Composers
Libby Hammer is one of Perth’s premier jazz vocalists.
With a background in musical theatre and circus, along with five years of music study and 16 years of music industry experience, she has developed a solid reputation in Western Australia as an accomplished jazz singer, bandleader and vocal coach.
In 1996, while still studying, Libby and three of her fellow students formed a quartet which they called Hip Mo’ Toast (Hip because it’s cool, Mo’ because you get more for your money and Toast because everybody loves toast!). Over the years Hip Mo’ Toast matured and grew in to an outstanding collective of Perth’s best jazz musicians, performing in ensembles ranging from a trio to a big band, all led by Libby herself.
Hip Mo’ Toast has performed thousands of concerts since 1996, including touring to the eastern states of Australia on two occasions, performing at the Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival in Italy in 2006 and for a royal wedding in Singapore in 2007. Hip Mo’ Toast has made four CD recordings and in 2006 won its sixth consecutive Western Australian Music Industry Association award for Most Popular Original Jazz Act.
As well as having composed original songs for Hip Mo’ Toast recordings, in August 2006 Libby completed her first commissioned work ‘The Glade’ for New Music For The Southern Forests. In her own right, Libby has performed with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and alongside such Australian jazz icons as James Morrison and Joe Chindamo. She has worked with international jazz artists such as Josh Hilberman (USA), Christoph Spendel (Germany) and two – time Grammy Winner Gary Bartz (USA).
Libby was a key member of the Perth Jazz Society committee from 1992 until 2006 and in 2005 won the PJS Award for Most Outstanding Individual Contribution To Jazz. In 2007 she won another PJS award – Life Membership for Outstanding Long – Term Contribution to Jazz. She is proud to be Patron of Jazz Fremantle. Libby regularly adjudicates eisteddfods and singing competitions and is sought after for her professional development workshops. She has taught jazz at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and currently teaches singing at two of Perth’s leading private schools.
Bassist/composer Nick Abbey has become an integral fixture of the WA jazz scene since arriving from Melbourne in 2006. A well-known and eminently reliable sideman who has featured with a host of national and international luminaries (including the likes of Veronica Swift, Peter Bernstein, George Garzone, John Scofield, Troy Roberts, Tal Cohen, Paul Grabowsky, and Jamie Oehlers, to name a few), this PhD recipient, 2020 Freedman Jazz Fellowship nominee, 2015 National Jazz Awards semi-finalist, and sessional lecturer at WAAPA and UWA is also a compelling artistic voice in his own right.
Alongside his long-time collaborators Chris Foster and Daniel Susnjar, Nick’s main project is his long-running eponymous trio, an ensemble built on its members’ deep musical and personal connection. This modern take on the piano trio format has forged a trademark blend of lush harmonies, emotive melodies, dynamic rhythmic interplay, and fiery improvisations. The release of his album ‘Phantoms’ with this group saw Nick receive his fourth WAM Jazz Song of the Year award (2012, 2013, 2014, 2019) and a further nomination in 2020. This ensemble will soon start working towards a new studio release featuring an expanded lineup. Nick, Chris, and Daniel also perform together in two other guises: the Chris Foster Trio – which has recently recorded Chris’s debut album ‘In Motion’ (releasing 2022) – and TRISK, a collaborative jazz/hip-hop project featuring WA MCs and vocalists such as Optamus, Macshane, Kruger James, and Solomon Pitt (also releasing a 2022 album). Inspired by bassists such as Larry Grenadier, Dave Holland, John Patitucci, Jorge Roeder, and Linda May Han Oh, Nick is also currently working on an audio-visual recording of original music for solo double bass.
Outside of his own projects, Nick regularly features with various other groups in Perth, including Libby Hammer, The Fix, Ryan Daunt, Fiona Lawe Davies, Chris McNulty, Simone Craddock, and Perth Symphony Orchestra, amongst many others.
Keep up-to-date with Nick at www.nickabbeymusic.com and TRISK at www.triskmusic.com.
Nick Abbey
Jazz Vocalist and Tutor. This stylish and sophisticated singer has long been established as one of Western Australia’s premier jazz vocalists, performing with her band since 1996. Penny is as well known to those in the know for her passionate and evocative stage presence as she is for her diverse arrangements of standards and contemporary tunes alike.
Her position as vocal tutor in the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts’ jazz department is testament to her respected place in the thriving Perth Jazz scene.
Active as a professional musician for over 20 years, Pete graduated from the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (W.A.A.P.A.) in 1997 with a Bachelor of Music (Jazz) and is an in-demand bassist performing regularly in a wide range of styles on both Double Bass and Electric Bass Guitar.
