Jacam Manricks

Jacam Manricks is fast establishing himself as one of the most qualified artist/musicians in the world today. He tours internationally as a featured soloist, composer/arranger and clinician throughout Europe, North America and Australia. Mr Manricks has received a number of prestigious awards and scholarships for artistic excellence and has performed with some of the most recognized artists of our time, including Ray Charles, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts, David Liebman, Micheal Abene, Dick Oatts, James Morrison, Mike Nock, Jerry Lewis and the Queensland Symphony to name a few.

Mr Manricks has been a featured soloist at internationally renowned venues, such as Jazz at Lincoln Center (New York), the Jazz Standard (New York), the Jazz Gallery (New York), the A-Train (Berlin), the Gasteig Philharmonie (Munich), the Seymour Center (Sydney) & Bennet's Lane (Melbourne).

As a composer, In June 2008 Mr Manricks recorded his second album of original works. The album consists of pieces for Jazz quintet and chamber orchestra featuring some of the leading Jazz soloists in New York along with himself on saxophones and woodwinds. In October 2007 Mr Manricks premiered a series of compositions for Symphony Orchestra and Big Band in New York. The works featured Mr Manricks as alto saxophone soloist and composer and were presented as part of the Manhattan School of Music’s 90th Anniversary Celebration Concert. Mr Manricks was also featured as soloist and composer for the Queensland Conservatorium of Music’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert in September 2007.

As an ensemble leader, Mr. Manricks has presented his music at Jazz festivals and concert venues around the world such as the Wangaratta International Jazz Festival, the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Center and numerous Jazz venues in New York and North America. Mr Manricks was recently awarded the 2008 Contemporary Music Touring Program grant to tour the east coast of Australia with his Jazz quartet.

As an educator, Mr. Manricks recently completed his first text ‘Principles of Music Theory’, which was written, in part, while teaching Jazz Theory for the Manhattan School of Music. Mr. Manricks has given master-classes and lectures on Improvisation, Jazz saxophone, Jazz composition and arranging at some of the leading music institutes in the world. They include the Manhattan School of Music, the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the Victorian College of the Arts, the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and the Music Institute. Mr Manricks currently teaches Jazz saxophone and improvisation for the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York. Further pedagogical experience includes playing a major role in the initiation of, and directing, the instrumental music program for the Computer School, a middle school on the Upper West-Side of Manhattan.

Mr. Manricks has a Doctor in Musical Arts Degree (DMA) from the Manhattan School of Music, a Masters Degree in Jazz Composition and Arranging and a Bachelor Degree in Music Performance.

Awards

Contemporary Music Touring Program Award 2008
Martin Bequest Arts Fellowship 2005
Dean's List the Manhattan SChool of Music 2004/05 Scholarship for a doctorate in musical arts program at the Manhattan school of music
Graduate Fellowship from the William Paterson University to study the pedagogical techniques of legendary saxophone teacher Joseph Allard, (2002)
Lord Mayor's Performing Arts Scholarship 2000
Scholarship for a masters' degree in jazz composition at the William Paterson University, New Jersey, USA, (2002)