toney_hobbs

Jazz saxophonist, composer, educator and academic Tony Hobbs passed away this week.

Tony was a unique individual who shared his musical passion with all willing to listen and touching our lives with his generous humour and love of music.

His contribution educating many generations of jazz talent at the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide, Queensland Conservatorium of Music and at Brisbane State High School leaves a wonderfully rich legacy for the Australian jazz community.

He was an inspiration to his students and colleagues. Tony is renowned for co-founding the first Big Band at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and for his work with the Daly Wilson Big Band and Brisbane bands Bebopera and the Tony Hobbs Big Band Theory.

While living in Amsterdam in the 1980s Tony taught at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam, co-directed the Maiden Voyage Big Band and was lead saxophonist in the Frank Grasso Big Band.

He toured with these ensembles throughout Germany, Holland, Belgium and France and studied classical saxophone with Professor Daniel Deffayet at the Paris Conservatoire.

His loss is our misfortune. He will be dearly missed by his daughter Tess, son Josquin, mother of his children Lynette and his sisters Melissa, Erin, Terry and mother Joan. His contribution to the cultural life of the Australian jazz scene will live on in his students.

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Hash Varsani is the owner of The Jazz Directory, a network of sites related to jazz, travel and everything else he loves. He also runs a selection of jazz related sites including Jazz Club Jury, a jazz club and festival review site. Check out his Google+ Profile, to see what else he's up to...probably setting up another website from one of his many passions.

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