BAZUKI JOE

A 9 year collaboration project between Jody Lloyd (trillion) and bouzouki player and multi instrumentalist Mike Considine. Most of the album was written and recorded in 1997-98 when the two lived near each other. Distance and other endeavours separated the project and a few more sessions happened in 2000-2001, and again in 2005 to complete a body of work.


Press Release
ON THE MAP by Bazuki Joe.
Take some traditonal Irish music – flute, bodhran, accordion, whistle, guitar, fiddle and bouzouki... and throw it together with hip hop beats, raps, samples and turntable trickery... mix it all up in Christchurch, NZ and you get something new and interesting. Bazuki Joe tell their story best themselves within the cd booklet:

’Micheal Considine and Jody Lloyd met in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1996. The two shared a common interest in music.They began to write and record ideas and Bazuki Joe was born. But as it usually does, time and distance eventually separated them. In 2004 Bazuki Joe and some new mates got together for a few more recording sessions resulting in enough material to put together a comprehensive and eclectic album of pacifican/celtic world music which sounds as fresh today as it did when it was made.’

If you guessed that Mike and Jody come from completely different musical backgrounds, you’d be wrong. They met through Jody’s folk musician father. Mike's London/Irish roots came from parents from Kinvara and Kildimo in the West Coast of Ireland who emigrated in the early 1950s to London. He began playing in and around London, at sessions in pubs, as well as doing gigs with various trad bands. In 1991 he travelled to New Zealand. After joining the already established Celtic group Rua, He formed his own group Claddagh, who went on to win the Folk & Acoustic Music category of the 1992 Tui NZ Music Awards with their album, Continental Drift.

released 11 October 2005

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LISTEN & PURCHASE via bandcamp

CREDITS
Mike Considine - bouzouki, guitar, bass, bodhran, rain stick, vocals & violin
Jody Lloyd - production, beats, samples, percussion & raps
James Wilkinson - bass
Mark Duff - rhodes, synth, percussion & additional production
Barry MacDonald - accordian
Brendyn Montgomery - flute
David Lloyd - bombard & whistle

MUSIC VIDEO made by a fan

REVIEWS
from nz musician mag:
'the traditional element lends a familiar warmth and Lloyd's production and layering keeps things interesting. The bounce of the rhythm track works with the surge of an acoustic guitar jig in Mel's Reel to provide an uplifting pub party feel. This is pentatonic roots music contemporised with computers... The instrumental numbers are particularly fluid but Considine has an engaging and characterful voice and his lilt carries a tune and a story well... On The Map is a successful fusion of styles and an enjoyable and edifying listen.' Jacob Connor

from presto mag:
‘Question: what do you get if you cross traditional irish music with hip hop beats? Answer: Bazuki Joe – One The Map. Bazuki Joe began in 1996 when Mike Considine (claddagh, rua, wylde takafoleys, mountain air) started dabbling in music with Jody Lloyd (dark tower, trillion)... The album starts with the title track ‘on the map’ an instrumental with a slick beat and a strong tune which encompasses the faultless flute playing of Brendyn Montgomery. And from there we are taken on a journey of interesting rhythms, reels and traditional songs that have been given the Bazuki Joe work over; 14 tracks in all. Some traditional purists may find this album a little disrespectful but i feel Mike and Jody have undertaken the project with much respect of the music’s roots. It’s not cheesy or overly produced which shows they are not trying to sell out the music for a quick buck, rather two guys with different things to offer coming together to do what they love. Along with the award winning Brendyn Montgomery the album also features James Wilkinson, Barrie McDonald, David Lloyd and Mark Duff. A great album for summer. Don’t let your friends be the ones to introduce you to this, go find it yourself, well worth checking out! 8/10’ peter mason