Mundy-Turner: Brief Description - Mundy-Turner's Story - Jay Turner - Catherine Mundy
 

MUNDY-TURNER are Catherine Mundy and Jay Turner, an internationally-touring acoustic, original songwriting duo now based in Derbyshire, UK via Cairns & Brisbane, Australia.

Both performers are impressive vocalists, able to inject melodies with affecting depth and pathos.

Their instrumental work is equally expressive.  Jay is a versatile acoustic guitarist, alternately driving and delicate.  Cath plays lyrical violin and piano in a cross between classical, folk and rock styles.

Together their live performances are characterised by strong original material, intricate harmonies, humorous story-telling, and powerful arrangements.

They are influenced by a melting pot of musical styles - folk, blues, rock, country, classical, gospel, acappella, pop....

MUNDY-TURNER's music is unique and emotionally charged.  Their stage presence has been described as exciting, dynamic and charismatic.
 
 

BRINGING JAY TWELVE-THOUSAND MILES TO MEET...

When UK singer-songwriter JAY TURNER left his native shores for a 4-month solo tour of AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND in January 1995, he never dreamed his life would be so dramatically altered.

Whilst playing at Victoria's PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL in March that year, Jay met Brisbane-based singer-songwriter CATHERINE MUNDY backstage after seeing her perform in acclaimed acappella trio, SISTER MOON ENSEMBLE.

"I was mightily impressed by Sister Moon's show and instantly recognised a common passion and commitment in both our approaches to songwriting and live performance, " recounts Jay.

During lively conversations and late-night vocal jam sessions at the NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL in Canberra a month later, Jay also discovered that Catherine played piano, violin, and shared his love of theatre.  Their friendship and mutual admiration was developing apace.

"Jay's songs stayed with me for long after I heard him in concert at the festival - I found I couldn't stop harmonising to them..." says Cath.
 

FOUNDING OF A NEW MUSICAL ENTITY...

By July 1995 these newly discovered 'soul mates' were together in Brisbane, co-composing and demo-taping songs.  As Sister Moon's work was coming to its agreed end, it seemed a natural step for the pair to form a vocal-instrumental duo.

"We decided that MUNDY-TURNER's repertoire would be completely original.  Our focus was the uniting of two songwriters who come from radically diverse musical and geographical backgrounds.  We liked the 'Zen' idea of the Yin and the Yang, male and female, different yet equal, balancing each other and creating an entity greater than its component parts."

In October 1995 Cath and Jay were offered the fabulous opportunity to take part in an inspirational gospel-singing tour of African-American churches in the Southern States of the USA.  More songwriting took place culminating in Cath & Jay's first official recording together, live at the legendary SUN STUDIO, MEMPHIS.

Catherine then joined Jay in NEW ZEALAND for his final tour as a solo artist, adding her distinctive harmonies and violin-playing to his songs, plus "previewing" some of their new co-penned material with great success.  MUNDY-TURNER was gradually taking shape.
 

WEDDING, WOODFORD, TOURING & THE FAR NORTH...

Back in Australia in December 1995, Jay and Catherine were married in Woodford, north of Brisbane, on the opening night of WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL.  This, the country's largest folk festival, was their first official booking as MUNDY-TURNER!  During the festival they released the Sun Studio recordings as EP CD "THE SUN SESSIONS" and performed for the first time with Cath on piano.

For the next six months, the duo toured extensively to festivals and clubs in Australia and New Zealand, until settling in CAIRNS, Far North Queensland. There the duo entered into a period of creative development, both in songwriting and as performers.

"Living in Cairns for 20 months was wonderful for us.  The intense tropical atmosphere and the demanding nature of the local gigs (4 x 45 minute sets a night) honed the dynamics of our live shows and really cemented our identity as an act."

Indulging their love for theatre, the pair became immediately involved with local professional theatre company JUST US THEATRE ENSEMBLE (JUTE), co-composing and playing live scores for SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK 1996.

During 1997 they were core actors/performers in the JUTE troupe, devising and performing several street theatre shows.   Lead roles followed, in Kathryn Ash's new comedy DIGGING IN and an adaptation of Shakespeare's OTHELLO called LUST & LOATHING, Jay playing 'Othello' to Catherine's 'Desdemona'.

In January 1997, MUNDY-TURNER were invited to support multi-platinum Irish pop band THE CORRS throughout the Queensland leg of their Australian tour to critical and audience plaudits.  Later that year, Cath & Jay were selected to be showcased at the APRA "COMPOSER EXPOSER"  in Brisbane and again at the PACIFIC CIRCLE MUSIC CONVENTION in Sydney.
 

FULL LENGTH ALBUM, EUROPE, SUNNIE AWARD...

The duo's debut award winning album, HIGH LIFE, was launched in late March 1998 to a sell-out audience at Cairns' RONDO THEATRE, two days prior to their first EUROPEAN TOUR as a duo.

