The faculty at Jazz Music Institute (JMI) is made up of inspiring and highly professional jazz musicians and teachers with a vast array of industry experience and expertise specific to the Jazz performance industry to share with students at JMI.

 

Dan Quigley

Head of School

MMusSt(QCGU), BMus(QCGU), AdvDipMus(JMI), DipMus(QCGU), CertIV TAA (TAU)

Dan has completed Bachelor of Music and Masters of Music Studies (Qld Conservatorium) and The Jazzworx Advanced Diploma of Music. He has performed alongside Dale Barlow, James Morrison, Grace Knight and Anthony Warlow to name a few, as well as performances in New York and Japan and in major festivals and venues such as the Queensland Music Festival, Noosa Jazz Festival, Valley Jazz Festival, Brisbane Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse, Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane Jazz club, Speilgeltent, Paris Cat (Melb), Sydney Opera House and many corporate functions. He performs regularly in his hometown of Brisbane, with his own group which has developed a reputation for performing classic jazz.

Paula Girvan

MMusSt(QCGU) BMus(QCGU), AdvDipMus(JMI), AssDipMus(QCGU), CertIV TAA (TAU)

Registrar

Paula has been a passionate and active music educator since 1996, and is a recognised Pianist for sessions and performances. Her versatility as a performer has seen her perform in big bands, alongside rock stars, corporate bands and in her much loved set up, Jazz Duo. At Jazzworx! Music Institute, Paula teaches and coordinates the subject areas of: Jazz Materials, Aural and Analysis, Ensembles, Piano skills (second study), and Contemporary Performance Practice.

 

Bruce Woodward

BMus (QCGU), ADPA (Jazz) (ECU)

Guitar, Jazz Composition

Bruce works as a guitarist, educator, arranger and musical director in a range of musical genres including jazz, world music and pop. He graduated from the West Australian Conservatorium of Music (WAAPA) in 1998, where he studied Arranging with Graeme Lyall and guitar with Ray Walker. In 2002 Bruce graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

As well as leading his own groups, Bruce has performed with numerous renowned musicians and ensembles, including Mark Sholtez, The View from Madeleine’s Couch, Jim Kelly, Mystery Pacific, James Sherlock, Andrew Garton’s Abbreviations Orchestra and Worldly Women. His recent work with Verve recording artist Mark Sholtez has seen him play as national tour support for George Benson, Al Jarreau, Jamie Cullum and Madeleine Peyroux.

Graeme Norris

AssDipMus (SCUS)

Saxophones

Graeme Norris has a 25 year career as a professional musician, composer, recording artist, bandleader and teacher. He began his musical education at the age of nine on clarinet, which he continued to study for 10 years ultimately performing with the Queensland Youth Orchestra Wind Ensemble from 1979 to 1981. In 1987 he graduated from Sydney Conservatorium of Music, having studied with Don Burrows, Mike Nock, George Golla and Roger Frampton.

Graeme has since performed throughout Australia, and in Paris, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Jakarta and Singapore. Artists he has recorded and toured with include Jerry Lewis, Eartha Kitt, James Morrison, Tom Burlinson, Katie Noonan, Grace Knight, Monica Trapaga, Glenn Shorrock, Frank Bennett, Billy Fields, Kristin Beradi, Scott Tinkler, James Muller, The Queensland Orchestra, the Sydney All Stars and the West End Composers Collective.

Graeme has released two CD’s as leader. His first “Pentatomic” was recorded in New York, released on Rufus Records and was nominated for an ARIA award. His second CD “Kidney” featured Steve Newcomb and James Sherlock.

Graeme Norris has led bands at the Sydney International and Melbourne International festivals, and at several festivals including Wangaratta, Manly, Bellingen and Brisbane. In 1994 the Graeme Norris Quartet represented Australia at the Jakarta International Jazz Festival and toured Indonesia with the support of Musica Viva.

Helen Russell

DipCreativeArts(Mus), GradCertHighEd

Double Bass

Helen Russell is somewhat of a local legend when it comes to Jazz and the double bass. She has performed alongside stars such as Shirley Bassey, Chuck Findley, James Carter, George Cables,  Marion Montgomery, Don Burrows, James Morrison, Bob Barnard, Andrew Firth and Ian Date, Dale Barlow, Jan Rutherford, Tom Baker, Mark Isaacs, Vince Genova, George Golla, Kerry Biddell, Johnny Nicol, Sandy Evans, Dave Ades, Scott Tinkler, Paul Grabowsky, Steve Newcomb, Leah Cottrell, Deborah Conway and Chrissy Amphlet to name a few.

