master guitarist Nigel Gavin twisting the mood at times; Tatiana Lanchtchikova’s accordion and Besser’s own piano provide the glue. Touches of jazz float by, the modern classical feel is never so heavy as to alienate casual listeners and the playing is exquisite. In a decade of listening to Besser’s various projects this is my favourite so far – here’s hoping it achieves a wider audience.

Welcome to the Big Room - released 20 Oct 07
Trip to the Moon
jazzscore Cat No.CD001

Tom Ludvigson and Trevor Reekie with guests
Nigel Gavin, Greg Johnson Jim Langebeer and Johnny Fleury

precious legacy - released 01 Oct 07
johnathan besser and co

museum music: precious legacy and Nui Tireni feature Nigel Gavin.

East of the Sun - released 11 Apr 07
Carolina Moon
global roots music Cat No.CM001

Sumptuous contemporary Jazz from
Caroline Lynn: vocals
Roger Manins: Sax
Kevin Field: piano
Oliver Holland: bass
Chris o'Conner: drums
Hershal : accordion
and....
Nigel: guitar
http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/music/index.cfm

Songs from down the Line / Richard Watt
Richard Watt
indi

Nigel produced and played on this release.

Clean Break / Lorina Harding
global routes

Lorinas second award winning CD features "Nigel all over it like a rash!"

Kura Huna / Whirimako Black
Mai music

Whiri's mystical music with Russel Walder producing. Nigel features on guitars, glissentar and "science projects".

Live at the Bunker with Wayne Gillespie
Wayne Gillespie and Nigel Gavin
Wayward Music Cat No.WM006

Now this is a treat for the folk music devotee. Released last year, it was recorded live at ‘The Bunker’ in Auckland’s Devonport in 2003, with engineering by Steve Garden. The nuances of a live folk performance are faithfully captured while managing a clarity of
recording that makes for a comfortable listen. Gillespie and Gavin both boast a fairly comprehensive CV in the New Zealand folk scene, and although Gillespie now resides in Sydney, he makes frequent trips home to perform. Other contributors to this effort are Caitlin Smith on vocals and Tony Waine on bass. The track listing is a selection of songs sampled from many years of writing and playing, and range from some rather intense minor-keyed efforts such as Gabriel Street, to the satirical So Trendy. This is true folk quality music, not a sniff of synthesis, expertly played, and with obvious audience rapport. A fine listen

The trio's first release. Live in studio versions of classic jazz tunes with a twist. Originally a cassette only release.

sophmore release by the trio. A combo of more standards and what would become the begining of an increasing original direction for the group with songs like Gavin's Sacred Hill.

Shelf Life / Nairobi Trio
Nairobi Trio
Zulu zcd001

First self release by the trio on their own Zulu label. This being an all original CD. Soon to be classic Trio songs like Shelf life, Firth of forth and the epic Conical intrigue at hanmer springs.

The second live album consisting of material from all the preceding CD's including some new favorites like "East of Eden".

The Jew Brothers live at Gerhards
the Jews Brothers
rouge records

The first jews bros album, sort of live. The original line up including Harmen Heilkema, John Radford and Kelvin Gapper.
Features the hit Bie Mir bistu shein.

second release considered by many to be the best, featuring Neill Duncan on saxe's percussions and production skills. Nigel shines on an old Telecaster and electric mandolin.

the Braeburn album
the jews Brothers
rouge records

the now legendary controversial "real" live cd from the jews bros.
Recorded in a day in the braeburn studios kitchen. Featuring Egypt, penned by Arif Usmani. Nigel on the Williams 12 string mandolin.A collectors item.

Fourth CD, All original material excepting for 1 tune. Nigel featuring on the 11 string glissentar.

first release of the group to become Bravura.Also features The Precious Legacy Suite.

You Got Your Wish
Bravura
atoll Cat No.acd 302

Featuring the Vocals of Jackie Clarke and drumming of Don McGlashan. Lyrics provided by the Sufi poet Rumi. This CD most closely sounds like the band live in concert.

Very rare release showing the divers range of music this ensemble can play. First release of the famous "Gam Jams".

Very subdued material, primaraly improvised. "Quiet but scary"!
Highlight "resolution".

New Orleans Gumbo Jazz-Live
The Blue Bottom Stompers
bbs Cat No.bbs 102

First of three Cd's by the legendary BBS. Featuring Neill Duncan on sax'es & Lees Broadbent on vocals. Where True Rock began!
Recorded live at the viaduct in auckland.

The Stompers Live at the auckland folk festival. Featuring Harmen Hielkema on Tea Chest Bass. A collectors item!

The third and so far final live cd featuring Will Sargisson on piano and Caitlin Smith on Mood Indigo. Running wild!!

Pesky Digits
Gitbox Rebelliion
rattle Cat No.rattle doo1

Touch Wood
Gitbox Rebelliion
rattle / DGM Cat No.rat doo5/ DGM 9511

The all guitar line up infused with cello, violin, flute and tabla. Released worldwide on Robert Fripps DGM label.

Nigel's tune contlinental Drift featuring gitbox rebellion members. Also many tracks by some of NZ's greatest living composers!

Show of Hands
Robert Fripp & the League of Crafty Guitarists
EG Cat No.EEG 2102-2

First comercial release for the League. Featuring Nigel's "A Connecticut Yankee In the Court of King Arthur".

Intergalactic Boogie Express
Robert Fripp & the League of Crafty Guitarists
DGM Cat No.DGM 9502

Recorded live in Europe. Features 3 of Nigel's compositions.

The Last from the Last! Ross Mullins unique take on NZ life and people. Features the original version of "Where Fairburn Walked".

More songs about NZ.

New Zealand Poets put to music featuring Caitlin Smith.