Episode 6 - Paul Grabowsky

Hello everyone,

This is Mirko Guerrini, and I welcome you to the Jazz Transcription Clinic, a monthly interviews podcast where we talk with accomplished jazz doctors about their lives, careers and their personal transcription secrets.

On this episode of the Jazz Transcription Clinic Podcast, Mirko Guerrini interviews the guest jazz doctor: Paul Grabowsky.

Paul Grabowsky is a pianist, composer, arranger, conductor – and is one of Australia’s most distinguished artists. Born in Papua New Guinea, Paul was raised in Melbourne. During the late 70’s he became prominent in the music scene in Melbourne, working in various jazz, theatre and cabaret projects. He lived and worked in Europe and the US from 1980-85, during which time he performed with many jazz luminaries including Art Farmer and Johnny Griffin. He returned to Australia in 1986 and established a reputation as one of Australia’s leading jazz musicians with such bands as his own trio and sextet, the Wizards of Oz and as musical director for singer Vince Jones. He was musical director of Tonight Live with Steve Vizard (a nationally televised variety show) from 1990-1992. He was Commissioning Editor (Arts and Entertainment) for ABC Television 1995-98. He has written the scores for over twenty feature films in Australia, the UK and US including ‘Innocence’ (Paul Cox), ‘Last Orders’, ‘The Eye of the Storm’, ‘Words and Pictures’(Fred Schepisi) and ‘Shiner’ (John Irvin). His television credits include the series ‘Phoenix’ and ‘Janus’ and the Emmy-winning ‘Empire Falls’. His works for the theatre include four operas and various multimedia works. His most recent opera, created for soprano Emma Matthews, ‘The Space Between’, with libretto by Steve Vizard, premiered at Arts Centre Melbourne in September 2018. He is the Founding Artistic Director of the Australian Art Orchestra, which he led from 1994-2013. He has won seven ARIA awards (most recently in 2019 for his recording ‘Tryst’ with singer Kate Ceberano)), two Helpmann awards, several APRA and Bell Awards and a Deadly award. He was the Sydney Myer Performing Artist of the Year in 2000, and received the Melbourne Prize for Music in 2007. He was the 2010 Australian National University H.C.Coombs Fellow. He was Artistic Director of the Queensland Music Festival from 2005-2007 and was Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival of Arts for 2010 and 2012. He is currently a Professor at Monash University, and director of the Monash University Academy of Performing Arts and the Monash Art Ensemble. In 2014 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for services to music and arts administration.

In this episode, Paul explains his personal transcribing approach and shows how to profit from every transcription you make. He is also providing many examples of solos that have been significant to his musical growth.

Among all the great things that Paul says, my favourites are:

'You won't ever sound like somebody else, because you are not that person',

'MIles can play one note and all of the sudden all the energy conveys there!'

'George Coleman is the Mozart of Hard Bop'.

Artists mentioned in this episode: Gary Costello, Lennie Tristano, Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Bud Powell, Fats Navarro, George Coleman, Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau, Keith Jarrett, Wayne Shorter. a.o.

You can check Paul Grabowsky here: https://paulgrabowsky.com.au

You can check Mirko Guerrini's music here: https://mirkoguerrini.bandcamp.com

Mirko Guerrini is a D'Addario artist, playing D'Addario mouthpieces and reeds.

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is being recorded. I pay my respect to their Elders, past and present, and the Aboriginal Elders of other communities who may be here today.