Myele Manzanza returns with his latest single 'Pencarrow'

Returning with his first single since the release of ‘Crisis & Opportunity, Vol. 4 – Meditations’, Myele Manzanza gets the band back together for a continuation of the fluid trio aesthetics established on the record.

Uniting once again with pianist Matthew Sheens (Ross McHenry, John Patitucci) and bassist Matt Penman (Joshua Redman, SFJAZZ Collective), the track sees Manzanza and his trio at their electric, communicative best. Captured in New York as part of the sessions for ‘Crisis & Opportunity, Vol. 4’, the composition is an ode to the beautiful Pencarrow headland in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Reflecting the rocky, windswept coastline and the quiet isolation prevalent for those living in that area of New Zealand’s north island, the initial musical idea came to Myele whilst on one of many long walks and runs along the Pencarrow coast. He shares:

“Pencarrow is a beautiful headland in the Wellington region of New Zealand, down the coast from a suburb called Eastbourne where I had the good fortune of living for a few years. There's a trail that follows the coastline down to the Pencarrow lighthouses that guide the way for ships entering the Wellington harbour. It's a very exposed and isolated area with high winds and occasionally treacherous ocean waves that crash into the stark, rocky coastline, and steep hills. I would often go for runs or long walks down the coast, and it offered a place to clear my head and get my thoughts straight.”

Known for his genre-spanning, infectiously vibrant music, drummer and composer Myele Manzanza puts rhythm at the front and centre of his work, framing it as the universal life pulse that governs movement, an intuitive connection between body and sound. Having established himself as one of the most energetic and exciting jazz musicians within the thriving worldwide scene, the New Zealand-born, London-based artist has made a major impact on the global music landscape. A founding member of Electric Wire Hustle, he has eleven solo releases to his name and racked up tours and collaborations with Jordan Rakei, Theo Parrish, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Recloose and Amp Fiddler amongst others.

Having developed a strong live presence in his new London base, his band has shared stages with the likes of Hiatus Kaiyote, The Bad Plus, Alfa Mist, and drawing packed houses to esteemed venues such as The Jazz Café and Ronnie Scott’s where he hosts a monthly residency. Over the past three years, the first four instalments of his lauded 'Crisis & Opportunity’ record series have seen Myele garner praise from Mary Anne Hobbs, Cerys Matthews, Jamie Cullum, Huey Morgan, The Guardian, Complex, Jazz FM, Lefto, Worldwide FM, Jazzwise and more. 

Myele Manzanza - Crisis & Opportunity, Vol.4 - Meditations [Out now on digital + 12" vinyl)

Rhythmic shaman Myele Manzanza returns to his jazz roots on his brand new album, ‘Meditations, the fourth edition of his highly applauded ‘Crisis & Opportunity’ series.

Over the past two years, the first three instalments of his lauded 'Crisis & Opportunity’ record series saw Myele garner praise from Mary Anne Hobbs, Cerys Matthews, Jamie Cullum, Huey Morgan, The Guardian, Complex, Jazz FM, Lefto, Worldwide FM, Jazzwise and more. The latter of these offerings extended Myele's sound deeper into the electronic world, venturing further into dance & club territory. From this underground energy, the steady swing of life’s pendulum reaches its apex, so we see Myele revert to a purely acoustic line-up, channeling a focussed and razor-sharp return to his Jazz roots on ‘Crisis & Opportunity, Vol.4 - Meditations’. Showcasing an incredible level of musicianship between three musicians at the top of their game - including Matthew Sheens (Ross McHenry, John Patitucci) on piano and Matt Penman (Joshua Redman, SFJAZZ Collective) on double bass - the trio exchange motifs over the length of 7 tracks.

Talking about the record, Myele explains: ‘ With this album, I’m yearning for the music itself to hold space. The title 'Meditations' suits the more interior mood of the music too. This is a solitary & introverted album compared to my previous works. I’m not trying to entertain you. I’m not trying to make you dance. Not on this record. With the interference of modern technology on our lives and how so much of our attention is tethered to the digital world, perhaps this album is a small rebellion against that. At least in the sense that it’s a purely acoustic album. It relies on the interplay of three musicians, listening to each other and making spontaneous decisions in order to execute the music. The quality of the sound directly reflects each person’s artistry, command of their instrument, physical technique and mental acuity.”

Opening proceedings with frenetic rhythmic improvisation, complimented by melancholic and cinematic layers of sound, ‘Crayford’s Room’ is a tribute to Myele’s musical mentor back in New Zealand. Remembering his time as a student in Wellington, Myele shows his deep connection to his origins, manifesting itself as lament on ‘Winter’ and ‘Homesick’. Introducing hypnotic, contemplative melodies take centre stage on ‘Something Old Something New’ (the first single to be released from the project)’ It maintains a sense of tension and intrigue throughout, and intensity rises to a crescendo sending sonic particles sprawling into space.

