The Australian Jazz Real Book is an amazing project by Tim Nikolsky. It is dedicated to the preservation and distribution of Australian Jazz in both digital and print. The aim is to digitally curate the definitive collection of Australian jazz tunes from Australian composers. That is, to make Australian jazz available to the next generation of jazz musicians so that (as the late and great Graeme Bell puts it) "prevents it from sinking into the waters of invisibility". It is also designed for practising and performing musicians, educators and curriculum designers with the opportunity to integrate Australian jazz into music curricula. The idea of it is to create a resource that students can turn to for repertoire that is uniquely Australian; containing tunes that are 'gig-ready' and also representative of the Australian Jazz Sound.
Tim describes it as a "platform in which we can all collaborate and play eachother's tunes. I understand that even with including 400+ tunes, there are many tunes and artists that I have missed. There are a number of reasons why some artists were not included. Some artists did not respond to years of emails and phone calls. Some artists did not want to be part of it, as their compositions were designed to be specifically played by particular people.
This is only the start. There is much fantastic music being composed all the time that I'd love to inlcude and promote. There is also a great wealth of tunes that I haven't heard yet that would be great to include."
JK: Why did you decide to do it?
TN: I did it because Australian jazz deserves to be played and listened to as much as jazz from anywhere else. I was also concerned that our cultural heritage was at risk of being forgotten or lost forever if it wasn't preserved in some way. I believe it is important for the next generations of musicians have a knowledge and respect of what has come before them, so that they can build on what our forefathers (and mothers) have forged out of the harsh and unforgiving Australian landscape. I did it because it didn't exist, people needed it and somebody needed to pull their finger out and make it happen. I thought I might as well have a go.
JK: How long did it take?
TN: I actually did it as a PhD by Project through RMIT University, which took 5 years. The previous 6 years before that I was writing unsuccessful grant applications to try and get the book done. I think it will take a few years more to try and chase up all the tunes and players that didn't make it into the first edition of the AJRB. Whilst the physical book is static and cannot be added to; I digitally curate the AJRB website which is a dynamic space and I can regularly add tunes, resources, videos, transcriptions and other resources. I see this as the real future of the AJRB, and it also allows greater inclusiveness.
The real seed was first planted about 16-17 years ago when I was studying music and doing unrehearsed gigs at summertime events (tennis, grand prix etc) with a circle of musicians who all played each others tunes, and taught it to players like me on the gig. I thought it those tunes needed to exist outside of that circle, and be played by other people. I was studying music around that time as well, and found that there was a lack of opportunity for students to play uniquely Australian music.
JK: What is the future for the book?
TN: Hopefully the AJRB is the start of a wider effort to preserve and celebrate the wonderful talent within the Australian jazz community. If there is enough interest in AJRB vol. 1 then I'll look at having a go at volume 2. I've been working hard to try and get the tunes that didn't make it in the book represented on the digital site. I must say though that whilst some people have been fantastic to work with and are very organised with their resources, there are other people who are not, which is extremely frustrating! Some people I have been trying to get tunes off for more than 4 years and simply do not respond to emails, telephone messages, or campaigning by other people on my behalf!
My main efforts are concerned with getting it into the hands of the next generation of musicians, and constructing resources & curriculum to complement the compositions benefiting educators and students. I see the digital site as the future of the AJRB, as it provides a far richer and more interactive experience.
For more information and to check out this wonderful project visit their website
