Results for "Sydney"

Amanda Suwondo

Originally from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, pianist Amanda Suwondo started learning keyboard at the age of five. She started learning classical music during high school, doing grades, and playing at church. She then took her career as a musician to the next level in 2010 when she moved to Sydney, Australia and got inspired by Judy Bailey who later became her mentor.

Amanda finished her bachelor degree in Jazz Performance at Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2016, learning under some Australia’s well-known jazz players such as, Judy Bailey, Matt McMahon, Steve Brien, Mike Rivett, Simon Barker, David Theak, Kevin Hunt and Mike Nock.

Amanda has been playing in a lot of different venues around Sydney and New South Wales, such as The Vanguard, Metro Theatre, Foundry 616, Johnston Street Jazz and Mary’s Underground playing her original music with her band

Roy Venkataraman

Jason Bruer

Jason Bruer is much, much more than a jazz saxophonist. He’s a bandleader, star soloist, composer, arranger, esteemed teacher – He’s the professional’s professional.
He brings the chops, knowledge, performance excitement and technique garnered over decades of hard-grinding international experience in every musical context.
He augments it with pure musical passion, perpetual enthusiasm and the exploratory outlook of someone who is totally in love with music, constantly refreshing the beauties of the past with the excitement of the contemporary.
Jason brings it ‘all’ to every gig, every solo and every musical interaction with nothing held back and no holds barred. He brings total commitment and ultimate professionalism to every performance in every genre of music he chooses to play.
As a sixteen year old, Jason Bruer had an opportunity that most other lads his age only dreamed of – he was able to live in London with his family whilst his father was studying there. Music had always been part of his life – he was a massive fan, but here in London he binged on it. Being able to see many of his favourite bands was incredible after living in Adelaide, where concerts by international artists were infrequent. It is here his love for the sax was born – through a friendship developed in London, he was introduced to jazz, most notably John Coltrane and Weather Report. A couple of years later, after returning to Australia, he realised this is what ignited his desire to take up the sax, and at the ripe old age of 18 that’s exactly what he did.
Prior to this, his only exposure with the sax was on some of the Pink Floyd albums, as well as King Crimson and The Rolling Stones – he was a huge fan of these bands. He had never really been exposed to it as a lead instrument until he heard John Coltrane and Weather Report, that exposure basically blew his mind, and brought to life a love affair that has continued for over forty years.
You will find that Jason’s tastes are broadchurch when it comes to music. Obviously being a saxophonist, jazz would be his favourite style of music. But from his youth, he has been inspired by the greats, such as Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis, Little Feat, Eric Clapton and more.
Back in Adelaide, after only playing the sax for 6 months, he was asked to join ‘Prog Jazz Rock’ band Cottage who developed a bit of a cult following due to their unique and adventurous music. In 1982, Jason commenced a Bachelor of Music at Adelaide University. His first quintet, ‘Small Hours’, supported international heavy weights Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard and also Johnny Griffin. Whilst at university, he was asked to join eight-piece band ‘Fat Time’, becoming a very popular band in a very short time indeed. It wasn’t long before they outgrew the Adelaide scene. Jason saw it was time to take a risk and follow his gut. He moved with the band to Sydney in 1984. ‘Fat Time’ went on to become one of Australia’s most popular live acts.
There were a slew of TV appearances, which included – The Ray Martin show, The Mike Walsh show and Hey Hey It’s Saturday; and they also became winners of the national talent show ‘Star Search’ in 1985. Fat Time went on to support the likes of Joe Cocker, Santana, KC and the Sunshine Band, and Joan Armatrading. During this time, Jason also freelanced with some of Australia’s biggest artists including The Models, The Dynamic Hepnotics, Eurogliders, Steve Kilby and Swanee, performing live and featuring on a number of their record albums.