Intuitive, darker and deeply contemplative, Myele Manzanza shares his innermost thoughts on ‘Crisis and Opportunities Vol.4 - Meditations’. He divulges ‘The personal angst and existential frustration I was going through across 2020 - 2022 I believe is well reflected here. The album is deeply informed by the musicianship and sound of my trio, Matthew Sheens on piano and Matt Penman on double bass. Knowing that musicians of their calibre were going to be involved gave me licence to go further in my writing, deploying odd time signatures, sharing the melody roles across the piano and the bass, and delving deeper into the nuances of what the acoustic piano / bass / drums trio can do. The compositions present a challenge even to the best musicians, and I knew that it was essential to have a team on this level to really move the music beyond an academic exercise and draw out the emotion and colour from the material.’

Myele Manzanza shows his deep connection to his origins on new single ‘Homesick’.

Myele returns with ‘Homesick’ the second single from his forthcoming album ‘Crisis & Opportunity, Vol.4 - Meditations’.

'Homesick', sees Myele lean on the musicians at hand and the music itself to tell a story. A melancholic atmosphere throughout the 7-minute acoustic track self-expresses the story at hand for the aptly titled track, which once again showcases the nuances of what the trio of acoustic piano, double bass, and drums can do. 

On the forthcoming full-length record, Myele explains: ‘ With this album, I’m yearning for the music itself to hold space. The title 'Meditations' suits the more interior mood of the music too. This is a solitary & introverted album compared to my previous works. I’m not trying to entertain you. I’m not trying to make you dance. Not on this record. With the interference of modern technology on our lives and how so much of our attention is tethered to the digital world, perhaps this album is a small rebellion against that. At least in the sense that it’s a purely acoustic album. It relies on the interplay of three musicians, listening to each other and making spontaneous decisions in order to execute the music. The quality of the sound directly reflects each person’s artistry, command of their instrument, physical technique and mental acuity.”

Opening proceedings with frenetic rhythmic improvisation, complimented by melancholic and cinematic layers of sound, ‘Crayford’s Room’ is a tribute to Myele’s musical mentor back in New Zealand. Remembering his time as a student in Wellington, Myele shows his deep connection to his origins, manifesting itself as lament on ‘Winter’ and ‘Homesick’. Introducing hypnotic, contemplative melodies take centre stage on ‘Something Old Something New’ (the first single to be released from the project)’ It maintains a sense of tension and intrigue throughout, and intensity rises to a crescendo sending sonic particles sprawling into space.

Intuitive, darker and deeply contemplative, Myele Manzanza shares his innermost thoughts on ‘Crisis and Opportunities Vol.4 - Meditations’. He divulges ‘The personal angst and existential frustration I was going through across 2020 - 2022 I believe is well reflected here. The album is deeply informed by the musicianship and sound of my trio, Matthew Sheens on piano and Matt Penman on double bass. Knowing that musicians of their calibre were going to be involved gave me licence to go further in my writing, deploying odd time signatures, sharing the melody roles across the piano and the bass, and delving deeper into the nuances of what the acoustic piano / bass / drums trio can do. The compositions present a challenge even to the best musicians, and I knew that it was essential to have a team on this level to really move the music beyond an academic exercise and draw out the emotion and colour from the material.’

Myele Manzanza Announces 'Crisis & Opportunity, Vol.4 - Meditations'

The ever-prolific Myele Manzanza has touched down with a brand new single - ‘Something Old Something New’ - the first single from the fourth instalment of his ‘Crisis & Opportunity’ series.

Over the past two years, the first three instalments of his lauded 'Crisis & Opportunity’ record series saw Myele garner praise from Mary Anne Hobbs, Cerys Matthews, Jamie Cullum, Huey Morgan, The Guardian, Complex, Jazz FM, Lefto, Worldwide FM, Jazzwise and more. The latter of these offerings extended Myele's sound deeper into the electronic world, venturing further into dance & club territory. From this underground energy, the steady swing of life’s pendulum reaches its apex, so we see Myele revert to a purely acoustic line-up, channelling a focused and razor-sharp return to his Jazz roots on ‘Crisis & Opportunity, Vol.4 - Meditations’. Showcasing an incredible level of musicianship between three musicians at the top of their game - including Matthew Sheens (Ross McHenry, John Patitucci) on piano and Matt Penman (Joshua Redman, SFJAZZ Collective) on double bass - the trio exchange motifs over the length of 7 tracks.

