Tamara Murphy

Tamara Murphy is an Australian bassist and composer with over 20 years performing experience collaborating with other artists, running her own ensembles, and is continually in demand as a side-person.

She started playing bass at age 14, and studied music improvisation and composition in Melbourne, Australia. She has toured around the world with a diverse range of groups from classical chamber orchestras to jazz, soul, experimental and pop groups.

She has been composing throughout her performing career, writing for many ensembles, including her quintet Murphy’s Law and her new group, Spirograph Studies. She has released 7 albums under her own name and appears on over 30 recordings. In 2019, Spirograph Studies release their debut album, Kindness, Not Courtesy, and will be touring around Australia and New Zealand.

In 2011 she was awarded the inaugural Young Elder of Jazz Commission, for the creation and presentation of a new work: Big Creatures & Little Creatures.

In 2017, Murphy was employed as the musical director and arranger for the International Women’s Day concert ‘UNITY’, produced by the Brunswick Music Festival, featuring Emma Donovan, Parvyn Singh, Emily Wurramurra, Chelsea Wilson and Ajak Kwai, string quartet and band.

Her performance and recording credits include: Caiti Baker, Bernie McGann, Joe Chindamo, Martin Martini, Lanie Lane, Lady Rizo (US), Ben Caplan (CA), Ali McGregor, Christine Anu, Julien Wilson, Sandy Evans, Jazz Party and Harry Angus along with many others. She has performed internationally, in New York, Japan, the UK, Europe and Asia.

Tamara Murphy holds B.Mus and M.Mus degrees, and currently teaches at Monash University and The Victorian College of the Arts. She has also received numerous grants to study overseas and release recordings.

Awards

PBS Young Elder of Jazz Commission Award (2011)

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