Assembly of musical genres

From gypsy to jazz, classical to funk, reggae to folk and world music, The Beyondsemble promises to play something for everyone.

Craig Denham (accordion, keyboards, whistle and vocals), Jess Hindin (violin, vocals), Mark Mazengarb (guitars, vocals) and Chris Koole (percussion, ukulele and vocals) play at Le Cafe in Picton next Wednesday.

Describing themselves as a "genre-transcending collaboration", the group's live gigs include compositions, tunes and songs that are both original and sourced from around the world. An improvisational edge allows The Beyondsemble to create brand new music influenced by the performance venue and the people around them. Audience members, then, join in the composition process.

Formed in July 2009, The Beyondsemble members bring a range of styles to the group.

Denham, who has played with the Mamaku Project, Ardijah, Club Manouche and others, started playing professionally with his father, a Kerikeri jazz saxophone and clarinet player, when he was 12.

Denham opened the Auckland Festival with the Mamaku Project for a 200,000-strong audience and has played at Womad twice.

Hindin, formerly of The Exiles, Tim Beverage and Boh Runga, has a performance degree in the violin. Travelling to Ireland, she performed with a traditional Irish stage show in Galway and is now a member of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and works as a full-time, freelance musician recording for jazz, country, and Celtic artists.

Mazengarb is an Auckland-based professional musician and guitarist with a bachelor of music from the Wellington Conservatorium of Music. After time playing music and attending workshops in the United States, he performs in Auckland with several bands and as a soloist, recently releasing a debut album, Acoustic Affair.

Koole grew up in a musical family and has dabbled in styles ranging from hardcore punk to classical. He created an original cajon (box drum) to reproduce the sounds of a drum kit without having to cart one around.

Check out the sounds of The Beyondsemble at Le Cafe, Picton, on Wednesday, November 18: $10 door charge.

- The Marlborough Express

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