On the forthcoming full-length record, Myele explains: ‘ With this album, I’m yearning for the music itself to hold space. The title 'Meditations' suits the more interior mood of the music too. This is a solitary & introverted album compared to my previous works. I’m not trying to entertain you. I’m not trying to make you dance. Not on this record. With the interference of modern technology on our lives and how so much of our attention is tethered to the digital world, perhaps this album is a small rebellion against that. At least in the sense that it’s a purely acoustic album. It relies on the interplay of three musicians, listening to each other and making spontaneous decisions in order to execute the music. The quality of the sound directly reflects each person’s artistry, command of their instrument, physical technique and mental acuity.”

Opening proceedings with frenetic rhythmic improvisation, complimented by melancholic and cinematic layers of sound, ‘Crayford’s Room’ is a tribute to Myele’s musical mentor back in New Zealand. Remembering his time as a student in Wellington, Myele shows his deep connection to his origins, manifesting itself as lament on ‘Winter’ and ‘Homesick’. Introducing hypnotic, contemplative melodies take centre stage on ‘Something Old Something New’ (the first single to be released from the project)’ It maintains a sense of tension and intrigue throughout, and intensity rises to a crescendo sending sonic particles sprawling into space.

Intuitive, darker and deeply contemplative, Myele Manzanza shares his innermost thoughts on ‘Crisis and Opportunities Vol.4 - Meditations’. He divulges ‘The personal angst and existential frustration I was going through across 2020 - 2022 I believe is well reflected here. The album is deeply informed by the musicianship and sound of my trio, Matthew Sheens on piano and Matt Penman on double bass. Knowing that musicians of their calibre were going to be involved gave me licence to go further in my writing, deploying odd time signatures, sharing the melody roles across the piano and the bass, and delving deeper into the nuances of what the acoustic piano / bass / drums trio can do. The compositions present a challenge even to the best musicians, and I knew that it was essential to have a team on this level to really move the music beyond an academic exercise and draw out the emotion and colour from the material.’

Myele Manzanza returns with brand new EP 'Focus'

Following the release of the third instalment of his ‘Crisis & Opportunity’ series, which saw him team up with Omar, China Moses, Rosie Frater-Taylor & more, Myele Manzanza has touched down with his brand new EP - ‘Focus’.

Currently a Bandcamp-only release, the EP sees Myele drop a one-take improvised project with Lewis Moody (keys, synths) & Benjamin Muralt (bass guitar).

Head below for some insightful liner notes from Myele below, and head over to Bandcamp to purchase.

This recording came together as an offset from the Crisis & Opportunity Vol. 3 - Unfold creative development phase. For 4 days in early 2021, Lewis Moody, Benjamin Muralt and I bunkered down in a tiny studio near Finsbury Park, tracking some of the pre-planned ideas (The final productions of Gone Up In Flames, Child & Falling Fast for example) as well as having some open improvised jams with the hope of generating some fresh material (Wasted Time & Drumbella were some of the by-products of these improvisations). There was maybe 5 hours' worth of raw recorded material that for various reasons didn’t make the cut for the album, however, there was a golden 25-minute run that at the time we all came away from thinking ‘holy shit’. I recall Benjamin saying after the performance concluded that ‘this is the kind of music I’ve always wanted to make’ and I was in accord that we had gotten one of those all too rare musical moments where nothing was planned but we collectively fell into the ‘zone’ and made something greater than the sum of its parts.

As the Crisis & Opportunity Vol. 3 - Unfold gradually developed though, there wasn’t really a natural place for this music to fit into it and in the back of my mind I felt that having to cut and edit it down would spoil the magic of the moment. So it stayed sitting in a hard drive, to be more or less forgotten.

Cut to late 2022, for a bit of nostalgia I was having a listen through some of the unused sessions. I happened to be playing some chess online whilst this recording came on and I fell into what could be called the ‘zone’ again, gaining focus and going on perhaps my longest chess-winning streak ever. For the first time, I had a sense that I could naturally ‘see’ or ‘feel’ the patterns over the board rather than needing to fall into the usual slow methodical calculation that’s generally required for a player at my very amateur level to avoid blundering. In any case, I came away feeling elated and I knew that I had to get this music out into the world. (I was initially going to call this recording “Music To Play Chess To” but I came to the realisation that this might have been very corny and maybe the most un-cool album title ever beyond folks in the chess community)

This isn’t a jazz recording, but it is an improvised one. The music you are listening to here was all done in one take warts and all (including the synth & keyboard programming, which does lend this recording to sound a little more ‘produced’ than your average jam session), & aside from a mix on volume levels to make sure the recording sounds balanced, there was zero editing on the musical performance. Also worth noting that beyond setting a tempo for the click track, there was no prior discussion on what we were going to play. We just started playing.

