Avant Garage


Kicking off in early 1983, Avant Garage pulled together the talents of Ben Staples (drums), Tim Mahon (bass), Mike Caen (guitar), Pamela Grey (cello), Prasada (flute), Peter Scholes (clarinet), Wayne Laird (percussion, tuba), Mark McEwen (bassoon), and Ivan Zagni on guitar.

Having already formed Big Sideways under a Labour Department scheme to fund unemployed musicians for six months, for the next incarnation of the endeavour, coordinator Zagni wanted to include some classical musicians in the mix.

Back cover of Avant Garage's album Music, produced by Ivan Zagni and engineered by Steve Garden, Mascot Studios, Auckland (Unsung, 1983)
Avant Garage's album Music, produced by Ivan Zagni and engineered by Steve Garden, Mascot Studios, Auckland (Unsung, 1983)
Avant Garage - Chameleon (1983, written by flautist Prasada)
Avant Garage - Funkie cockroach (1983, written by Mark McEwen)
Avant Garage, 1983. From left: Ben Staples, Peter Scholes, Wayne Laird, Ivan Zagni, Tim Mahon, Mike Caen, Mark McEwan, Pam Gray. 
Photo credit: Simon Grigg collection
Avant Garage - Breakin' It Up (1983, written by Tim Mahon)
An Avant Garage programme from 1982
Avant Garage, Music, side two (Unsung, 1983).
Avant Garage - Sparrows (1983, written by Mike Caen)
Avant Garage, Music, side one (Unsung, 1983).
Avant Garage - Reprieve (1983, written by Benny Staples)
Members:

Ivan Zagni - guitar

Benny Staples - drums

Tim Mahon - bass

Mike Caen - guitar

Pamela Grey - cello

Prasada - flute

Peter Scholes - clarinet

Wayne Laird - percussion, tuba

Mark McEwen - bassoon

Labels:

Unsung Music

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