Come 1988, and Jason knew it was time to take another risk, this time moving to London. Slowly, but surely, Bruer established himself in the highly competitive London music scene. In a near twenty year time period, he played as a session musician, working with some of the biggest names in the music business – Eric Clapton, Sting, Mick Hucknell, Mica Paris, BB King, Stevie Winwood, Madness, Paul Weller, All Saints, Bonnie Tyler, Van Morrison, Jools Holland and Lulu to name a few.
He formed acclaimed fusion outfit ‘Pond Life’ and was one of the composers. They went on to record ‘Spanking the Plankton’ in 1995 and toured around Finland and the UK. He co-led Smith & Bruer Band with Roy Ayers’ sideman, Tony Smith. The pair enjoyed success working London’s club scene with their brand of retro jazz funk. They recorded ‘Searching for a Cool Basement’ in 2001.
Jason went on to tour extensively around Britain, Europe and Scandinavia with several bands, making numerous TV appearances on ‘Top of the Pops’, ‘Later with Jools Holland’, Chris Evan’s show ‘Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush’, ‘TFI Friday’ and Richard Littlejohn’s chat show. His talents also spilled over into TV theme tunes and film scores; one notable soundtrack was the film ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’.
He also appeared in ‘The Brand New Alexi Sayle Show’, playing a psycho in a sketch alongside ex Neighbours and The Flying Doctors star Peter O’Brien. Comedy was a new adventure, and he found himself taking up the opportunity of working with some of the great English comedians who were involved in music such as Neil Innes & The Ruttles, Barry Cryer, Steve Coogan, Bill Bailey, Eddie Izzard and was a member of soul funk band ‘Ronnie & The Rex who were fronted by ex ‘Fabulous Poodles’ front man / comedian Ronnie Golden.
In 2006, Jason took another risk, moving his family back to Sydney. This was a step into a completely different scene than the Sydney that he left in 1988. But again, he followed his gut, and moved nonetheless. Within a few weeks of returning to Sydney, he was touring Australia as part of the Good Vibrations Festival with English band ‘The Cuban Brothers’, supporting James Brown. In the same year he was part of the house band for Simon Burke’s chat show ‘Studio A’. He also started lecturing and teaching at AIM (Australian Institute of Music), mentoring and guiding Sydney’s newest generation of musicians. In 2008 he released his debut (Solo) CD, ‘As Above So Below’ on Vorticity Music to critical acclaim.
In 2010, Jason formed sextet Hammerhead, then went on to record their debut album ‘Mozaic’ in 2014. You will have seen them appearing at numerous festivals including Wangaratta Jazz & Blues Festival, Thredbo Jazz Festival, Manly Jazz
Festival, Capitol Jazz Festival, Sydney Con International Jazz Festival, and Marrickville Festival. They have also performed sell out shows in Canberra at Gods Cafe, Street Theatre, and at the ANU as well as at The Wollongong Conservatoire of Music. You will find them playing monthly at one of Sydney’s most popular venues – Lazybones in Marrickville.
In 2019, followers and fans will have seen a change in direction for Hammerhead – hence the name of their new released album – ‘Turning Point’. Not only did their music take a turn, so did the line-up. Jason selected what he sees as the right musical match to give full bloom to his original compositions. Here is where you truly enter the world of Jason Bruer. Here he goes deep, injecting a broader compositional palette and a diversity of styles and disparate influences.
Currently, in addition to managing his own projects (Hammerhead, Soul Roots Revival Band, JB3), Jason teaches privately, and freelances regularly. He features in a number of other bands including ‘Dancing in the Shadows of Motown’, ‘The Aretha Franklin Songbook’, ‘Meme Wars’ and ‘The Locals’.
Over the course of four decades, Jason has experienced many memorable moments and experiences playing music. At the top of the pile would have to be the pleasure of playing at Stings’ 10th Wedding Anniversary, at his house jamming with him, Eric Clapton, Stevie Winwood, Michael Waldon, and The Jools Holland Band (he was a member of his band throughout a lot of the 90s) whilst the likes of Tom Hanks and Dustin Hoffman danced the night away right in from of him. He also played at the G8 conference in 1998 to all the world leaders including Bill Clinton with whom he met afterwards and chatted to. Playing before ‘The Who’ in Hyde Park (London) to more than 120,000 people was also a highlight, but Bruer says playing his own music, with a his own band in front of a great audience however big or small is still what gives him the most pleasure.