The six month tour of clubs and festivals in the UK and ITALY was a great sucess, resulting in JACEY BEDFORD TOUR PROMOTIONS taking on MUNDY-TURNER's future UK Tour bookings.

Since then, Jay and Catherine have performed extensively in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom playing at FESTIVALS, FOLK CLUBS, and ACOUSTIC MUSIC venues to ever-growing acclaim.

HIGH LIFE was honoured in August 1999 by the QUEENSLAND RECORDING ASSOCIATION "SUNNIE AWARDS" as the BEST FOLK/ETHNIC ALBUM 1998-1999.

MUNDY-TURNER are now based in Brisbane from whence they travel the world, writing new songs and enthralling audiences wherever they go.
 

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Singer - Songwriter - Guitarist

POP HITS, THE BLUES, FOLK CLUBS...

Jay's keen interest in music began during his childhood, when he listened intently to the pop music of the time.  By ear, he could identify and sing all the different parts in the arrangements - the bass guitar line, the harmonies, the lead vocals...

At 17, he bought an acoustic guitar, and began to teach himself to play, mainly as an accompaniment to singing his favourite songs.  He would record the results in his bedroom, multi-tracking on a domestic tape-machine.  For this purpose he built a primitive sound-proof 'studio' out of chairs and army blankets!

Through a school friend, he discovered 'The Blues' in the shape of JOHN MAYALL and  PETER GREEN, who could be found playing at a seedy pub in Leigh-on-Sea from time to time.  Young Jay spent many illicit evenings in those sweaty back-rooms, being blown away by the power & rhythm of black music.

There were no local musicians or bands with whom he had any affinity, but Jay found he could perform solo at FOLK CLUBS.  His writing in both poetry and song form & his presentation skills developed in those intimate venues.
 

LONDON AND NEW ROMANTICISM

Success in the local Essex Folk Clubs spurred Jay to move to London at the age of 20 where he played, sang and developed his trade in such famous folk-acoustic venues as BUNJIES and the TROUBADOUR.  Working as a solo artist and in various duo & band line-ups, Jay discovered success in varying degrees.

After the demise of one of his bands, Jay was left owning a huge Mercedes truck & a full-blown 2.5k P.A. system, which he would hire, along with his sound-engineering skills, to many of the early eighties synthesizer-pop bands, including Marc Almond's 'Soft Cell' & hit-makers 'Roman Holiday' & 'The Joboxers'.

This led him into an exploration of computer-based electronic music & he moved into rock-theatre solo shows.  One incarnation of this phase was dubbed 'JAY LAZER & THE PHANTOM ORCHESTRA', featuring Jay singing & playing synthesiser to original sound-tracks, backed by spectacular lighting, audio-visuals & pyrotechnics!
 

THE WILDS OF HEREFORDSHIRE, A RETURN TO ROOTS...

Having made the move from London to Herefordshire, Jay wrote, recorded, produced, musically directed and acted in his rock'n'roll musical, BILLY BUCKETT, in 1988.  Using an Atari computer, as well as real instruments, he played & sequenced the entire rock-band backing track.  The show ran for two successful seasons (back by public demand) at the NEW HEREFORD THEATRE.

Following BILLY BUCKETT, in revolt against any computer-driven forms of music, Jay returned to his roots - one man, his songs and an acoustic guitar.

In 1989, having never played at a festival before, Jay put his name down for the Club Tent at CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL.  His stirring performances caught the imagination of the crowd & festival director, Ken Woollard.  Within twelve months, Jay was back, playing MAINSTAGE ONE, a feat apparently only equalled there by one other solo artist - Paul Simon!
 

SUCCESS AS A SOLO ARTIST...

Jay subsequently toured as a solo singer-songwriter, playing the mainstages of folk festivals and clubs all over the UK, and parts of Europe & Canada.  Between 1989 and 1994, he released four full-length albums on his own label, Gypsy Records, featuring all-original material. PASSION ROULETTE, MOVEMENTS IN ARCHITECTURE, ATMAVICTU (Breath of Life), & SKETCHBOOK all received critical acclaim.
 

He supported legendary UK Folk-Rock outfit FAIRPORT CONVENTION on their Winter Tour 1991, winning many new fans.  After playing at Fairport's annual reunion festival that summer, Jay was invited to submit a song (THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING) for inclusion in the internationally-licensed Hokey-Pokey compilation album, ALL THROUGH THE YEAR.  The song garnered excellent reviews.

His professional stature and reputation grew steadily, culminating in bookings at fifteen UK Festivals in 1993, and twenty-two in 1994!  Interspersed with these were regular airplay & live performances on local & national UK radio and an appearance on BBC TV's PEBBLE MILL.

Throughout those years, Jay's commitment to political songwriting was accompanied by his support of AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL.  This came in the guise of yearly "FOLK FOR FREEDOM" fundraising concerts in conjunction with the Southampton Amnesty Group & his inspirational hitch-hike tour from John O'Groats to Lands End in 5 days, performing a concert for Amnesty every night.

