Andrew Murray is a valve trombonist/arranger/composer who has just returned to Melbourne after studying his Masters in Jazz (Theory, Composition and Arrangement) at the University for Music and Dramatic Arts, in Graz, Austria. During his time in Austria, Andrew studied under, and was the assistant of Bob Brookmeyer for one month during his Artist in Residence in Graz. The culmination of this Residency was a tour around Austria performing Brookmeyer’s music. Andrew's other two main Professors during his studies were two internationally renowned musicians Ed Partyka and Ed Neumeister.
During 2009, Andrew was the winner of Sweden's Big Band Competition 'Jazzverk' where his composition 'The Real Mission' was recorded by the Bohuslän Big Band and broadcast on Swedish Radio. Andrew was also commisioned to arrange music for Fred Wesley and the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra on Wesley's recent visit to Australia.
At the end of November 2008, Andrew was chosen as one of three students to fly to Essen, Germany to represent the University during their collaboration with the Essen Philharmonic. He performed a new work by Carla Bley featuring Uri Cain and Steve Swallow. In December 2008 Andrew was one of four composers chosen to have their compositions performed at Porgy and Bess in Vienna as part of a young composers competition. Whilst living in Europe, Andrew has had workshops with Michael Mossman, Rainer Temple and Luis Bonilla and worked as the studio engineer for the debut album by the Gerd Herman Orchestra in Vienna. In September Andrew will be participating in Mace Francis’ Chinese Whispers IV composition project as part of the Artistshare program.
Andrew completed his Bachelor of Music-Jazz at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). He majored in Composition and Arranging in his final year at WAAPA, studying under Graeme Lyall-AM and guest artist in residence Professor Ed Partyka. Andrew worked with the Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) throughout his final year and completed a recital of his music composed and arranged specifically for WAYJO. He was the only composer who, during their final year, was given their own concert at WAAPA for the general public and upon graduating he won the WAYJO 'Outstanding Achievement Award for Outstanding Contribution and Professionalism'. WAYJO was asked to record for ABC radio’s Jazz Track and Andrew was one of three local composers whose compositions were chosen by WAYJO to be featured on that recording.
After graduating Andrew was offered the role of Assistant Musical Director of WAYJO for 2008. He turned down this offer after being personally invited by Ed Partyka to take up the privileged opportunity to study in Austria.
Andrew’s compositions have been recorded for the album On a Sunday Night by the WAMi nominated original funk band The Roast, on the WAAPA Big Band C.D Random Musings, and on vocalist Jono McNeil’s debut album Places. Andrew has been nominated as a finalist for the following song writing competitions; The APRA Professional Development Awards, the Western Australian Music Industry Awards (WAMi), Music Oz, and the International Songwriting Competition.
In November 2007, Andrew took part in Mace Francis’ project Chinese Whispers III, and as a result had one of his compositions recorded by the ABC for their radio program Jazztrack. The Chinese Whispers III project will be available through the ArtistShare website, putting his music alongside great composers such as Maria Schneider and Bob Brookmeyer. As a member of the Mace Francis Orchestra (MFO), Andrew contributed his compositions to the bands repertoire and was involved in the collaboration between MFO and award-winning band Djiva, orchestrating and arranging music for MFO to Djiva’s repertoire.
Andrew has composed and performed his original compositions with the Callum G'Froerer Nonet at the Perth Jazz Society, the Dan Thorne/Andrew Murray Chordless Quintet at Club EMU - The Bakery, and with MFO and The Roast at the Leederville Hotel as part of the Funk Club, the Universal Bar and the Llama Bar.
Performing at the International Association of Jazz Educators (I.A.J.E) conference in New York City in 2005 gave Andrew the opportunity to attend compositional workshops with Kenny Werner, Gordon Goodwin, Bob Brookmeyer, Maria Schneider and John Clayton.
Other musicians Andrew has worked with include; Manhattan Transfer, Jim Pugh, Frank Foster, James Morrison, Graeme Lyall, Darryl Sommers, Don Burrows, Joe Chindamo, Rhonda Burchmore, Grace Knight, the Mat Jodrell All-Star Big Band, and Pete Murray. Andrew has also appeared on Channel 9's 'The Footy Show'.
Thanks for the ad! We're glad to invite you to the first live show of Albert Beger's Septet, tomorrow - Saturday 22.8.09, 20:30 @ Ozen Bar, Tel Aviv!! Come and enjoy fresh live music from the hearts of 7 great musicians..
hey man, everythings going pretty well. moved over to melbourne a couple of months ago and just settling in, trying to get my name around. hows things with you? when are you back in town? i wish i could come to perth to catch the roast, thats going to be awesome. see ya soon!
Am 30.April geht im PPC die Post ab ! 3 Live Bands, eine Afterparty bis in die Morgenstunden und am nächsten Tag ist Feiertag !!
vvk gibts bei der steiermärkischen Sparkasse. mehr infos unter: www.myspace.com/reggaeontherocksfestival bzw www.millionsofdreads.at
lg und bis Donnerstag, M.O.D.
Hey Andrew. Where in this small world are you at the moment? Hope everything is fine. Say hello to Jess aswell. All the best. Hope to see you again soon. Benny
ciao andrew! everything..s cool with the belues? bob dancing - and i missed it! shit! say hello to everyone and please give the guitar and the 38 euro back!!! lg
Lies lies lies... my muted trumpet playing to abersolds at 3 in the morning whilst being quite pissy is genius!!! the melodica has nothing on that... definitely my best work ever. hope you are grand sir and europe is treating you well. you wear turtle neck jumpers and yellow glasses now don't you? love to jess as well, brooky
everythings been going pretty well ! just trying to play as much as I can and have fun ! hows things with you ?
playing with peter combe is awesome! every show is like an awesome trip back to my childhood ! haha if he even wants to bring on some sweet horn section action i'll pass you on straight away