National Jazz awards finalists announced
Festival artistic director, Adrian Jackson said, “The finals of the Awards always give audiences the chance to hear talented young musicians from around Australia. The finals sometimes attract Australian musicians who have gone overseas to work and study, and this year’s finalists include four who will be coming home specifically to be part of this event. It is a competition, but it is also a celebration of music, and it’s always great to see the finalists getting to know each other, enjoying each other’s performances. There is never an air of negative competition, it’s always about drawing inspiration from each other.”
Ten outstanding bass players have been selected as finalists for Australia’s most prestigious jazz competition, the National Jazz Awards (NJA).
A central feature of the Wangaratta Jazz festival since it began in 1990, each year the awards focus on a different instrument, with 2015 taking judges and audience on an acoustic or electric bass odyssey.
FINALISTS:
· Nick Abbey (27) Perth
· Sam Anning (33) from Perth, currently living in New York
· Alex Boneham (28) from Sydney, currently living in Los Angeles
· Thomas Botting (29) from New Zealand, currently living in Sydney
· Anna Butterss (24) from Adelaide
· Karl Dunnicliff (31) from Sydney
· David Groves (24) from Sydney
· Noel Mason (24) from Sydney, currently living in New York
· Adam Spiegl (31) from Melbourne
· Georgia Weber (31) from Brisbane, currently living in New York
The 2015 judging panel comprises esteemed musicians Mike Nock, Geoff Kluke and Phil Stack. This is the first time that bass has been featured since 2008, when the first prize was awarded to Phil Stack (who is known outside jazz circles as the bassist and founding member of Thirsty Merc).
PRIZES:
· The winner will receive $12,000 plus an ABC studio recording session
· The runner-up will receive $6,000 and a recording session at Melbourne’s Pughouse Studios
· The third finalist will receive $3,000 prizemoney
NATIONAL JAZZ AWARDS PAST WINNERS
1990 Barney McAll – Piano
1991 Mark Fitzgibbon – Piano
1992 Jann Rutherford – Piano
1993 Tim Hopkins- Saxophone
1994 Julien Wilson – Saxophone
1995 Elliott Dalgleish – Saxophone
1996 Scott Tinkler – Brass
1997 Will Guthrie – Drums
1998 Michelle Nicolle – Vocals
1999 Matt McMahon – Piano
2000 Stephen Magnusson / James Muller (tied) – Guitar
2001 Brendan Clarke – Bass
2002 Roger Manins – Saxophone
2003 Phil Slater – Brass
2004 Felix Bloxsom – Drums
2005 Elana Stone – Vocals
2006 Jackson Harrison – Piano
2007 Aaron Flower – Guitar
2008 Phil Stack – Bass
2009 Zac Hurren – Saxophone
2010 Eamon McNelis – Brass
2011 Tim Firth – Drums
2012 Kristin Berardi – Vocals
2013 Joseph O’Connor – Piano
2014 Carl Morgan – Guitar
NATIONAL JAZZ AWARDS
Semi Finals – Sat 31 & Sun 1 Nov, 10.30am – 12.15pm
Finals – Sun 1 Nov, 5.00pm – 6.30pm
Full details on www.wangarattajazz.com
