Australian Jazz and Groove Podcast

Episode #26: Jack Pantazis

Jack Pantazis is one of the most respected jazz guitarists on the Australian Jazz scene. Pantazis calls  Melbourne his home and he has carved out a career as a performer, educator and composer crossing all styles of music.  Pantazis has a rich musical heritage that extends back to before he can remember. He has been a professional musician for over 35 years and as his website says, "Jack is fundamentally a jazz musician whose mastery skills and artistry also cross over into other styles such as…pop, rock, fusion, latin, classical…" Pantazis has perfomed with ‘The Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra’ (on going member for the past 17 years),  ‘The Tim Davies Big Band’, 'The Toshi Clinch Big Band' as well as many other groups in Melbourne.  He has also accompanied international artists like Mike Stern (ex-Miles Davis guitarist), American jazz great trombonist Bill Watrous, James Morrison and Marina Prior.  Pantazis has a strong connection to Greece both through family and music and as you will hear is hoping to travel to Greece very soon to perform.  Enjoy the interview folks. David Galea  Links: https://www.jackpantazis.com/ [https://www.jackpantazis.com/] Bandcamp: https://jackpantazis1.bandcamp.com/ [https://jackpantazis1.bandcamp.com/]

Episode #25: Michelle Nicolle

Michelle Nicolle is one of Australia's most respected and recognised Jazz vocalists.   Over the years she has developed her own unique take on classic jazz standards as well as written and recorded many award winner compositions of her own.     Nicolle has worked with some of the greatest musicians on the planet including the great Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Elling and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.  Of late she has released her 9th recording entitled ”The Bach Project" and it features her long standing quartet of Ronny Ferella on drums, Tom Lee on Bass and Geoff Hughes on Guitar.    In this Podcast Michelle sits down to talk about how she became a jazz vocalist after initially starting music on the violin. She also discusses the importance of her quartet and the need for her to perform on a regular basis. We also learn how “”The Bach Project” was born.     Enjoy the music folks.    David Galea    Links: https://www.michellenicolle.com/ [https://www.michellenicolle.com/] https://michellenicolle.bandcamp.com/album/the-bach-project [https://michellenicolle.bandcamp.com/album/the-bach-project]

Episode #24: David Dower Interview, The Senegambian Jazz Band, Michelle Nicolle.

David Dower is a Piano player a composer specialising in original jazz and contemporary music, and has performed widely throughout the UK, Bulgaria, Ireland, France, Malaysia, and Australia. He currently lives in Melbourne and has recently released a new recording that was inspired by his many trips to Bulgaria entitled "Mravka". David stops by to talk about how he became a Jazz pianist, how he came to have an affinity with the music and the musicians in Bulgaria and also how he was able to compose the latest album and incorporate the language and the instrumentation that is unique to Bulgaria. We will also hear a track from Melbourne based group  "The Senegambian Jazz Band. " This group have been described as “A high-energy musical journey that takes the listener from traditional West African melodies on the kora (which is a 21 string west African instrument) with deep drum rhythms through to modern jazz and funk.” Then to finish the podcast we will hear from Melbourne singer and composer Michelle Nicolle and a track from her latest recording entitled "The Bach Project" released on Earshift music. As always folks please show your appreciation for the work of these artists and go and purchase their music either from their web-site  or from their Bandcamp page. Thanks for listening. warm regards David Galea Links: David Dower: http://www.daviddowermusic.com/ [http://www.daviddowermusic.com/] https://daviddowertrio.bandcamp.com/ [https://daviddowertrio.bandcamp.com/] The Senegambian Jazz Band: https://thesenegambianjazzband.bandcamp.com/album/the-senegambian-jazz-band [https://thesenegambianjazzband.bandcamp.com/album/the-senegambian-jazz-band] Michelle Nicolle: https://michellenicolle.bandcamp.com/album/the-bach-project [https://michellenicolle.bandcamp.com/album/the-bach-project]

Episode #23: Kristian Borring (interview), Fran Swinn, Tamara Murphy, Julian Wilson

Kristian Borring is a jazz guitarist from Denmark living in Perth,  he will be talking to us about his new recording entitled “Earth Matter” from his new band “Number Junky’. He will also be talking to us about his recently completed Thesis on understanding odd time metre and how he has been able to understand them on a deeper level.  We will also hear a new track from melbourne guitarist Fran Swinn, she has a new recording out on Lionshare Records entitled "Old Idea- New Idea." We finish then with tracks from Tamara Murphy and here new trio recording as well as a track from Julien Wilson's new solo saxophone recording entitled "Mutation." There is so much to dig into in they podcast I hope that you enjoy it, please share this with all that may also love the Jazz. David Galea links: Kristian Borring: https://www.kristianborring.com/ [https://www.kristianborring.com/] Lionshare records: https://lionsharecords.bandcamp.com/ [https://lionsharecords.bandcamp.com/] Tamara Murphy: https://tamaramurphy.com/ [https://tamaramurphy.com/]

Episode #22: David Cotgreave interview: Music from "Cookin on Three Burners" Rafael Karlen and "The Meltdown"

Dave Cotgreave is  drummer, and educator a composer and now an author. Cotgreave is a major pillar in the Brisbane jazz scene and he also has a new book out called  "The Practice Pad Book", a book that has already received wide praise with in the drumming community, he will be talking to us about how he developed the concepts in this book and how he helps his students connect rudiments and practice exercises to actually playing music. He will also talk to us about his new duo called "The Seats", made up of himself and Pianist Brett Fowler.  We will also hear music from Melbourne funk outfit "Cookin on Three Burners"  with a track from their 2014 Release entitled “Blind Bet”.  To finish the show we will hear from Rafael Karlen and a track from his new recording entitled "Equally True", we then finish with a track from "The Meltdown" featuring Melbourne  soul singer Simon Burke.  Thanks for listening and please let others know.  Cheers David Galea  Links:  https://thepracticepadbook.com/ [https://thepracticepadbook.com/] http://theseats.net/ [http://theseats.net/] https://cookinon3burners.bandcamp.com/ [https://cookinon3burners.bandcamp.com/] https://rafaelkarlen.bandcamp.com/ [https://rafaelkarlen.bandcamp.com/] https://themeltdownmusic.bandcamp.com/album/its-a-long-road [https://themeltdownmusic.bandcamp.com/album/its-a-long-road]