On reflection, I can hear how this mode of playing - the minor key with minimal harmonic movement, the clear dub & electronic music language, the open form slow building evolution of the sound (rather than the more accelerated initiation of musical ideas and melodic lines more common in jazz) - directly draws from early 2000’s New Zealand dub acts like Trinity Roots, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Salmonella Dub & early Shapeshifter (more of a stadium smashing live drum & bass outfit, but some of their earlier work was a little more in the ‘liquid’ style that hewed them a little closer to their peers at the time) who were very pivotal influences on me. In saying that, Lewis is from Australia and Benjamin is from Switzerland & would have never really checked those bands out in any real way, and their set of influences would have impacted this music as much as mine did.

So then, let’s call this musical style ‘Improvised Minimalism’.

This process of music-making doesn’t always work as cohesively as this. More often than not there’s a lot of trial and error before it settles into itself. Depending on the musicians it can be very easy to over-play and get too busy, or under-play and get stale, as in a sense there are no real rules to it. However, to play this way successfully requires a lot of musical language, an ability to listen and hold space for others as well as an ability to initiate and fill space with confident musical ideas, and an overall sense of camaraderie with the other musicians you’re playing with. Having the wisdom to know when & how to just stay there, and when to take a leap of faith and jump into the unknown.

All in all, it requires a level of focus. Something I felt the three of us were lucky to achieve across a full 25-minute performance that you’re hearing now, and hopefully this music might be of service to you and perhaps bring a sense of focus to whatever it is you need to do. 

Myele Manzanza enlists the help of Omar, China Moses, Rosie Frater-Taylor & more for new album ‘Crisis & Opportunity, Vol.3 - Unfold’

Having established himself as one of the most energetic and exciting Jazz musicians within the already thriving worldwide scene, New Zealand born, London based Drummer & Producer Myele Manzanza has made a major impact upon the global music landscape.

Following the release of his last offering, a chance conversation between Myele and a young Barista at a local coffee shop occured - their topic (centred around the trials and tribulations of following your musical passions) sent Myele down a spiralling path of internal reflection, spawning a new lease of creative energy and examination of new ways to approach his craft. The third addition to the heralded series, ‘Crisis & Opportunity Vol.3 - Unfold’ sees Myele change his approach from drummer / improviser, altering his sonic output to an electronic focussed sound, sharing production duties with Lewis Moody (Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange). His initial instinct was to create music that could be played in a club, but also incorporate elements music of the Jazz and technical musicianship he’s renown for.

Buy on 12” Vinyl Now

Articulating his thoughts on the record’s genesis, Myele explains: ‘‘As the process developed, I was also drawing a lot of inspiration from vocal driven soul, RnB and songwriter-driven music, to a point where I had lit a new creative fire. Reconsidering the direction of the album, I was left with the creative question “What broader ranges of emotion might my music be able to access, and what kinds of art could be made possible if I were to open up my music to hold space for singers and for stories?”

First single ‘Silencing The Sun’ features the vocal talents of fast-rising  fellow Kiwi artist Wallace, whose spectral tones glide gracefully over the pulsating rhythm section and twinkling keys. On second single ’Therapy’ UK Soul royalty Omar weaves his trademark magic over a solid 4/4 beat, soulful key stabs and lush synths, bottling lightning into dancefloor alchemy. Final single ‘Unfold’ sees Rachel Fraser deliver a delicate and introspective vocal performance over stripped back instrumentation as cold, angular electronics juxtapose the warmth of piano keys and sweeping strings. With a wealth of additional incredible talent (such as China Moses and Rosie Frater Taylor)  enlisted to further compliment the record’s grainy synth textures, emotive chord changes, driving low end sonics and expressive percussion, the scene is set for a beautiful, shifting and engaging listening experience.

Articulating his thoughts on the record’s genesis, Myele explains: ‘‘As the process developed, I was also drawing a lot of inspiration from vocal driven soul, RnB and songwriter-driven music, to a point where I had lit a new creative fire. Reconsidering the direction of the album, I was left with the creative question “What broader ranges of emotion might my music be able to access, and what kinds of art could be made possible if I were to open up my music to hold space for singers and for stories?”

