Prepare to be transported! With inspiration from as far afield as the deserts of North Africa to the Amazon basin and beyond Mundi takes you on an unforgettable journey.

Currently celebrating the release of their second album In the Blink of an Eye, Mundi has expanded to feature an exciting array of instruments including flute, sax, banjo, marimba, voice, bass and world percussion. This original world-jazz band is not to be missed!

A well travelled bunch, they have covered almost every continent on the globe between them, taking the pulse and flavour of some very exotic regions. Mundi has toured and performed widely including in Sri Lanka where they recorded part of their debut album in collaboration with traditional Sri Lankan artists and had a TV special devoted to them.
Their music is often heard on National Radio, has been featured on the Air New Zealand play list and on Australia’s ABC network as well as being showcased on Concert FM’s hour long show “Global Sounds”.

Recently art became life for Mundi, as composer and flautist Tamara Smith explains when describing their new album :
“I was intrigued by the small vignettes we see on a daily basis. Little fragments of another’s life; a small segment of a story about to unfold, captured like a still frame in the blink of an eye. In the time frame of the world, civilisations have risen and crumbled, and this too has been in just a “Blink of an Eye”. This became a little more real to us in the early hours of a Christchurch morning when the earth rumbled for less than a minute, but in that time, changed the face of our city and the lives of many people… “

Despite setbacks of an earth shaking variety, a birth and other life changing events, the new Mundi album is finally here! While utterly original, it is a synthesis of many global colours and influences. It takes the listener on a musical journey traversing landscapes rich with texture and surprise; allowing them to experience through their own imagination other vignettes of the world.

The Musicians

Tyson Smith – guitar and banjo. Tyson recently finished his own album called “There’s Nothing You Can’t Pretend” featuring some of Wellington’s hottest talent. He is presently the guitarist for Hollie Smith.
Tamara Smith – Flutes/percussion. Inspired by her travels to Europe, the Americas and Sri Lanka she blends her love of numerous different genres and that of her flute, creating a soundscape that is truly original. Tamara has performed/recorded with the likes of The Nomad, Departure Lounge, P Bass Expressway, Trillion, Solaa, Electric Wire Hustle and Fiona Pears and avante garde ensemble Silencio.
Chris Burke – Tenor sax/ percussion. While living in Sydney, Australia Chris became involved in what has become one of Australia’s leading avant-garde music festivals – “The Now Now”. In 2003 Chris returned to NZ, lending his talent on the sax to many bands/artists such as Dave Dobbyn, P-Bass Expressway, Departure Lounge, The Oscillators and Tongue N Groove.
Dougal Canard – Bass. An exceptionally talented multi instrumentalist, Dougal has performed in numerous ensembles around New Zealand and spent five years overseas performing on cruise ships throughout the Carribean, the Alaskas, and Europe. He plays piano, trumpet and bass and currently also works as a teacher and arranger in Christchurch.
Douglas Brush – Percussion.  Hailing from Chicago, Doug is an extraordinarily versatile percussionist. He received training in classical percussion at the American Conservatory of Music and Roosevelt University. In addition to a formal music education, he has studied with percussion masters in Cuba, Spain, North India, South India, North Africa, and West Africa among other locales.
Jeremy Thin – Marimba. When composing her new compositions, Tamara envisaged the sweet sounds of a marimba being added to the group. Jeremy with his experience in the Christchurch Symphony and percussion ensemble Pandemonium was the perfect candidate.

Plus special addition to the group:
Roslen Langton – Vocals.  Very much in demand, Roslen sings with LA Mitchell, Mark Vanilau and Sacha Vee. In Mundi’s recent Jazz festival concert, Roslen wowed audiences with her beautiful voice on Smith’s most recent composition “Indlela Enzulu”, written for Roslen and sung in Zulu.