Tamar

Tamar is one of the few solo female vocal artists from New Zealand who travels around the world to learn from other cultures and to share her music on an international level. Her music has led her on an extra-ordinary journey from the pacific islands of Polynesia to Australia, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, England, Scotland, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Israel and the USA.

During eight years in Europe, Tamar has trained and sung with highly acclaimed international artists, teachers, schools, theatre companies and festivals including: Lisa Sokolov and the Stimmen Festival in Germany; Peter K Elkus and L`Association Art Musique Européenne in the south of France and Ida Kelarova and the International School for Human Voice in Czech Republic.

In all these intensive experiences, Tamar has invested herself greatly and has gone well off the beaten track to learn about the freedom and expression of the human voice. “Hypnotic” is the word most frequently used to describe the voice of Tamar. As a vocalist and musician, Tamar has been reviewed as “strong and flexible… romantic and effectively mysterious” by Graham Reid from Elsewhere – an international website for Music, Travel & Arts, who placed Tamar among “the young lions of jazz”.

Tamar’s international debut solo album The Heart Notes is “an impressive and ambitious debut” which she composed, arranged, performed and co-produced for CD & Double Vinyl. The album was recorded and mixed at Sono Records in Prague, Czech Republic and Blind Records in Barcelona, Spain and mastered for CD on the grounds of Real World Studios in Box and for Double Vinyl with Mike Marsh at The Exchange in London, England and has received wide airplay on national radio stations in New Zealand, Spain, Australia and Italy.

Tamar’s music reflects the profound experiences from her life and travels. She tells her story in a very human and personal way, leading her audience on a journey through geographical, emotional and spiritual landscapes. Tamar’s collection of songs is wide ranging and far reaching, rich with different sounds, styles and languages. With the blood of her Maori and Polynesian ancestors in her veins, on stage Tamar performs her music with dynamic power and deep feminine sensitivity and sensuality.

Tamar has performed with her quartet (Gilles Estoppey – pianist from Switzerland; Tom Warburton – double bass player from the USA and JC. Pluma Santillán – Drummer and percussionist from Argentina) at the 44th Voll-Damm International Jazz Festival of Barcelona 2012 and the Festival Asia (Casa Asia) of Barcelona 2013.

In the last months she has played and sung at El Teatro Mas Pequeño del Mundo (The Smallest Theatre in The World), Palau Dalmases - Espai Barroc and the Barcelona Pipa Club, presenting her solo show (vocals and piano) "Wahine", with new songs inspired by her Maori roots. She has also played in the famous "Blanc" lounge of the Hotel Mandarin Oriental of Barcelona. Tamar also makes regular appearances at the "What The Fuck" jam session in the Jamboree Jazz Club of Barcelona.