Jazz NOW! is a not-for-profit, educational initiative of JAZZWA and receives key project funding from the Australia Council and the Department for Cultre and the Arts.
JazzNOW! assists students and schools involved in jazz education through an annual program Jazz Camp which endeavours to provide young people the opportunity to learn more about jazz from our best jazz musicians and educators.
MEET THE JAZZNOW TUTORS:
This years camp features the following tutors:
Trombone – Jordan Murray
Currently residing in Melbourne, Jordan Murray is one of Perth’s most successful instrumentalists. He has performed with renowned international and Australian artists including Aretha Franklin, Billy Harper, Renee Geyer, Tommy Emmanuel, Ross Wilson, Christine Anu and James Morrison. Currently in John Farnham’s band he is one of the most sought after trombonists in Australia and we’re bringing him back to Perth just for this years camp!
Saxophone - Troy Roberts
Award winning saxophonist and composer Troy Roberts is currently based in the USA. He has toured extensively with James Morrison, completed a Masters Degree at The University of Miami, and has since shared stage with every Jazz artist imaginable across the globe.
Trumpet – Marty Pervan
Marty Pervan has performed as a musician, taught brass and improvisation, directed large school and community ensembles, composed, arranged and recorded professionally for some twenty years. Marty is also the Musical Director of the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra Big Band.
Drums – Daniel Susnjar
Daniel is based in the USA performing and recording with the best jazz instrumentalists in the world. Completing his Master of Music degree on full scholarship from the Frost School of Music, Daniel has recently begun his Doctorate of Music Arts studies in Miami.
Vocal – Libby Hammer
Libby Hammer is Perth's premier jazz vocalist. She has developed a solid reputation as an accomplished jazz singer, bandleader and vocal coach. Her band ‘Hip Mo' Toast’ is a household name in WA and her biography is to large to list. We’re very happy to have Libby tutor at this years camp.
Guitar – Freddy Grigson
Freddie has recorded and played with a host of impressive artists including Sammy Davis Jnr, Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, Billy Cobham, Anthony Wilson, Mike Stern, Shirley Bassey, Jim McNeely, Dale Barlow, Don Burrows to name a few. He is currently the Head Jazz Guitar Lecturer at the West Australian Conservatorium of Music.
Piano – Russell Holmes
Russell Holmes has been playing piano for over four decades. One of Australia’s finest jazz musician’s,
Russell is a lecturer at the Western Australian Academy Of Performing Arts, specialising in theory and rhythm studies, harmony, arranging and individual tutoring in both contemporary and jazz piano.
Bass – Pete Jeavons
Pete graduated from W.A.A.P.A in 1997 with a Bachelor of Music and is an in-demand acoustic and electric bassist performing regularly in jazz, rock, funk, theatre and world music circles the world over. A finalist in the 2008 National Jazz Bass Awards, Pete maintains a busy schedule and we’re very happy to have him involved in this years camp.
Jazz NOW! Co-ordinator – Jimmy Murphy
Known around town as Jimmy ‘lips’ Murphy, Jimmy himself is a musician having played trumpet since he was 8 years old (hence “The Lips’ nickname). Jimmy is also the founder of Perth’s Funk Club (a music members club with over 3000 members!) and plays in various contemporary music ensembles around town, most famously would be his band the Sunshine Brothers who recently returned from New York City recording their second album BY INVITATION at world renowned DAPTONE STUDIOS (Home of Sharon Jones and the Dapkings and where AMY WINEHOUSE recorded her smash album Back to Black). Jimmy sits on the West Australian contempory music panel and can been seen playing his horn Friday nights upstairs at the Leederville hotel in the Funk Club House Band.
Jazz NOW and Jazz WA are proud to have Jimmy as the Jazz camp co-ordinator for 2011!