1995 brought the solo-tour to AUSTRALIA, organised by Oz singer and 'Jay-fan' Jenny Simpson...see MUNDY-TURNER'S STORY
 

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Singer - Composer - Violinist - Pianist

A CHILD BITTEN BY THE PERFORMING BUG...
 

Catherine was born in Brisbane, Australia.  Smitten by the smell of the proverbial 'grease paint', she made her on-stage debut at age 7, singing and tap dancing the BOOGIE-WOOGIE BUGLE BOY at Brisbane's RIALTO THEATRE.  From then on, she continued her study of the arts, regularly performing as a dancer, singer, actor and classically trained musician.

She took an early interest in composing music, winning first prize in the under-12 Composition Section for her violin and cello duet 'The Brisbane Miniature', at the local Eisteddfod.

As a young teen, she formed and directed the R & M JUNIOR PRODUCTIONS COMPANY, her own singing-dancing-theatrical group, which performed original plays and musicals every school holidays.  The group won a spot singing 'Calendar Girl' on a TV Talent Quest!

Throughout her secondary studies at BRISBANE STATE HIGH SCHOOL (1985-1989), Catherine continued her intense involvement in the arts.  She performed in string quartets, chamber orchestras, symphony orchestras, musicals, dance and drama productions, whilst studying Music & Theatre to Senior level and taking private AMEB exams in Music Theory and Violin.

On EXPO '88's high-profile River Stage, Catherine performed in a new musical "SYNTH THE ELECTRIC MUSE" and in the prestigious Queensland ROCK & ROLL EISTEDDFOD as the winning entry for that year.  In 1989 she played the lead role of 'Doreen' in her school's production of Australian musical "THE SENTIMENTAL BLOKE".
 

TERTIARY DRAMATICS...

Upon graduating from High School as Dux in English and with many awards for her services to Performing Arts, Catherine was accepted to study a BACHELOR OF ARTS (DRAMA) with a minor in music (1990-1992), at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).

There, she composed and directed several music scores for theatre, including plays by BRECHT, SHERIDAN & SHAKESPEARE.

As an actor, singer and dancer she appeared in many productions, among them, TOADSHOW's epic rock-comedy musicals, 'SHERWOODSTOCK' (1990) and 'PHANTOAD OF THE OPERA' (1991) staged at the Queensland Performing Arts Complex's LYRIC THEATRE.
 

WHEN THE FEMMES GO MARCHING IN...

In 1991, Catherine co-founded SISTER MOON ENSEMBLE, a female acappella group, with fellow drama students.  As a trio, with JULIE ROBSON and LISA SMITH, they became professional in 1993, rising quickly to become one of Australia's most popular and successful acappella groups.

Featuring Cath's wacky and innovative arrangements of pop covers and hard-hitting originals, Sister Moon won BEST OVERALL GROUP at the SYDNEY ACAPPELLA CHAMPIONSHIPS (1993). The group was a headline act at many major music, folk and acappella festivals in Australia.  It also toured the 'Outback' for the Queensland Arts Council to concert venues and Secondary Schools.

Sister Moon's debut EP-CD, NEW COUNTRY, brought wide-spread critical acclaim and extensive national radio airplay.  Their enigmatic and energetic live performances received standing ovations during their Keynote Address/Performance at the 1995 WORLD DRAMA AND THEATRE IN EDUCATION CONGRESS in Brisbane and at the U.S. WEST COAST ACAPPELLA SUMMIT in San Francisco, 1995.
 

PROFESSIONAL COMPOSER & THE NEW DUO...

1994 saw Catherine commissioned by the Queensland Performing Arts Trust in conjuction with QUT's Academy of the Arts, to compose and musically direct the songs for their production of THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS.  The comic "commedia-dell'arte-meets-the-60's'' musical score won her positive reviews.

Whilst touring Australia's major folk festivals in 1995, Catherine met UK singer-songwriter-guitarist JAY TURNER.  Together they formed the original acoustic music duo MUNDY-TURNER.

Her creative partnership with Jay has led her to further explore and develop her skills as an instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, performer and recording artist.  MUNDY-TURNER has taken Cath on many exciting journeys as an internationally touring concert artist.  (For further details, see MUNDY-TURNER'S STORY. )

In June 1999, Catherine was employed by Brisbane's cutting edge professional theatre company LA BOITE, to compose a recorded score to accompany the World Premiere of Jill Shearer's new play GEORGIA.  The play, starring Jennifer Flowers, explored the inspiring later-life of legendary twentieth century painter, Georgia O'Keeffe.

Working with Jay as engineer and guitarist/percussionist, they produced an intricate sound-design described as "hauntingly apt" by La Boite's Artistic Director, Sue Rider.  The Australian newspaper praised the production and stated that "Catherine Mundy's original music is marvellous in its allusive skill."
 

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