Helen has also had extensive work as Musical Director for various shows including, Women in Voice from 1996 – 2008, Starbuck, Boadicea and Chicago. She brings an invaluable depth of knowledge for contemporary music, the music industry and Jazz performance.

Sharny Russell

DipMus(QCGU)

Voice

Sharny is a nationally recognised jazz and gospel vocalist, pianist and composer, with a number of awards to her credit, including the APRA Jazz Award (Australasian Performing Rights Association). Sharny is an ABC recording artist and has recorded numerous albums in both fields and on other labels, and with internationally recognised guitarist, George Golla.

Sharny is recognised within the  Australian jazz community as one of our finest performers, writers and scat singers.  She has taught in many universities across Australia, in jazz vocals, keyboard skills, improvisation, composition, and arranging. She has worked in diverse areas of music and education, including being a State Education Director for Yamaha, producer for other artists’ recordings, and musical director for children’s TV programs. She has written and published a large body of original works – mainly for solo and ensemble vocal performance, and has produced two vocal exercises CD/booklets for general and jazz technique. She is currently writing her own vocal improvisation handbook.

Steve Russell

Piano

Pianist, bassist, composer, conductor and educator Steve Russell was born and raised in Toowoomba, Australia. He is the son of journalist and musician Noel Russell and extraordinary jazz and classical pianist Peg Russell, and has been playing the piano since he was four.

In addition to leading his own quintet, Steve is presently a member of the Jack Thorncraft Trio, Jim Kelly’s Thrillseekers, Sambamenco, and the Sharny Russell Band. He has performed with a huge list of Australian jazz artists, as well as Chrissie Amphlett, Richie Cole, Georgie Fame, Chuck Findlay, Gerry Mulligan and Nancy Wilson.

Steve was a member of the Brisbane based group Bebopera for four years in the late ’8Os, and is accompanist of choice for several noted vocalists, including Grace Knight, Leigh Carriage and Elizabeth Lord.

Steve lives in Byron Bay at the eastern tip of Australia, where he is Head of Keyboard in Contemporary Music at the School of Arts at Southern Cross University.

 

 

Dave Sanders

BA(ConMus)(SCU)

Drums

David has been involved in virtually every aspect of the music industry and has gained the reputation as one of the most versatile and in-demand drummers in Australia.  Performance credits include Pete Murray, Grace Knight (pop/jazz), Margaret Urlich (pop), Leonardo’s Bride (pop), Bob Barnard (jazz), Jim Kelly (contemporary jazz), Don Burrows and George Golla (jazz), Mickey Rooney (USA cabaret).  Dave has also made a mark on the youth scene with his rock outfit ACRE that has received high rotation on Triple J.

Dave maintains a very busy performance schedule and has performed in many and varied situations both across Australia and internationally.  David’s ability to cross the boundaries of genre and style has made him an asset to many acts within the music industry both as live performer and experienced studio musician.  Sensitive to the music and musicians around him, Dave is just as happy to sit back and play swinging brushes as he is to smash through a high volume, high energy show.

Sean Foran

BCom(UQ), BMus(QCGU), Marts(JazzPerf), GradCertArtsAdmin(QUT)

Business Studies/Piano

Sean graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium with a Major in Jazz Piano. He also holds a graduate certificate in Arts Administration from Queensland University of Technology and a Masters of Arts in Jazz Performance from the Leeds College of Music UK. In 2009 he was the APRA Professional Development award winner Jazz and is also a multiple winner of Queensland’s QSong Jazz Award in 2008 & 2006.

He has been the recipient of the prestigious Brisbane City Councils Lord Mayor’s Artist Fellowship in 2007 which together with funding from the Ian Potter Cultural Trust enabled him to complete his MA studying with artists such as John Taylor, Lars Jansson, Tord Gustavsen and Matthew Bourne around Britain and Europe.

He writes and performs in a variety of diverse situations and has performed at:  Kutchan Jazz Festival (Japan), MIDEM Music Conference France, Calgary International Jazz Festival (Canada), The Queensland Music Festival and Biennial, The Vortex London, Pizza Express Jazz Club London, Birmingham Jazz Festival, The Castlemaine Festival, Wangaratta Festival of Jazz, Bennett’s Lane, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Out of the Box (Children’s Festival), Brisbane Jazz Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Valley Jazz Festival and many more.

