gypsy jazz – fiffdimension

Phantasticus is a 5 piece high-energy gypsy-flavours ensemble hailing from Wellington, the Gypsy-Balkan capital of New Zealand.

The lineup combines the fearless fiddling skills of Ana Christie and Alex Hills, matched by the awesome forces of Michael Kingston* and Rick Shaw on guitar, all wrapped up in the powerful bass boutique of Jacqui Nyman.

With an album of delicious original tunes under their belt, Phantasticus are taking the world by storm. These musicians are so well-seasoned they will leave you asking for ‘Kiwi-hot please’.

*Mike Kingston is a key member of The Winter. He plays guitar or cello on several fiffdimension tracks

is a Wellington NZ multi-instrumentalist, composer and improviser.

From 2003-2015 he was a key member of The Winter.

He also contributed to two other fiffdimension albums from this period: Loose Autumn Moans (2003) and After Maths & Sciences (2005).

This page is a look back at that chapter of Mike’s musical story.

The Winter

An improvised music trio, with Dave Edwards and Simon Sweetman,.which began in Wellington on winter solstice day, June 2003. Their first album was Parataxes (2003).

Mike’s contribution included cello and electronic composition, electric guitar, acoustic guitar and slide whistle. The album builds from intimate acoustic pieces towards the electric climax of “Parataxes 9”.

Mike also played cello on

Loose Autumn Moans (2003),

Acoustic songs with a string section, made using all-analogue equipment. Dave Edwards was joined by Sam Prebble, Mike Kingston and Simon Sweetman. It includes live recordings at BATS Theatre and Photospace Gallery.

Mike next played electric guitar in the 2003-2004 lineups of

Ascension Band

(in his San Shimla alias),

After Maths & Sciences (2005)

In 2005, Mike and Dave both relocated across the Tasman.

After Maths & Sciences is an Australian double album recorded in Melbourne, Sydney and Gosford in 2005–06. Mike played acoustic guitar on the Melbourne half.

It’s a very different record from Loose Autumn Moans or Parataxes. It’s more like a musical travel diary — part field recording, part improvised music, part electronic experiment and part documentary.

There’s also a nice thread connecting the records: a different version of “O Henry Ending” was recorded in Melbourne, with Mike on acoustic guitar and Francesca Mountfort on cello.

The Winter continued

on-and-off over the next twelve years. For highlights from their later recordings, see the

Shortest Days 2003–2015 compilation.

Those projects are part of his wider story, but the recordings above are Mike’s contribution to the fiffdimension catalogue to date. Some of Mike’s

Other projects

Mike Kingston is a multi-instrumentalist front-man and composer in bands such as Cumbia Blazera, ‘Bella Cajon‘ , ‘The Wagtails‘, and Phantasticus. He continues to perform regularly throughout Wellington and New Zealand.