Nana & Petal

A friendship spanning twenty-three years, with a common love of music, the groove and love for singing songs round the piano, wrapped up with a passion for beers, ukuleles, cynicism and gigs, has finally evolved into a musical partnership.
Paul, a well-known Taranaki pianist noted for his jazz chops, has worked extensively as a musician and music teacher. He has performed over many years with the NP Ritz Big Band, is a member of Banana Mundo afro punk latino dance band and was a pianist for the Starlights jazz band at The Fitz. He played with On the Corner a long running NP jazz ensemble and has often paired with Ross Halliday and Stewart Maunder to provide grown up jazz for a variety of events. He was the musical director for the NP Operatic Society’s Buddy and Hairspray, all while teaching hundreds of students at his time as Music HoD at Inglewood High and many other schools.
Celine has lurked on the fringes of musical creativity for years, her career kicked off in the UK where she played solo, fronted the Fatboy Blues Band alongside her guitarist brother Dylan, was part of acoustic folk act Something Going On led by songwriter Michael O'Dempsey, whose tunes are still a lynchpin of her set. In the late 90’s she returned to Taranaki and became known for hosting epic parties centred around live music. Celine has invested plenty of energy championing the sport of singing songs and drinking beer in her front room, whilst fiddling about on piano, guitar, bass, ukulele and doing the occasional gig. This ramped up in 2016 when she teamed up with Karen Clark to form Glorybox, the duo delivered strong songs, evocative harmonies, plenty of strings and a bit of a laugh for several years in Taranaki and Kapiti.

Expect originals and obscure covers, delivered with strong vocals from Celine and a masterful groove from Paul.
The Nana & Petal set comprises an eclectic mix, self-penned songs, several by the prolific O’Dempsey, some co-written with brother Dylan, the pair also have a penchant for songs written by other friends and NZ songwriters such as Reb Fountain and Hammond Gamble. They include covers by the Uppity Blues Women, the Devil Makes Three, Mavis Staples and many by Tom Waits, with lesser-known compositions from songwriters such as the Black Pumas, William Elliott Whitmore, and the eclectic bluesman C.W Stoneking, which are all suited to Paul’s piano style. The duo spans blues, folk, and alt country, with Paul pinning down the groove on piano/organ with some blistering solos and a real sensitivity for accompanying a vocalist, showcasing Celine’s arresting vocal style, charisma and storytelling magnetism.