The Chasm Where We Fall Into Each Other by Pōneke-based saxophonist and composer Louisa Williamson explores the concept of division, particularly the divides that exist within society and our natural world. The 2024 Wellington Jazz Festival commissioned this new work, which Louisa and her band performed at San Fran, Wellington.
Louisa Williamson Photo: Supplied
In composing The Chasm Where We Fall Into Each Other, Louisa was inspired by the ancient Patuna Chasm in the Wairarapa – a faultline that contains an underground river. She also drew on more contemporary images of division like cracks in the pavement and broken hearts.
She wrote the music especially for the musicians in this performance. In the spirit of what Louisa describes as “radical authenticity”, she allows room for all the musicians to bring their own unique voices to the music. Her band is drawn from across the Wellington music scene: vocalists Maarire Brunning-Kouka and LJ Crichton, violinist Hayden Nickel, the rhythm section of Leonardo Coghini, Ensai August, Cory Champion, and Johnny Lawrence, and Louisa herself playing saxophone and flute. Expect to hear jazz, hip hop, soul, and even classical music in the mix.
The Chasm Where We Fall Into Each Other is in five sections: Cracks in the Sky, Here With You, Space in Between, Echo Chamber, and Pull Me Up.
Recorded by RNZ Concert
Producer: Darryl Stack
Engineers: Steve Burridge and William Saunders
Recorded at San Fran, Wellington on 17 October 2024
