The Vampires (band)

The Vampires
OriginSydney, Australia
GenresWorld-roots jazz
Years active2005–present
LabelsEarshift Music
MembersJeremy Rose
Nick Garbett
Alex Masso
Noel Mason
Past membersAlex Boneham, Mike Majkowski
Websitewww.thevampires.com.au

The Vampires are an Australian world roots jazz group comprising saxophonist Jeremy Rose, trumpeter Nick Garbett, drummer Alex Masso, and bassist Mike Majkowski.

History

The band formed in their final year of studying for their Bachelor of Music (jazz performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music[citation needed] in 2005.[1]

The band has released six albums and toured extensively around Australia, Germany, the UK, Czech Republic, Austria and Italy. The band performs mostly original music by Jeremy Rose and Nick Garbett that draws inspiration from their travels around the world and experiences in life. The band has performed at every major jazz festival in Australia, the Love Supreme Festival (UK), Glasgow Jazz Festival, Edingburgh Jazz Festival, Jazzahead Festival (Bremen, Germany), and the Enjoy Jazz Festival (Mannheim, Germany).[citation needed]

Members

  • Nick Garbett (trumpet)
  • Jeremy Rose (alto, tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet and piano)
  • Alex Masso (drums and percussion)
  • Alex Boneham (double bass, 2008–present)
  • Mike Majkowski (double bass, 2006–2008)

The band members have lived in different parts of the world – bassist Alex Boneham became an established presence in Los Angeles, and Nick Garbett lived in Lampedusa, Italy.[citation needed]

On 1 March 2022, Alex Masso was appointed executive officer of the Australian Music Association.[2][3]

Collaborators

  • Chris Abrahams (piano, organ, prophet, super 6, Quantum, Rhodes, 2021–2022, on Night Jar)
  • Jonathan Zwartz (double bass, 2014–2017, on The Vampires Meet Lionel Loueke)
  • Shannon Barnett (occasional guest, trombone on South Coasting, Chellowdene and Garfish)
  • Fabian Hevia (guest, percussion, approx. 2009–2012, on Chellowdene and Garfish)
  • Ben Hauptmann (guest, guitar, 2014–2017)
  • Lionel Loueke (guest, guitar, 2016, on The Vampires Meet Lionel Loueke)
  • Danny Fischer (guest, drums, 2016, on The Vampires Meet Lionel Loueke)
  • Also one off performances with Matt Smith (guitar), Tobias Backhaus (drums), James Greening (trombone), Mike Rivett (saxophone), Peter Farrar (saxophone), Lloyd Swanton, Max Alduca, Rory Brown, Brett Hirst, Tom Botting, and Zephyr Quartet.

Awards and nominations

The Vampires were a finalist for Best Australian Jazz Ensemble and Best Produced Album at the Australian Jazz Bell Awards and in the AIR Awards.[citation needed]

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony held by the Australian Recording Industry Association.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017[4] The Vampires meet Lionel Loueke Best Jazz Album Nominated
2023 Nightjar (featuring Chris Abrahams) Best Jazz Album Won

Australian Music Prize

The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. They commenced in 2005.[5][6] The Vampires were the first instrumental act to be shortlisted for this prize.[citation needed]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 The Vampires meet Lionel Loueke Australian Music Prize Nominated

Discography

Albums

Title Album details
South Coasting
  • Released: March 2008[7][8]
  • Label: Jazzgroove Records
Chellowdene
  • Released: March 2010[9][10]
  • Label: Earshift Music
Garfish
  • Released: 25 March 2012[11][12]
  • Label: Earshift Music (EAR006)
Tiro
  • Released: October 2013[13][14]
  • Label: Earshift Music
The Vampires meet Lionel Loueke
  • Released: 5 May 2017[15][16]
  • Label: Earshift Music (EAR017)
Pacifica
  • Released: February 2019[17][18]
  • Label: Earshift Music (EAR026)

References

  1. ^ Cunningham, Ilsa (23 August 2007), "Vamping it up", Illawarra Mercury
  2. ^ "AMA appoints new Executive Officer". Australian Music Association. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  3. ^ Briggs, Maddy (21 June 2023). "Make noise for Make Music Day in 2023!". Limelight. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  4. ^ "ARIA Awards search The Vampires". ARIA Awards. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Sampa the Great Scores $30,000 aus Music Prize". Themusic.com.au.
  6. ^ "2017 Shortlist – the Amp (Australian Music Prize)". Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  7. ^ McBeath, John (8 March 2008), "Spin Doctor", The Australian
  8. ^ "THE VAMPIRES – SOUTH COASTING". Jazz. March 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Chellowdene (DD)". Apple Music. March 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  10. ^ Mitchell, Roger (26 September 2010), "CD reviews", The Sunday Mail
  11. ^ "Garfish (DD)". Apple Music. March 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  12. ^ McBeath, John (24 March 2012), "Music reviews", The Australian
  13. ^ "Tiro (DD)". Apple Music. April 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  14. ^ McBeath, John (5 October 2013), "Tiro (The Vampires)", The Australian
  15. ^ "The Vampires meet Lionel Loueke (DD)". Apple Music. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  16. ^ Fordham, John (27 September 2017), "The Vampires/Lionel Loueke: The Vampires Meet Lionel Loueke review – seductive, genre-hopping creativity", The Guardian
  17. ^ "Pacifica (DD)". Apple Music. February 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  18. ^ Fukushima, Gary (July 2019), "The Vampires/Pacifica review", Downbeat