Tim Hopkins: Hear Now After

Little Big Horn

Kiwi musician releases breakthrough album

Showcases to be held in
Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in March

www.timhopkinsmusic.com

MUSICIAN Tim Hopkins has worked with some of Australasia’s biggest names in music and so it’s with great pleasure that he releases his sixth album Hear Now After home in New Zealand.

Tim will celebrate the album release with three very special performances and share his rare talent through masterclasses for European manufacturer Keilwerth that showcase the latest in saxophone technology and design.

Showcases and masterclasses will be held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, giving musicians and music fans an insight into a versatility that has seen Tim work with the likes of Sting, Midnight Oil and Nathan Haines and record with hip-hop legend King Kapisi through to jazz star Vince Jones.

Tim is part of a new breed of creative jazz musician where improvising has virtually become a way of life and not just the soul domain of the music. He’s just as likely to be seen (and heard) collaborating with DJ’s, writing music for television or at work in his home studio as he is presenting a night of contemporary original music in classic jazz combo mode. He has even scored two short films for Australian director Samantha Lang, and was the featured soloist in the soundtrack to a major feature film starring Mark Harmon (NCIS) called Till There Was You, shot on location in Vanuatu.

The music on Hear Now After has a strong underlying hip hop feel about it, but not in the way you’d expect, it’s more subtle, more “jazzy”, says Tim.

There are however a few hip hop type moments. “Hip Hop-kins” himself busts a rhyme on track 1 “Jazz Thing”, proving he’s no slouch as a lyricist or a rapper, while reigning heavyweight champ, hip hop artist King Kapisi delivers a knock out vocal on the controversial track 4 “Loophole”.

Other inspired performances on the album include a mesmerizing piano solo by legendary pianist Mike Nock on the towering 13 minute “Sex on the Moon”. There are more than 30 musicians playing on the album at one time or another, not all of whom are featured, but all of whom make invaluable contributions to the overall sound and flavour.

As with his last album “Popcorn”, Hopkins is out to debunk a few myths, open some new doors and explore uncharted music. For this unique launch tour he’ll be bringing YOGI (Random Soul, Salted, Shifted, Hemmesphere vol 5, Celebrity, Transport, Neo-disco) from Sydney, a multi talented keyboard player/vocalist/bassist/DJ and producer in his own right.

Aside from their repertoire of underground vinyl, rare grooves and the odd bit of genre hopping, the dynamic duo will play a selection of remixes from the new album, some of it played with live instrumentation and some previously unreleased material. There will also be a number of special guests joining them at selected venues.

Check out www.timhopkinsmusic.com for the latest guff and tour info!

Hear Now After dates

Thursday 13 March – “Flight Lounge”, Auckland, 10pm
Friday 14 March -“Bodega Bar” , Wellington, 10pm
Saturday 15 March -“The Concrete Club” , Christchurch, 11pm

Keilwerth masterclasses

Thursday 13 March - KBB Music, Auckland, 7pm
Friday 14 March - Music Services, Wellington, 7pm
Saturday 15 March - The Bead Shop, Christchurch, 4pm
Wednesday 19 March - Music Workshop, Dunedin, 7pm

ENDS

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