First single ‘Silencing The Sun’ features the vocal talents of fast-rising fellow Kiwi artist Wallace, whose spectral tones glide gracefully over the pulsating rhythm section and twinkling keys. On the second single ’Therapy’ UK Soul royalty Omar weaves his trademark magic over a solid 4/4 beat, soulful key stabs and lush synths, bottling lightning into dancefloor alchemy. Final single ‘Unfold’ sees Rachel Fraser deliver a delicate and introspective vocal performance over stripped-back instrumentation as cold, angular electronics juxtapose the warmth of piano keys and sweeping strings. With a wealth of additional incredible talent (such as China Moses and Rosie Frater Taylor) enlisted to further compliment the record’s grainy synth textures, emotive chord changes, driving low-end sonics and expressive percussion, the scene is set for a beautiful, shifting and engaging listening experience.

Myele Manzanza Announces ‘Crisis & Opportunity, Vol.3 - Unfold’

Having established himself as one of the most energetic and exciting Jazz musicians within the already thriving worldwide scene, New Zealand born, London based Drummer & Producer Myele Manzanza has made a major impact upon the global music landscape.

A founding member of Electric Wire Hustle, Myele has released five solo albums, and racked up tours and collaborations with Jordan Rakei, Theo Parrish, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Recloose and Amp Fiddler amongst others . Myele has developed a strong live presence in his new London base; his quartet has shared stages with the likes of Hiatus Kaiyote, The Bad Plus, Alfa Mist, and drawing packed houses to top venues such as The Jazz Café and Ronnie Scott’s. Last year, the first two instalments of his 'Crisis & Opportunity’ record series saw him garner praise from Mary Anne Hobbs, Cerys Matthews, Jamie Cullum, Huey Morgan, The Guardian, Complex, Jazz FM, Lefto, Worldwide FM, Jazzwise and more.

Following the release of his last offering, a chance conversation between Myele and a young Barista at a local coffee shop occured - their topic (centred around the trials and tribulations of following your musical passions) sent Myele down a spiralling path of internal reflection, spawning a new lease of creative energy and examination of new ways to approach his craft. The third addition to the heralded series, ‘Crisis & Opportunity Vol.3 - Unfold’ sees Myele change his approach from drummer / improviser, altering his sonic output to an electronic focussed sound, sharing production duties with Lewis Moody (Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange). His initial instinct was to create music that could be played in a club, but also incorporate elements music of the Jazz and technical musicianship he’s renown for.

Buy on 12” Vinyl Now

Articulating his thoughts on the record’s genesis, Myele explains: ‘‘As the process developed, I was also drawing a lot of inspiration from vocal driven soul, RnB and songwriter-driven music, to a point where I had lit a new creative fire. Reconsidering the direction of the album, I was left with the creative question “What broader ranges of emotion might my music be able to access, and what kinds of art could be made possible if I were to open up my music to hold space for singers and for stories?”

First single ‘Silencing The Sun’ features the vocal talents of fast-rising  fellow Kiwi artist Wallace, whose spectral tones glide gracefully over the pulsating rhythm section and twinkling keys. On second single ’Therapy’ UK Soul royalty Omar weaves his trademark magic over a solid 4/4 beat, soulful key stabs and lush synths, bottling lightning into dancefloor alchemy. Final single ‘Unfold’ sees Rachel Fraser deliver a delicate and introspective vocal performance over stripped back instrumentation as cold, angular electronics juxtapose the warmth of piano keys and sweeping strings. With a wealth of additional incredible talent (such as China Moses and Rosie Frater Taylor)  enlisted to further compliment the record’s grainy synth textures, emotive chord changes, driving low end sonics and expressive percussion, the scene is set for a beautiful, shifting and engaging listening experience.

Myele explains: “I guess that’s why the impromptu conversation with that neighbourhood barista at the beginning of this essay resonated with me so much. Music is such a profound  way to connect with other people and it can be an infinite and evergreen source of inspiration. I’m not a religious person but I can understand the spiritual impulse that comes from having something bigger than yourself that you can dedicate your life toward, and I suppose in many ways music serves that purpose for me . I’ve had phases in my life where I’ve had to put music to the side and in many ways those were the times when I was most lost and internally divided. I’m deeply grateful that my life is at a place now where I can devote myself to this weird ephemeral thing called music, make a life around it and release these offerings to the world.”

Myele Manzanza's x Soho Radio, Direct to Vinyl Session

Myele Manzanza joined Soho Radio and The Vinyl Factory at the 180 Studios for the new series of Vinyl Sessions; live performances cut direct to vinyl.

A one-shot series where artists record direct to dubplate. One disc – one take – one shot.

Performing Back In The Days and Two Chords & The Truth , Myele enlisted the help of Lewis Moody (keys & synths) and Seth Tackaberry – watch now below.