Jazz NOW! is a not-for-profit, educational initiative of JAZZWA and receives key project funding from the Australia Council and ArtsWA.

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.

JazzNOW! is headed by Project Manager Jimmy Murphy.

JazzNOW! is supported by some of the industry's leading jazz exponents to ensure that programs are relevant and world class.

MEET THE JAZZNOW TUTORS:

This year we’ve got some of Australia’s most sought after teachers and Perth’s best jazz performers on the 2009 camp:

Piano – Russell Holmes

Russell Holmes has been playing piano for over four decades now, starting when still a toddler, Russell is now one of Australia’s finest jazz musician’s touring Australia in his own right on behalf of the ABC!
Since 1989 Russell has been a sessional 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. Russell is one of the most sought after jazz piano teachers in the state and we’re very excited to have him tutor on the 2009 jazz camp!

Bass – Pete Jeavons

Pete completed his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance on the doublebass at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (W.A.A.P.A) in the year 1997, stuying with visiting jazz giants Ira Coleman, Rufus Reid, Neils Pedersen and Ernie Watts and was awarded the Kosmic music prize for the best graduating student in his year group.
An in-demand freelance bassist (acoustic & electric), Pete performs regularly in jazz, rock, funk, theatre and world music circles having been active as a professional musician for over 12 years. In addition to working with local artists/groups such as Graeme Lyall, The Jamie Oehlers Quintet and The Western Australian Symphony Orchestra (W.A.S.O), Peter has performed with internationally recognised jazz artists such as Danny Moss, James Morrison, Don Burrows, Joe Chindamo, Dale Barlow, Mark Murphy, Karrin Allyson, Andy Sheppard, Dave O’Higgins, Jim Snidero, Gary Bartz and Michel Legrand.

Pete toured India with the P.J.O late in 1998 (appearing at the internationally recognised Jazz Yatra festival) and took part in two national tours with the M.P.S in the same year. In the year 2000, Pete attended the International Association of Jazz Educators (I.A.J.E) annual conference (held in New Orleans that year) after receiving an invitation to perform there with the M.P.S and performed at the Wangaratta festival of Jazz (2001) as part of Frames Of Minds tour of the eastern states of Australia. Also, in November 2002, Pete performed in China at the Shanghai International Arts Festival with Perth based arts production group ‘Skadada’.
Pete is as good as they get on double bass and electric bass, what an addition to this years camp!

Vocals – Libby Hammer

Libby Hammer is almost a household name in the Perth Jazz scene. Fronting the popular Hip Mo Toast band Libby is a seasoned professional jazz vocalist and gifted teacher, Libby has been working regularly in Perth since 1998 and have built up a loyal and diverse following with their brand of fun and sophisticated jazz, lounge and Latin. Hip Mo’ Toast won its fifth consecutive Western Australian Music Industry Association award for “Most Popular Original Jazz Act” in 2005. In 2008 Libby Hammer was awarded a Perth Jazz Award of a Life Membership for Outstanding Long-Term Contribution to Jazz. The Libby Hammer Trio has supported Engelbert Humperdinck (1999), Dionne Warwick (2000) and Vince Jones (2004).

Drums – Ben Falle

Ben Falle has beena  professional jazz drummer since graduating from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2002. Under the tuition of Chris Tarr, Ben completed a Certificate IV in Music and a BMus Jazz, majoring in performance. In 2005 whilst in the final year of his degree, Ben was chosen as one of six finalists from around the country for Australian jazz icon James Morrison's Generations In Jazz scholarship, where he was flown to Mt Gambier SA to compete. In 2007 Ben won Drumtek's 'Australia's Best Up & Coming Drummer' competition in the Open Age category. The competition is held in Melbourne at Drumtek's annual 'Australia's Ultimate Drummers Weekend' (AUDW) since then Ben has been invited back to perform live, to open the 2008 AUDW.

Ben currently performs with Perth based jazz trio The Chris Foster Trio, neo-soul singer Natasha Mousuff, art orchestra The Johannes Luebbers ..et & various other musical projects, as well as being a sought after teacher.

