Jonathan Zwartz

Last updated

Jonathan Zwartz
Birth nameJonathan Peter Zwartz
Born Auckland, New Zealand
Genres
  • Pop
  • jazz
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
Years active1981–present
Labels
  • Independent
  • The Planet Company
  • MGM
Formerly of The Crocodiles
Website jonathanzwartz.com

Jonathan Peter Zwartz is a New Zealand-born Australian jazz musician. In the 2018 ARIA Music Awards, he won the Best Jazz Album category for his third album, Animarum, released in 2018.

Contents

Early life

Zwartz was born in New Zealand. [1]

Career

1980s

Jonathan Zwartz joined New Zealand pop band, the Crocodiles, on bass guitar, alongside Tony Backhouse on piano, Jenny Morris on lead vocals, Rick Morris (her brother) on guitar, and Barton Price on drums. [2] [3] [4] The group were based in Auckland and performed at Sweetwaters 1981 in January before they relocated to Sydney in the following month. [2] [4] In July of that year Morris left to start her solo career, [2] [3] [4] the remaining members had recorded a single, "Hello Girl", with vocals by Rick but they disbanded soon after. [4]

Late in 1981 Zwartz and Backhouse formed the Vulgar Beatmen with Peter Boyd and Mike Gubb (both ex-Rough Justice). He became a session musician. Zwartz and Backhouse also joined ex-the Crocodiles member, Fane Flaws' project I Am Joe's Music, which issued a self-titled album in 1983. [5] Other former members of the Crocodiles with contributions were Jenny Morris, Arthur Baysting and Peter Dasent. [5] A single, "Life in Asia", was issued by the group in August, which Woroni 's reviewer described, "Life on Coota beach perhaps. Complete with self styled poseuring, hip singing and New Zealand brand of paranoia. Basic and forgettable shit." [6]

1990s

In 1991 Zwartz, on bass guitar, joined the Bernie McGann Trio, a Sydney-based jazz group, with McGann on saxophone and John Pochee on drums. [7] McGann eschewed piano and explained, "You tend to think that because there's no piano in the group, you're restricted to just playing some songs. But I think you can play anything at all, and it's a very open sort of group which when it works, works extremely well indeed." [7]

In 1992, Zwartz was a member of Bobby Gebert's trio, alongside Gebert on piano and Andrew Dickson on drums, which backed visiting English saxophonist, Ronnie Scott, in a performance in Canberra. [8] Michael Foster of The Canberra Times wrote, "Wherever Scott went [the trio] were right with him, seemingly not needing the charts which Scott supplied. Their confidence was impressive, and justified." [8]

Zwartz played double bass as a member of the Umbrellas, a Sydney jazz ensemble, with Dasent on piano, organ and accordion, Mark Bruwel on oboe, James Greening on trombone, Toby Hall on drums and Tim Hopkins on tenor saxophone. [9] The Umbrellas recorded an album, Soundtrack to the Passing Parade (August 1993). [9]

Zwartz worked in Vince Jones' backing band in November 1993, with Jones on trumpet and vocals, Hopkins on tenor saxophone, Peter Jones (no relation) on drums, Barney McAll on piano, and Ray Pereira on percussion. [10] Once more the performance was well-received by Foster. [10]

2000s

In 2000 he co-produced a ten-episode jazz music series, Pulse, for ABC-TV. [11]

In 2009 Zwartz issued his debut solo album, The Sea. [12]

2010s

His next album, four years later, The Remembering & Forgetting of the Air (July 2013), was described by John Shand of The Sydney Morning Herald , as "...ambient in intent (although it could be used that way). But it has a deep peacefulness and a simple beauty carrying an implicit hint of ineffable sadness... [with] carefully layered production creates three-dimensional sound images...". [13]

Zwartz third solo album, Animarum (February 2018), was feature album of the week on ABC Jazz, with their reviewer opining, "yet another smörgåsbord of intricate compositions, woven together... Each piece is unique, drawing on a plethora of musical influences from all over – yet they are also sequenced together to create a truly engrossing musical experience." [14]

In June 2018 he led a performance of Animarum at the Sydney Con International Jazz Festival, which was well reviewed by The South Sydney Herald. [15]

