2013 Jann Rutherford Memorial Award – Jodie Michael

From the Media Release

We are thrilled to announce that the latest recipient of the Jann Rutherford Memorial Award is Jazz drummer Jodie Michael.

Jodie MichaelsDrummer Jodie Michael is an outstanding jazz musician. As a teenager she displayed a jaw dropping flair for her chosen instrument.

Though only 23 years of age, Jodie has been playing the drums for a decade. Her music career started in high school. Her brilliance was already on display when she attended SIMA’s improvisation workshops for young women in 2005. During high school Jodie gained valuable experience in jazz ensemble playing at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music. She was awarded jazz scholarships from Wollongong Conservatorium and IAJE Pan-Pacific Jazz camps.

In 2007 Jodie toured America with the Wollongong Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra. She gained more experience of the heady US Jazz scene during subsequent study in New York with world-class drummers Michael Carvin, Eric Harland and Kenny Washington. Jodie has played with many acclaimed Australian jazz musicians including James Muller, James Morrison, Dale Barlow, Bobby Gebert, Carl Dewhurst, Craig Scott and Matt McMahon.

Jodie graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2012 with a Bachelor of Music, (Performance), Jazz. She continues to further her career in Australia and overseas. She returned to New York during 2013 for further study.

Jann Rutherford logoThe Jann Rutherford Memorial Award was founded in 2005 at the instigation of a private benefactor who recognised a need to support young female jazz musicians at the beginning of their professional careers. The award is a professional development opportunity.

The Award is named in honour of the late jazz pianist Jann Rutherford, and is funded by private donations in partnership with Melbourne Womens International Jazz Festival (MWIJF), Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA), Jazz Queensland and ABC Radio National.

Recent recipients of the award were Jessica Dunn and Harriet Harding, enabling them to launch The Sirens all woman big band; Bassist Hannah James; and Ellen Kirkwood leader of the group Captain Kirkwood’.

Jodie Michael Trio

Jodie has assembled an impressive organ trio featuring outstanding musicians of the new generation.

Jodie Michael (drums) Steve Barry (organ) Carl Morgan (guitar)

Her musical intention – ‘I want to present a repertoire of music that expresses my love for all styles of music, something that highlights the “broken” quality of music; an adventure of sorts into music, breaking it up and putting it back together rhythmically and structurally, communicating what I had found in the process of exploration.

Steve Barry

Since moving to Sydney from New Zealand in 2009, Steve Barry has quickly made a name for himself as an accomplished pianist, improviser and composer. Demonstrating a natural creative flair, technical facility, and artistic maturity, Steve forms a part of the new generation of young Australasian artists exploring both the jazz tradition and modern approaches to improvisation and creative music.

In 2013 Steve received the Bell Award for Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year.

Carl Morgan

Australian guitarist Carl Morgan spent the first 18 years of his life in the rural village of Central Tilba, on the NSW South Coast, picking up the guitar at the age of 9. After completing high school, Carl attended the Australian National University in 2006-09, graduating with a Bachelor of Music. He was awarded the Peter and Lena Karmel anniversary award for the most outstanding graduate at the ANU School of Music. Carl was a finalist in the National Jazz Awards in 2007, and a finalist in the James Morrison Scholarship in 2008.

Jodie Michael Trio Performances

Friday 11 October Sound Lounge, Seymour Centre for Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA)

Saturday 19 October, Turbine Jazz Series, Brisbane Powerhouse

Sunday 8 December, Melbourne Womens International Jazz Festival, Bennetts Lane, Melbourne