Jonathan Zwartz
Birth nameJonathan Peter Zwartz
BornAuckland, New Zealand
Genres
  • Pop
  • jazz
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
Years active1981–present
Labels
  • Independent
  • The Planet Company
  • MGM
Formerly ofThe Crocodiles
Websitejonathanzwartz.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.

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

Title Details
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.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
AIR Awards of 2010[18][19] The Sea Best Independent Jazz Album Nominated
AIR Awards of 2013[20] The Remembering and Forgetting of the Air Best Independent Jazz Album Won
AIR Awards of 2019[19] Animarum Best Independent Jazz Album Won
AIR Awards of 2020[21][22] This World Best Independent Jazz Album or EP Nominated

ARIA Music Awards

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

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2013 The Remembering & Forgetting of the Air Best Jazz Album Nominated [23][24][25]
2018 Animarum Best Jazz Album Won [26][27]
2020 This World (with Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson & Mike Nock) Best Jazz Album Nominated [28][29]
2022Another Dance (with Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson & Mike Nock )Best Jazz AlbumPending[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.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010[12] Epic Best Australian Jazz Ensemble Won
"The Sea" Best Australian Jazz Song Won
2019 "Animarum" (from Animarum) Best Jazz Work of the Year Won

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.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
National Live Music Awards of 2016[31] himself Live Bassist of the Year Nominated
National Live Music Awards of 2019[32][33] himself Live Bassist of the Year Nominated
Live Jazz Act of the Year Nominated

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.
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