Discography

Albums

TitleDetails
The Australia 2000 Suite
(with Bobby Gebert Trio, Andrew Dickeson)
  • Released: 1997
  • Label: Australia Council For The Arts
  • Format: CD
The Sea
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Jonathan Zwartz
  • Format: CD
The Remembering & Forgetting of the Air
  • Released: 29 July 2013
  • Label: Jonathan Zwartz
  • Format: CD
Animarum
  • Released: February 2018 [16] [17]
  • Label: Jonathan Zwartz (JZ003)
  • Format: CD
This World
(with Mike Nock, Hamish Stuart and Julien Wilson)
  • Released: 2019
  • Label: Lionsharecords (LSR20196)
  • Format: CD, DD
Another Dance
(with Mike Nock, Hamish Stuart and Julien Wilson)
  • Released: January 2022
  • Format: CD, Digital
  • Label: Lionsharecords (LSR20212)

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2010 [18] [19] The SeaBest Independent Jazz AlbumNominated
2013 [20] The Remembering and Forgetting of the AirBest Independent Jazz AlbumWon
2019 [19] AnimarumBest Independent Jazz AlbumWon
2020 [21] [22] This WorldBest Independent Jazz Album or EPNominated

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2013 The Remembering & Forgetting of the Air Best Jazz Album Nominated [23] [24] [25]
2018 AnimarumBest Jazz AlbumWon [26] [27]
2020 This World (with Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson & Mike Nock)Best Jazz AlbumNominated [28] [29]
2022 Another Dance (with Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson & Mike Nock )Best Jazz AlbumNominated [30]

Australian Jazz Bell Awards

The Australian Jazz Bell Awards, (also known as the Bell Awards or The Bells), are annual music awards for the jazz music genre in Australia.

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2010 [12] EpicBest Australian Jazz EnsembleWon
"The Sea"Best Australian Jazz SongWon
2019"Animarum" (from Animarum)Best Jazz Work of the YearWon

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2016 [31] himselfLive Bassist of the YearNominated
2019 [32] [33] himselfLive Bassist of the YearNominated
Live Jazz Act of the YearNominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Backhouse</span> Musical artist

Tony Backhouse is a singer, musician and composer from New Zealand and is a key player in the Australasian a cappella movement. He played in New Zealand bands such as the Crocodiles, and formed Australian a cappella groups, the Elevators, the Cafe of the Gate of Salvation, the Honeybees and the Heavenly Lights. In NZ, he formed the Napier Gospel Choir. Currently he lives in Sydney and works as a singer, composer, author and workshop leader, in the areas of vocal arranging and gospel music. He composes and arranges mainly for a cappella choirs, always with an ear to vernacular traditions – contemporary funk, African choirs, gospel – and to anything polyphonic. Works that typify his style are Jubilation and (I've Been Given) Two Wing as sung by the Café of the Gate of Salvation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernie McGann</span> Musical artist

Bernard Francis McGann was an Australian jazz alto saxophone player. He began his career in the late 1950s and remained active as a performer, composer and recording artist until near the end of his life. McGann won four ARIA Music Awards between 1993 and 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Morrison (jazz musician)</span> Australian jazz musician (born 1962)

James Lloyd Morrison AM is an Australian jazz musician. Although his main instrument is trumpet, he has also performed on trombone, tuba, euphonium, flugelhorn, saxophone, clarinet, double bass, guitar, and piano. He is a composer, writing jazz charts for ensembles of various sizes and proficiency levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barney McAll</span> Australian-American jazz pianist and composer

Barney McAll is a jazz pianist and composer who lives in Melbourne, Australia. McAll joined Gary Bartz's band in 1997, and has also played with the Josh Roseman Unit, Fred Wesley and the JB's, Groove Collective, and Kurt Rosenwinkel's "Heartcore". He completed his Bachelor of Music at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, and studied in New York and Cuba. Barney is the brother of pianist John McAll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monica Trapaga</span> Australian entertainment presenter, jazz singer, and writer

Monica Maria Trapaga is an Australian entertainment presenter, jazz singer, and writer. She was a presenter on the Australian children's series, Play School, from 1990 to 1998; and had provided the vocals to the theme of Bananas in Pyjamas from 1992. She is the youngest sister of Ignatius Jones, an events director, journalist, actor and shock rocker. Trápaga appeared on Better Homes and Gardens from 1997 to 2003, in decoration-related segments. While on Play School, she started recording children's music albums as well as jazz ones. She was a member of various groups: Pardon Me Boys, Monica and the Moochers, and Monica Trapaga and the Bachelor Pad. Since the early 2000s, she has owned stores in Summer Hill and Newtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evelyn Morris</span> Musical artist

