Australian Jazz Real Book
Australian Jazz is to be compiled in a book of sheet music for musicians.
“The quality of musicians writing jazz-related compositions in Australia is world class; and should be played more, listened to more, developed, recognised and appreciated more.” according to Tim Nikolsky, a Melbourne musician who is working towards publishing the Australian Jazz Real Book (AJRB). In Australia aspiring jazz musicians have very limited opportunities to study and play compositions from Australian jazz composers. There has been no formal Australian Jazz Real Book publication; jazz musicians are limited to their circle of colleagues in finding new repertoire to perform and practice, other than composing their own. Tim says “I started to think that the only reason we play American tunes from real books on gigs is that we learnt them in college, uni or tafe; and they are available.”
Mr. Nikolsky wants to change this situation. “I would really like the next generation of jazz musicians in Australia to have a resource available to them that offers them the opportunity to play uniquely Australian compositions, to re-interpret and re-imagine them just like they would with any of the American Real Book tunes.” Currently there is no resource like this available for Australian jazz. We certainly have talent in Australia worth documenting. You only have to hear any of the musicians in the finals of the National Jazz Awards at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival to recognise that there are amazingly talented musicians around Australia. In 2009, the competition is for saxophone and entrants are required to play a composition by John Coltrane, Bernie McGann or Dale Barlow. John Coltrane’s compositions are widely available, though Bernie McGann and Dale Barlow compostions are more difficult to access.
The AJRB will provide all aspiring jazz musicians with an uniquely Australian repertoire to play, study, analyse, arrange and interpret; an awareness of Australian jazz musicians that have come before; and develop an awareness of the “Australian Jazz Sound”.
“I would like every Australian jazz musician who has ever used a real book to have an opportunity to have their say on what should be in the AJRB. Ultimately they who will be using it as a resource.” Tim says “I believe the existence of the Australian Jazz Real Book would help musicians of all levels to discover fantastic Australian comositions that are not normally readily available. As it will feature compositions from all around Australia spanning many decades, it will help unite the Australian jazz community by recognising original artists and providing a resource which allows their music to be played. As this publication will include compositions from artists that are no longer playing or no longer with us, it will help us to remember their amazing talent and their contribution to jazz in Australia.”