Trumpet - Marty Pervan

Marty Pervan is an arranger, composer, music educator and trumpet player. He has performed as a musician, taught brass and improvisation in a wide range of WA schools, directed large school and community ensembles (concert band, jazz band, swing band and brass ensembles), composed, arranged and recorded professionally for some twenty years. Marty recently became the leader of WAYJO’s Swing band ensemble and brings a wealth of experience to this years jazz camp!
Marty's musical versatility has enabled him to engage in a diverse range of genres from New Orleans style brass (Chameleon Brass Band), latin (Sabroson), jazz (Hip Mo Toast), dub (Sunshine Brothers), funk/soul (Funk Club House Band and P Family), original music (Cinema Prague, Prawns with Horns and Air Ensemble), world music (Grace Barbe) and recent performances with Renee Geyer and Paul Grabowski. Wow! He’s the hardest working man in jazz business, and is a natural teacher.

Saxophone – James Sandon

James Sandon born in Perth, Western Australia, started playing the alto saxophone at the age of six, switched to the tenor saxophone at thirteen, and since then has been playing professionally in a variety of genres, that include cabaret, rock, pop, blues, soul, R&B, latin, and jazz.
He attended the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, at Edith Cowan University, and received an Associate Diploma of Performing Arts in Jazz and Contemporary Music (1995), and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance (1998).
While attending the academy, James was a member of the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) from 1992 – 1998, and in 1995, received the WAYJO scholarship which took him to the USA to attend and participate in the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference, held in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996. James also received the Bob Wylie Jazz scholarship for Graduating students in 1995.
Recording three live to air broadcasts for the ABC with the Graeme Lyall Quintet, the “Three Tenors”- James Sandon, Jamie Oehlers, and Carl Mackey, in 1997, and in 1999 performing original music in the James Sandon Quartet.
Played with international and national artists, Chris Potter, Ernie Watts, Frank Foster, Billy Harper, Sam Yahel, Gil Askey, James Morrison, Barney Mcall, Graeme Lyall, Dr. Tony Gould, Diesel, Renee Geyer, Ross Wilson, and Christine Anu. Also making several television appearances on Good Morning Australia. Has performed in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Hawaii, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, New Zealand, and all major capital cities of Australia. Now based in Perth, James teaches at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts and is a sought after session musician and performs regularly as a saxophonist, bassist, drummer and percussionist in a variety of bands locally and nationally

Trombone- Catherine Noblet

Award-winning trombonist and composer Catherine Noblet has recently returned from overseas which has seen her studying for her masters in jazz! Catherine studied jazz at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts and in 2003 she was selected from her graduating class to travel on exchange to the University of Miami. There she studied under renowned trombonist Dante Luciani. She also studied composition and improvisation under Ron Miller, who has written and performed with the likes of Pat Metheny and Stan Getz.
Since then, Catherine has performed as a regular featured soloist with the Mace Francis Orchestra, the Mat Jodrell All-Star Big Band and the Ladies in Jazz Big Band. In 2006 she was a soloist with the WAYJO Composers’ Ensemble at the International Association of Jazz Educators conference in New York, performing in front of some of jazz’s elite.
Last year, Catherine won the WA Music Industry (WAMi) Song of the Year award (Jazz), Jazz camp 2009 is fortunatle to have her in Perth during the camp and will be fully utilising her talent and skills making this years camp extra special!

Guitar – Simon Jeans

In Western Australia Simon Jeans is considered one of the premier practitioners on his instrument, a fact recognised by his appointment as a guitar tutor at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA/ ECU). In 2007, along with former student Tim Jago, he was one of 10 finalists selected to compete in the National Jazz Awards at Wangaratta.
Simon has extensive experience as a sideman and freelance musician, although in recent years he has concentrated more on his performances as a band leader. His most recent project is the trio 'thumpR' featuring electric bassist Dane Alderson and drummer Andy Fisenden, performing predominantly original material.
The more acoustic oriented 'Simon Jeans Trio' also has a repertoire of original music for feature performances but is equally at home with jazz and Latin
standards in more informal settings, such as the numerous residencies it has held around Perth. Although the rhythm section may vary at times, all the musicians
have played together extensively over the years.
Imon is a proficient musician, band leader and teacher and is a fine additional to the Jazz NOW team!

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 2009!