Max Petersen

Born in Sydney, Australia in 1994, Max began playing piano at the age of three, learning with the Suzuki method. When the Petersen family moved to Germany in 1998 he began taking regular piano lessons. At the age of 13 Max started playing in his first band with local musicians from Konstanz, Germany. This was when he began to practice more intensively and started composing original music for the group. At the age of 15, Max joined a special high school program in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland through which he started to take piano lessons at the conservatory in Zurich with Chris Wiesendanger. With only 17 years, Max was enrolled at the conservatory in Zurich, studying Jazz. In summer 2013 his high school’s classical orchestra performed Max' composition for orchestra entitled "Fantasie". In 2013/2014 Max studied at Manhattan School of Music in New York at the age of 19, attending the studio of Vijay Iyer, Jim Mcneely, Phil Markowitz and Donny Mccaslin. Max released three Albums as a Bandleader

Steve Arié

Born: August 20, 1964

Sydney based jazz musician Steve Arié is a rare bird on the jazz scene. After more than 25 years as one of the most in demand jazz double bass players, he has reinvented himself as a quirky vocalist and alto saxophonist with more than a nod to the styles of Chet Baker and Paul Desmond. Steve has performed with many Australian greats including Dale Barlow, Bernie McGann, D.I.G., Ten Part Invention, George Washingmachine, Pardon Me Boys, MARA!, Bob Bertles, Erol Buddle, Wanderlust, Martin Plaza and Gyan. He has played at prestigious festivals and events including two performances at Chicago Jazz Festival, Hothouse Jazz Club Chicago, The Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts (USA), Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Ruhrfestspiele Germany, Queenstown Jazz Festival and jazz and music festivals throughout Australia. Steve is self taught and plays saxophone, flute, double bass, electric bass, guittaron (Mexican bass), guitar and piano.

Michael Pignéguy

Born: 12, 1969

Michael Pignéguy is a gifted drummer, composer, band-leader, arranger and producer. He performs & records alongside a variety of other skilled, international musicians & vocalists as either, THE AWAKENINGS ENSEMBLE (World, Arabic, Latin & Jazz) The Michael Pignéguy Sextet (Jazz) The Michael Pignéguy Quartet (Jazz) & other extended orchestral versions of the Jazz formats Where many artists are wary of straying too far from home, both literally and figuratively, Michael Pignéguy (pronounced Pin-ay-gee) has had the pluck to investigate all sorts of music beyond his beloved jazz roots and to base himself in somewhere as improbable and exotic as Doha, Qatar

Rodric White

Born: April 26, 1965

Rodric White was a finalist in the 1999 National Australian Jazz Piano Competition and is a graduate of the Associate Diploma of Jazz Studies Course (NSW Conservatorium of Music) where he majored in Music Arranging and Jazz Piano, and studied Classical Piano with Gerard Willems (Judge of the Sydney International Piano Competition and ABC Recording Artist). For two years, Rodric completed an intensive course of private study with leading Sydney Pianist and Jazz Educator, Bobby Gebert.

Rodric has served as pianist / music director for International singers Nicki Parrott (USA), Patricia Ségui (France), Noria Letts (France), Julia Shved (Ukraine), Juliana Areias (Brazil), Marilane De Mello (Brazil), Magdalena Mira (Chile), Rachel Delgado (Chile) and 2015 finalist in the Thelonious Monk Jazz Vocal Competition (USA) Liam Burrows (Australia), and performed with leading Australian singers Emma Pask, Virna Sanzone, Simone Waddell and Rebekka Neville, and leading Australian jazz musicians Dale Barlow, Ralph Pyl, Phil Slater, Craig Walters, Andrew Robertson, Mark Taylor, Julian Gough, Andy Firth, Graham Jesse, Jason Morphett, Danny Carmichael, Dave Smith, Guy Strazz, John Morrison, Dave Goodman, Andrew Dickeson, Toby Hall, Craig Naughton, Craig Scott, Ashley Turner, Brett Hirst, Jonathan Zwartz, Ashley Turner and Kevin Hailey.

Rodric has three albums to his credit: "As Beautiful As Day" (Newmarket Music 2022), "The Sea Of Tranquility" (Newmarket Music 2006) and "New Jazz Directions" (La Brava Music 1996) and has recorded with saxophonist Dale Barlow on his ABC release, “Playground”, and collaborated with pianist / vocalist Dorian Mode on the arrangements for Dorian’s album, “Café In Venice” (La Brava Music 2002)

Charles Wilkinson

Born: August 7, 1999

Miss French

Born: February 13, 1958

Of European decent, Julie Foai (aka Miss French), was born in New Zealand to a musical family who fortunately decided to quit the rat race and move to Laingholm, a place with beaches, bush and lots of space in the Waitakere ranges. Here she would immerse herself in the magical world of native New Zealand bush, a world of day dreams and adventures. 

Her father, a jazz enthusiast, was not only a player of many instruments including trumpet and double bass, but he built instruments. Performing with the family at 10 years of age and later in Auckland bands, influenced by Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Billy Holiday and Joan Armatrading, she began writing songs from her own unique perspective. 

Frances Madden

A 'rising star of jazz and blues' . . . and described by ABC Jazz’s Mal Stanley as a talented young vocalist and pianist and ‘one to watch’, Frances is one of the classiest young entertainers and songwriters Australia has produced in recent times. Frances’ live shows feature her own original tunes – irresistible swing, beautiful ballads and smokey blues – along with her distinctive take on timeless classics. Frances performs around Australia at leading jazz clubs, festivals and events. Her eight-piece band features some of the country's most talented jazz musicians. Frances has supported leading international artists visiting Australia including the legendary Dionne Warwick and Grammy Award winner Gregory Porter