Evelyn Ida Morris, also known as Pikelet, is a musician from the outer suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Morris does not identify as either male or female and prefers to use "they", "them" and "their" as pronouns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donny Benét</span> Australian musician

Donny Benét is an Australian recording artist, based in Sydney. In 2011, he released his debut studio album Don't Hold Back through indie label Rice is Nice. His fifth studio album, Mr Experience, reached #26 on the ARIA Charts in May 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peking Duk</span> Australian electronic music group

Peking Duk is an Australian electronic music band from Canberra, made up of disc jockeys and record producers Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles. The pair first garnered attention in 2012 with the release of a Passion Pit bootleg remix. Their biggest hit "High" reached 5 on the ARIA Singles Chart, achieved a triple platinum certification and won the ARIA Award for Best Dance Release at the ARIA Music Awards of 2014. Notable festivals Peking Duk have performed include Falls Festival, Spilt Milk, Splendour in the Grass and Big Day Out.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gang of Youths</span> Australian rock band

Gang of Youths are an Australian alternative rock band, which formed in 2012. Since 2020, the group consists of David Le'aupepe on lead vocals, rhythm guitar and piano, Max Dunn on bass guitar, Jung Kim on guitar and keyboards, Donnie Borzestowski on drums and Tom Hobden on violin, rhythm guitar and keyboards. They relocated to England in 2017. Founding member Joji Malani, on lead guitar and backing vocals, left them in 2019 to return to Australia. The band's debut studio album, The Positions (2015), received multiple ARIA Award nominations and peaked at number five on the Australian albums chart. It provided the single "Magnolia", which has been described as their breakthrough hit and was certified platinum in 2018.

Citizen Kay is an Australian Canberra-based hip hop artist.

Margaret Edwina Lumsden, professionally known as Fanny Lumsden, is an Australian country music singer and songwriter. She has released 4 albums and 3 EPs.

A.B. Original is an Australian hip hop duo made up of Indigenous Australian rappers Briggs and record producer Trials. A.B. Original stands for Always Black, Original. Both members are Indigenous Australians; Briggs is a Yorta Yorta man and Trials is Ngarrindjeri. Their music is overtly political and has been described as "angry, polemical, brutally frank and meant to inspire a response, good or bad".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Lahey</span> Musical artist

Alexandra Lahey is an Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Her debut album I Love You Like a Brother was released on 6 October 2017 and peaked at number 15 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Her second album, The Best of Luck Club followed in 2019, peaking at number 30. Following an EP issued during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she released her third record, The Answer Is Always Yes, in May 2023.

The Umbrellas are an Australian jazz ensemble formed in 1985 to play Peter Dasent's compositions. The group has published five full-length albums. All are still available, the first four as rereleases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sampa the Great</span> Zambian rapper and musician

Sampa Tembo, known professionally as Sampa the Great, is a Zambian singer, rapper and songwriter. Between 2014 and 2020, she was based in Australia. Her debut solo album, The Return, peaked at No. 12 on the ARIA Albums Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019 she won Best Hip Hop Release for her second single, "Final Form". In the following year she won the same category for The Return, as well as Best Female Artist and Best Independent Release. In March 2020 Sampa became the first artist to win the Australian Music Prize twice: for Birds and the Bee9 and The Return. The artist was based back in Zambia from late 2020, where she issued her second studio album, As Above, So Below.

Ten Part Invention is an Australian jazz ensemble formed in 1986 by drummer John Pochée. They came together for the 1986 Adelaide Festival of Arts. They were nominated for the 1992 ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album for their self-titled album.

John Robert Gebert is an Australian jazz pianist. The Bobby Gebert Trio was nominated for the 1995 ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album with The Sculptor.

The World According to James is an Australian jazz band founded by James Greening. Their album Wayback was nominated for the 2003 ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album.

Phil Slater is an Australian jazz trumpeter and composer based in the Illawarra region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zela Margossian</span> Australian pianist of Armenian heritage (born 1980)

Zela Margossian is an Australian pianist of Armenian heritage. Born in Beirut, she is currently based in Sydney.

