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Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 23. September 12 1977

Earthborn Earthborn

Earthborn Earthborn

Earthborn, a New Plymouth band led by pianist seemed to me to present a much more creative and honest set than any other band performing that night. Every thing they played was original and although the standard of composition and performance fluctuated somewhat, overall they came across as a group of talented musicians honestly trying to achieve something good with their music, getting where they wanted to go and taking along with them those in the audience who were sympathetic to the fun and sounds being created onstage. It was really the type of loosely structured improvised jazz which needs to be played in the intimacy of a small club, but nevertheless Earthborn overcame most of the odds and managed to set up a rapport with an appreciative audience.

Their earlier pieces were to me their better ones a piano trio, employing Jarrettesque blues slurs along with classical flourishes; a blues in D-minor featuring alto sax; a bossanova written by the drummer; and a piano/guitar duet entitled A Conversation between Two Lovers. The second half of the set became more electric and "spacey". The pianist didn't seem very comfortable on electric piano and moog, hence the results didn't quite gel.

All in all I got a bigger kick out of Earth born than either the Golden Horn or 1860 bands. They mightn't have been as polished presentation-wise, but they were much more honest and more creative musicians.

Tim Nees.