JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2025: THREE Darren Pickering-Small Worlds

Darren Pickering-Small Worlds

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

steve@rattle.co.nz

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2025

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2025: Yuto Mitomi (Japan)- Album: Epicycle

Yuto Mitomi- Epicycle

About Epicycle

Yuto Mitomi, a Japanese jazz saxophonist and composer based in New York, collaborated with multi-genre artists to create an album that was assembled organically, featuring elements of free improvisation, yet structured with a geometric vision, titled ‘Epicycle’.

From his debut album titled “Continuation,” his musical journey evolved into a genre-less and more complex contemporary music, incorporating elements of both acoustic and electric sounds. The album released this time is a collaboration with world-renowned artists based in NYC, including Takahiro Izumikawa (Piano, Keyboards), Moto Fukushima (six-string electric-bass), and Keita Ogawa (drums, percussions).

The title “Epicycle” refers to a geometric model used to explain the variations in speed and direction of the apparent motion of the Moon, Sun, and planets. The album title was derived from the layers in which various musical backgrounds, rhythms, and harmonies organically overlap and develop, resembling some kind of design.

The album contains five original compositions by Yuto Mitomi and three free improvisations, including Track 1 “Morning Haze”, Track 5 “Grappling Cats”, and Track 6 “Moony Night” which were completely improvised and recorded in the studio. The title track of the album, “Epicycle,” is divided into two parts, with Part I characterized by spatial flow, and Part II dramatically featuring a crossover of multiple different tempos. “Spline” is also a mathematical word referring to a type of curve used to create smooth and continuous curves, which align with the naturally and flexibly of music directions. Following Morning Haze,“Dew “ a melodically odd meter (4/7) tune that focuses more on the compositional side of ensemble arrangement. The album concludes with “Same Sky Same Night” a ballad combined with rock feel and classical chorale harmony.

Yuto Mitomi – Tenor Saxophone, (https://yutomitomi.com/)
Takahiro Izumikawa – Piano (https://www.takahiroizumikawa.com/)
Moto Fukushima – Six String Electric Bass (https://www.motobass.com/)
Keita Ogawa – Drums (https://keitaogawa.com/)

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2025