Pete has performed extensively throughout Australia and also in India, China, the U.K, Italy, Singapore, Japan, the U.S.A and New Zealand and he has performed with many well known artists including Michel Legrand, Hank Marvin, Mark Murphy, Geoffrey Keezer, George Garzone, Leo Sayer, Carmen Lundy, Andy Sheppard, Gary Bartz, Walter Smith III, Karrin Allyson and James Morrison to name only a few.
Currently a member of the highly acclaimed Tom O’Halloran Trio, Pete is also bassist for the Perth ensemble “Memory of Elements” (MOE) which launched it’s debut album and toured Australia in 2011 including performances at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues. MOE recently released it’s second album “Now Noise” composed by the group’s pianist Tom O’Halloran. Pete is also a member of the gyspy jazz groups “Belleville” and “Sassafras” and he has been a member of many other perth-based jazz groups including “Michael Pigneguy Sextet” and “The Perth Jazz Orchestra”. Pete has also led/co-led a number of groups including “Thrust” (funk-jazz) “Salamander” (jazz & electronic music) “Frames of Minds” (modern jazz) and continues to lead jazz groups under his own name ranging in size from trio to quintet.
An avid composer, Pete has written numerous original works including commissions for the Nuevo Tango group ‘Guapo’, Southern Forests Arts and also JAZZWA (the 26th Parallel Suite – written for 20 piece ensemble) and he has won WAMi awards for jazz composition. Pete also writes for his own groups/projects including the Pete Jeavons Quintet.
Named the Perth Jazz Society’s most outstanding contributor in the year 2011 (and previously in 2000 too), Pete was also a finalist in the 2008 National Jazz Bass Awards. Despite maintaining a busy schedule as a freelance musician Pete has been a driving force in the not-for-profit arts organization “JAZZWA” for 17 years, in various roles including Project Manager, General Manager, and currently Treasurer. As a Project Manager for JAZZWA Pete has produced six volumes of the Jazzaziz Compilation CD for JAZZWA (which features original contemporary jazz from various Perth jazz groups) and organized countless performances, tours and jam sessions for JAZZWA. Pete also runs the annual JazzNOW! Jazzcamp for JAZZWA, designed to educate young jazz musicians.
Pete also teaches bass at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (W.A.A.P.A.), and is a presenter of the ‘Giant Steps’ contemporary jazz program on community radio station RTR-FM 92.1.
Freddie Grigson has been at the forefront of Australia’s ever-evolving jazz scene for the past 35 years. His artistic virtuosity and authentic interpretation of the Jazz language has earned him a reputation as one of the country’s most in-demand guitarists.
Beginning his musical career in Melbourne, Freddie moved to Perth in the early 1980’s where he continues to perform, teach, record and develop his skills and unique sound.
Armed with an extensive and increasing number of original compositions along with the ability to continually reinvent the standard jazz repertoire, Freddie delivers a harmonic sensitivity, together with an instinctive melodic flair.
He is an experienced and sought-after sideman, working alongside legendary artists such as Sammy Davis, Jr and Shirley Bassey. He is also a headliner in his own right and has shared the stage with jazz giants, including Joe Pass and John Scofield.
Freddie has released two albums, Bluezone in 1997 and Past and Present, released in early 2012.
Tom O’Halloran leads his own original jazz piano trio outfit and conducts orchestras from time to time, composes new classical music, plays wild old analogue synthesizers and even rock guitar. Most recently he has played with acclaimed bassist Robert Hurst (USA), was nominated for a 2012 APRA Australian Art Music award and was a finalist in the 2011 Freedman Foundation Jazz Fellowship – where he was featured at the Sydney Opera House.
He plays a myriad of styles, and recently arranged all the music for the concert series JONI – a Joni Mitchell tribute that was staged at the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne and Brisbane, starring Katie Noonan and Wendy Matthews. He has also worked with other industry names such as Pete Murray (Sony), James Morrison, singers Tina Harrod, Ilan Kidron (Potbellez, Universal), Max Sharam, Geoff Duff, Josh Quong-Tart (Home and Away, All Saints), Hugo Race (Bad Seeds), David Campbell, Deni Hines (Sony BMG), Mark Sholtez (Verve label), Rick Robertson (DIG), and other jazz musicians of the caliber of James Muller, Simon Barker, Kristen Berardi, trumpeter Phil Slater, bassist Cameron Undy and 20th Century Dog, Dan Barnett’s Big Band – and has performed at other Australian jazz festivals including the Melbourne Jazz Festival, Newcastle, York (WA), Manly and Coolah Jazz Festivals.
Tom O’Halloran leads the Jazz Piano department at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University, and also lectures in jazz composition and improvisation. He is a regularly commissioned composer, and currently holds a Master of Music in classical composition from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and a Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance) from WAAPA.
[Sourced from http://www.tomohalloran.com.au]
