THREE
Darren Pickering Small Worlds
Release Date: 30 April, 2025
Available from the RATTLE WEBSITE as a Print-on-Demand CD or Digital Download and on all major download and streaming platforms
Following their critically acclaimed Volume One (2022) and Volume Two (2023), Darren Pickering Small Worlds continue their through-composed improvisational explorations into the melding of jazz and song-based structures incorporating the “cinematic sonics” of modular synthesisers. Their music features lyrical melodies over shifting textures grounded in solid modern jazz harmony.
RATTLE
An Auckland-based artist-focused art music label specialising in contemporary works by composers and performers who explore unique creative pathways—new music for open ears.
THREE (RAT-J-1059)
01 Green Blinking Light (3.11)
02 What If (6.26)
03 Tauhou Waltz (7.03)
04 Soft Life (3.04)
05 Hjartdal (2.36)
06 Randall (7.58)
07 Taylor Time (8.34)
08 Folly (8.28)
09 Push Bliss (1.42)
All compositions by Darren Pickering © 2025
DARREN PICKERING
Darren is a jazz pianist, composer, educator, modular synthesist and session musician based in Christchurch (NZ). Some of the notable international artists he has worked with include Gordon Brisker (USA), Dick De Graf (Holland), William Parker (USA), Raed Yassin (Lebanon), Bobby Shew (USA), Jamie Oehlers (AUS), Tom Warrington (USA), Iain Ballamy (UK), and he has also worked with nationally renowned NZ artists Julia Deans, LA Mitchell, Mark Vanilau, Whirimako Black, Dave Dobbyn, Anika Moa, and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. His playing and compositions also feature on albums by Shapeshifter (Stars), Cairo Knife Fight (Iron), Julia Deans (Modern Fables), Oakley Grenell (The Deep), The Tiny Lies (The Oaks They Will Blow), Pacific Heights (The Stillness), Departure Lounge (In Session), Sacha Vee (Sacha Vee, Rising One, Luminous), Glen Wagstaff (Firefly), Oval Office (Oval Office, Move, Don’t Stop), Sumo Jazz (Shiko and Throwing Salt, Jazz Album finalist, 2011).
DARREN PICKERING SMALL WORLDS
L to R, Darren Pickering (piano), Jono Blackie (drums), Pete Fleming (bass), Heather Webb (guitar)
This Ōtautahi (Christchurch, NZ) based jazz quartet performs works composed by pianist Darren Pickering as well as re-imagined versions of selected works from other genres. The group’s emphasis is mostly on through-composed material combined with improvisation, and the artistic direction is determined equally by all members. There is a cinematic flavour to the ensemble’s sound, enhanced by the electronic textures of Darren’s ever-expanding collection of modular systems, synths, selected iPad apps and sonic manipulation devices.
Influences include Aaron Parks, Brian Blade and The Fellowship Band, The Cinematic Orchestra, EST, Floating Points, Jacob Karlzon, Kendrick Scott Oracle, Romain Collin, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Slowly Rolling Camera, and many others.
Produced by Darren Pickering Small Worlds
Recorded at Rapaki Studios, Christchurch (NZ)
Engineered and mixed by Alex Harmer
Mastered by Steve Garden
Cover art ‘Sign of Life’ by Harry Harrison
Design by Unklefranc
Printing by Studio Q
This music was composed, performed, recorded, and produced in Aotearoa (NZ)
LINKS
ARTIST Website:
https://www.darrenpickeringmusic.com
RATTLE Website – album profile page:
https://rattle.co.nz/catalogue/releases/three
RATTLE Media Portal – album assets for reviewers and broadcasters: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xg3ifgs0bjx6a45_gfmWh4ztQq44FtTW?usp=sharing
RATTLE Bandcamp: https://darrenpickeringsmallworlds.bandcamp.com/album/three
RATTLE Media Portal – the complete Rattle catalogue:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10fp1w4uuR6ulC1AnVdGxH0cS1vomZHPQ?usp=sharing
CONTACT
Label manager | Steve Garden
1 Kitchener Road Sandringham, Auckland 1025 (NZ)
p: +649-8466642 | m: +6422-6579351
