In 1993 Don formed the first incarnation of Tané mainly as a
vehicle to perform his original compositions.
The band performed in numerous venues in Northern New South Wales.
After numerous changes in personnel Tané, the band now consisted
of Don Ruttan, Roy Geiger, Phil Ashworth, Damini, Liz Ridley and Angela
Orvis.
Tané were invited to the National Folk Festival in 1996 where they
performed with distinction a series of concerts.
It was shortly after the highs of releasing the band’s debut album The
Havens that their lead singer Damini was killed in a light plane accident outside of Byron Bay.
Tané performed only a few more gigs before
deciding to take a break to regroup later with a new line-up which included
Jo Savins on
lead vocals, synth and whistle as well as Peter Lane on Bass guitar.
This lineup performed locally as well as recording for the N.C.E.I.A
Dolphin Awards where they were a finalist in the Folk category. They
were very well received in their series of three concerts at the last
Lismore Folk Festival.
This lineup of Tané continued for a year
until Jo Savins left to get married and relocated to Sydney. Again Don
felt the need to take
some time off to work on other projects.
In 2003 Don contacted Roy and Phil to begin the
process of reforming the band as a trio. . Tané then rehearsed weekly for three months working
on old material as well as Don’s new compositions before being
joined by vocalist Christine Lee. Kate Gittens joined in early 2004 and the present
lineup was complete.
Tané will be releasing a new CD later in the year which was recorded at the SAE studio's in Byron Bay, Laneway Studio's in Lismore and Indigo House Studio's in Ocean Shores.
Don
Ruttan Flute, high and low whistle, acoustic guitar,
vocals and synth Is a graduate of the N.R.C.A.E and the University of
New England Northern
Rivers where he obtained an Associate Diploma in Art ( Music ), a B.A in Music majoring in Flute as well as
a Graduate Diploma in Education. In 1994 he became a Writer Full Member of the Australian Performing Rights Association. In March 2005 He was awarded an Associate Diploma in Classical Flute from the Australian and New Zealand Cultural Arts Ltd. During May 2006 He obtained a Graduate
Certificate in Music Technology from the University of Newcastle.
From 1986 to 1999 Don has worked as a flute tutor and music lecturer
for the Northern Rivers Conservatorium. He was offered a position in 2000 teaching flute and clarinet for the Clarence
Valley Conservatorium in Grafton. From 2000 to 2006 as well as teaching for the Conservatorium, Don was contracted to seven schools from Grafton to Tweed Heads as a woodwind teacher in the school's band program. In late 2006 he accepted a postion with the NSW Education Department as a music teacher with Forbes High School in NSW.
He was a member of the contemporary folk band Dreamtime , a contemporary Folk Band who very popular in the Rainbow Region of New South Wales. For a
six year period he also performed and recorded a number of CD's with the South African musician ‘Tarshito in their duo Fleeting Forest.
In late 1992 he was asked
to join the English/Australian contemporary folk band Kangaroo Moon performing at festivals and
venues up the East Coast of Australia. After performing at the Maleny
Folk festival, Kangaroo Moon were invited to the National Folk Festival
in Canberra where they recorded a live album as well as being included
in a video documentary of the festival highlights shown overseas on
television in the U.K.
He has been nominated three times for his compositons with Tané for
a North Coast Entertainment Industry Award, winning in 1994 and
1996 for the best song in the folk category with the songs Elves Dance and Goddess
Christine Lee Lead Vocals, recorder and whistle
Performed in various ensembles before joining the Voices of Gaia vocal
choir recording a CD as well as winning a North Coast Entertainment
Industry Award. In demand as a session singer around Byron Bay she
has started to record some of her own compositions with Tarshito at
his Montecollum studio.
Kate Gittins Clarinet, soprano sax, keyboards
Graduated from Nottingham Trent University,
England with a degree in Creative Arts. She studied Clarinet, Saxophone
and Percussion at the Conservatoire de Tarbes in France. She has worked
with the Mass Producers 20 piece Saxophone Ensemble, COMA contemporary
music orchestra, Box Clever, Staysis and Sinequanon Music Theatre Companies,
touring in Britain, France and Italy. She has worked extensively in
Arts Education and is currently teaching and recording in Australia.
With 'Sweet Pea and the Gob Productions' she has produced 'Kraka the
Kold' a childrens CD.
Philip Ashworth Drums and percussion
Began playing drums at 9 years of age and
from the age of 16 was involved in numerous musical ensembles on the
NSW Central coast. In the 70’s
and 80’s was busy playing and recording both in covers bands
as well as bands playing originals. In the early 1994 attended the
North Coast Contemporary Music course in Lismore, the same year asked
to join Tané. In 1995 performed as a regular drummer in the
Wild Zinnias, a popular Irish folk band in the Cape Byron area.
In 2003 won the North Coast Entertainment Industry award for best song
in a soundtrack category.
Presently recording with Tané at the S.A.E College in Byron
Bay.
Roy Geiger Acoustic and Electric Guitars
He began playing guitar in 1964 having being
inspired by the Beatles and being influenced by the 60’s folk
scene in Greenwich Village and has been playing with a variety of Rock,
Country, Folk and Jazz
bands ever since. Arrived in Sydney from the American State of New
Jersey in 1973, before relocating to The New South Wales North Coast
in 1974.
He joined Tané in 1994 having found an expression for all the
dynamic aspects of playing in one band.