He has been the recipient of the prestigious Brisbane City Councils Lord Mayor’s Artist Fellowship in 2007 which together with funding from the Ian Potter Cultural Trust enabled him to complete his MA studying with artists such as John Taylor, Lars Jansson, Tord Gustavsen and Matthew Bourne around Britain and Europe.

Brad Esbensen

BMusEd(UQ)

Jazz Arranging and Composition

Brad Esbensen is a Brisbane based trumpet player, arranger, composer, copyist and educator. He has worked in backing bands for artists including Kenny Rogers, James Morrison, Grace Knight, Max Miller and many others. He is currently working as Musical Director with Herb Armstrong and the Royal Street Krewe, performing a show paying tribute to the music of New Orleans, as well as being Musical Director of the Brisbane Big Band which has been the resident big band for the Brisbane Jazz Club since 1974. He also works regularly with local bands including Decahedron (a 10-piece jazz group), Jeff Usher Band, Swing Chronicles, Brisbane Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, Glenn Miller Tribute Band and the Queensland Pops Orchestra.

His arrangements and compositions have featured regularly as test pieces. Many of his compositions and arrangements have been performed with a variety of groups including the Australian All Star Youth Big Band, Queensland Youth Orchestra Big Band, Brisbane All Star Youth Big Band and the Queensland Pops Orchestra. He has been engaged as a copyist by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and various local and touring shows. He was the recipient of first place in the 1994 Perth Jazz Orchestra Composition Awards with an original arrangement of “There Will Never Be Another You”.

Brad also holds an Associate in Composition from the Australian Society of Musicology and Composition and a Diploma of Music Technology from the University of Newcastle.

Andrew Garton

BMath(Hons)

Jazz in Context

Andrew Garton is a Brisbane based saxophone player, composer and arranger. Andrew studied the saxophone and composition under the guidance of Tony Hobbs from 1999 to 2003.

Since completing his Honours Degree in Mathematics in 2005, Andrew has composed extensively for his own group, the Abbreviations Orchestra, and they have performed concerts at venues such as Jazzworx!, the Zoo, Metro Arts and the Powerhouse. Andrew received a commission from Jazz Queensland to compose an extended work for the Abbreviations Orchestra which was premiered as part of the Q150 celebrations and the 2009 Valley Jazz Festival.

Andrew Garton has also composed and arranged music for jazz big bands including the Mace Francis Orchestra (as part of the Chinese Whispers III project), the Brisbane Contemporary Jazz Orchestra and the Brisbane All-Star Youth Big Band. In 2009 Andrew was commissioned by the Enthusiastic Musicians Orchestra to compose a suite for jazz orchestra.

Andrew Garton currently performs with his Abbreviations Orchestra as well as Brisbane based swing and latin group Miguel.

Melissa Western

MPhil(UQ), BA(Hons)(UQ)

Presentation Skills

Melissa performs internationally, acting, singing and dancing in musical theatre shows and cabarets, writing and producing new works and singing jazz with a variety of ensembles. Her passion is taking to the stage in front of a live audience, seamlessly weaving song, dance and story into an experience they will want to share and cherish.

Venue and festival highlights include: The Vault – Edinburgh Fringe Festival, L’église – Avaux (France), Powerhouse Theatre – Brisbane Cabaret Festival, Brisbane Jazz Club, Speigeltent – Qld Music Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, QPAC, The Basement – Gold Coast Arts Centre, Valley Jazz Festival, Mackay Entertainment Centre, The Tivoli, Gold Coast Jazz and Blues Club, Maggie Black Jazz Club, The Milkbar, Brisbane City Hall, Sirromet Winery, King George Square, Tweed Valley Jazz Club, La Boite Theatre, Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre.

Melissa was Valedictorian of her graduating Bachelor of Arts at UQ, holds a University Medal from the University of Queensland, first class Honours degree and was awarded her Masters of Philosophy in the field of Drama. She has trained intensively in musical theatre at RADA (London) and NIDA, physical theatre with Zen Zen Zo, and has trained in dance for over fifteen years including: classes with Luis Pinto (Megajam), Jasmine Meakin (Hip-hop, Sexy Cool), Simone Pope (flamenco) and with teachers at the Broadway Dance Centre (New York).

Jazz is a great love for Melissa, she has performed over 200 public and corporate gigs in the past two years ranging from simple piano accompaniment to 20 piece jazz orchestras.