References

  1. ↑ "'Animarum' Jonathan Zwartz", ABC Jazz, 16 February 2018
  2. 1 2 3 Sergent, Bruce. "Crocodiles". Bruce Sergent. Retrieved 27 December 2018. Note: name given as Jonathon Swartz
  3. 1 2 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Jenny Morris'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop . St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN   1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 9 August 2004. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Bollinger, Nick (1 November 2013). "The Crocodiles – Person". AudioCulture. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  5. 1 2 I Am Joe's Music (liner notes). I Am Joe's Music (musical group). Mushroom Records. 1983. L 38037.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ↑ "Under Current: I Am Joe's Music 'Life in Asia' Mushroom". Woroni . Vol. 35, no. 9. 8 August 1983. p. 12. Retrieved 27 December 2018– via National Library of Australia.
  7. 1 2 Lamberton, Hugh (14 November 1991). "Good Times: Electrifying Sounds from Master McGann". The Canberra Times . Vol. 66, no. 20, 669. p. 19. Retrieved 26 December 2018– via National Library of Australia.
  8. 1 2 Foster, Michael (30 January 1992). "Youthful vigour from sax 'great'". The Canberra Times. Vol. 66, no. 20, 745. p. 14. Retrieved 26 December 2018– via National Library of Australia.
  9. 1 2 "Red Onions are back with distinctive flair". The Canberra Times. Vol. 67, no. 21, 313. 29 August 1993. p. 29. Retrieved 26 December 2018– via National Library of Australia.
  10. 1 2 Foster, Michael (18 November 1993). "All That Jazz: Asmara's PNG sounds". The Canberra Times. Vol. 68, no. 21, 401. p. 2. Retrieved 27 December 2018– via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ "Jonathan Zwartz : Represented Artist Profile". Australian Music Centre. May 2013. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  12. 1 2 "The Australian Jazz Bell Awards 2010". The Australian Jazz Bell Awards Limited. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  13. ↑ Shand, John (1 June 2013). "Three-dimensional sound a breath of fresh air". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  14. ↑ "'Animarum' Jonathan Zwartz – Feature Albums – Jazz". ABC Jazz (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)). 16 February 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  15. ↑ Robinson, Heather (5 July 2018). "Music – Animarum". The South Sydney Herald. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  16. ↑ Shand, John (10 April 2018), "Music reviews: Gurrumul, Hop Along, Jonathan Zwartz, City Calm Down", The Sydney Morning Herald
  17. ↑ "Review: Zwartz, Calexico, Segall, Emmanuel, Joyce, White", The Australian , 3 February 2018
  18. ↑ "Jagermeister Independent Music Awards Nominations Announced!". 1 September 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  19. 1 2 "History Wins". Australian Independent Record Labels Association . Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  20. ↑ "Final AIR Awards 2013 Nominations Revealed, $50,000 Prize Announced". tonedeaf. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  21. ↑ "2020 AIR Awards Nominees". scenestr. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  22. ↑ "That's a wrap: 2020 AIR Awards winners and celebrations". the industry observer. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  23. ↑ Paget, Clive (3 October 2013), "Dickson, Hansen, Sheldon and Whitwell to slug it out at ARIAS", Limelight Magazine
  24. ↑ "ARIA Noms + Fine Arts & Artisan Winners". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 14 October 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  25. ↑ "2013 ARIA Awards Winners By Year". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  26. ↑ Harmon, Steph (10 October 2018). "Aria awards 2018: Amy Shark and Courtney Barnett lead nominations". the Guardian. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  27. ↑ Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) (11 October 2018). "2018 ARIA Award Nominees Announced". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  28. ↑ "ARIA Awards 2020 Nominees". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  29. ↑ "And the 2020 ARIA Awards Go To…". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  30. ↑ Lars Brandle (12 October 2022). "Rüfüs Du Sol Leads 2022 ARIA Awards Nominees (Full List)". The Music Network. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  31. ↑ "Nominees 2016". NLMA. 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  32. ↑ "HERE ARE YOUR 2019 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES!". NLMA. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  33. ↑ "AND THE WINNERS OF THE 2019 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS ARE…". NLMA. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.