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Jeremy Woolhouse

Jeremy Woolhouse is a jazz musician based in Melbourne, Australia. He is known as a composer and pianist in a variety of jazz settings. Jeremy also teaches piano and Alexander Technique.

Born 5th October 1977 Jeremy had some early lessons on the Yamaha Electone, then switched to trombone before taking up piano at the age of 19. He studied music at Box Hill College of TAFE and Victorian College of the Arts before training in Alexander Technique at the School For FM Alexander Studies.

Jeremy’s music became recognised in 2002 with the launch of a jazz - tango fusion project called “Estuary Three”. Originally an instrumental trio performing Jeremy’s original compositions, the ensemble morphed into a project with dancers, vocals and included traditional tango repertoire. This venture established Jeremy as a composer and pianist whose style artfully encompasses European Jazz, South American and World Music influences.

The Woolhouse - Michailidis - Robertson collaboration with bassist Ben Robertson and guitarist Lucas Michailidis featured Jeremy’s composition and highlighted his improvisational prowess. The trio’s recording of the album “Ascent” received much critical acclaim and continues to be featured on Australian radio.

In 2012 Jeremy released recordings of a suite of solo piano works entitled “The Persistence of Dreaming” and in 2013 released "The Scenery of Life Unfolding" - a duet project with bassist Shannon Birchall.

Jeremy also leads “Silverbeat”; a quintet featuring his own compositions alongside vocalist Jacqueline Gawler, woodwind multi-instrumentalist Lachlan Davidson, bassist Frank DiSario and drummer George Andrews. Jeremy continues to perform standard jazz repertoire with bassist Jo To and drummer George Andrews in “Trio Kestrel” and frequently works with vocalist Emma Gilmartin.

As a teacher, Jeremy is recognised for specialist skills in applying Alexander Technique to piano and other musical instruments. His teaching of jazz piano is also highly regarded.

Recordings:

2002 “Thumbnails” (self released) With Jade Leonard: vocals, Rohan Anderson: drums, Michael Meager and Shannon Birchall: bass, Anthony Shultz: piano accordion

2010 “Ascent” (self released) With Ben Robertson: bass and Lucas Michailidis: guitar

2012 “The Persistence of Dreaming” (self released) Original solo piano compositions

2013 “The Scenery of Life Unfolding” Duet recording with bassist Shannon Birchall

Gear

Yamaha U30 B1 is where I spend most of my time. I use an RD-700GX with the computer and occasional performance. If there is no piano at a venue, I am more likely to bring the 1970s Mark II Fender Rhodes. But I find acoustic pianos more expressive and rewarding to play.


Tags

4
Album Review

Birchall & Woolhouse: The Scenery of Life Unfolding

Read "The Scenery of Life Unfolding" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Piano trio albums--piano, bass and drums--may be the more common means of artistic expression in jazz, but piano/bass duet sets come long fairly often, too. Bassist Charlie Haden is a master of the approach, proof of which can be found on his teamings with pianists Keith Jarrett and Hank Jones on, respectively, Jasmine (ECM Records, 2011) and Come Sunday (EmArcy, 2012); and add to the list of superb pairing 2011's Insight (Pirouet Records, 2009), with pianist Marc Copland and bassist ...

2
Album Review

Jeremy Woolhouse: The Persistence of Dreaming

Read "The Persistence of Dreaming" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Dreams and reality have an odd relationship that's neither completely antagonistic nor complementary; either one can influence the other, as thoughts bleed across different worlds in obvious or subtle fashion, but they exist in separate realms. Minute-to-minute, real life actualities and imagined, in-the-mind occurrences are inextricably linked, yet permanently separated by an impassable divide, and this paradox is at the heart of The Persistence Of Dreaming. Australian pianist Jeremy Woolhouse takes a gentle journey through the recesses ...

3
Album Review

Jeremy Woolhouse: The Persistence of Dreaming

Read "The Persistence of Dreaming" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


The translation of melancholy into music can be a beautiful thing in any genre. Jazz, with its focus, on improvisation (to varying degrees), allows an artist to explore the nuances of mood. A framework that gives way to in-the-moment rumination or flights of fancy can make for the most evocative of sounds.Melbourne, Australia-based pianist Jeremy Woolhouse goes solo on The Persistence of Dreaming, presenting a suite-like set of original tunes remarkable for their brooding cohesion and memorable lyricism. ...

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"Absolutely superb! You really should get out there and see this.” David Shields - Jazz on Saturday PBS FM

"Quiet, spacious music" Mal Stanley - Jazztrack, ABC Classic FM

“Gently limber, lyrical modern jazz, with whiffs of Brazil ... compositions all by Jeremy Woolhouse, but he leaves plenty of space for the other performers to leave their mark on them.” Doug Spencer - The Weekend Planet, Radio National

“I strongly urge you to see this band ... [Ascent] is a great album … they are all quite exceptional musicians. It's got a real european ECM label feel to it and I really like the musical landscape atmosphere that's created. It is more of an ensemble type of jazz, rather than [featuring only] solos” Ross Nable - Australian Jazz Hour, PBS FM

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Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Melbourne

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Since 1999, Jeremy has maintained a thriving private teaching practice. He currently teaches from Glen Iris, Melbourne, Australia Jeremy has two areas of particular expertise: teaching jazz to experienced players; and application of Alexander Technique to piano playing. Jazz Piano Lessons Jeremy works with a range of students, solo and ensemble, recreational or professional specialising in teaching jazz to students with prior piano training (jazz or otherwise). He has developed targeted techniques for students wishing to make the transition from classical or fully notated music genres into jazz and improvised forms. The programs that he has refined offer a fun and engaging alternative to mainstream piano pedagogy. For each student a structured process is tailored to the specific learning styles and needs. Paramount in a study of music is the student’s enjoyment of the process. When the process of learning is fun, students are motivated to practice and make the most of their time at the instrument. Students are encouraged to play the music they enjoy listing to, in addition to new music chosen by the teacher. Working from recordings, studying improvisation and creating composition all develop aural ability. Attention to these skills helps build spontaneous, relevant and original renditions of tunes. Not feeling particularly “natural” as a student himself obliged Jeremy to form step-by-step procedures to address these (and other) aspects of music study. Music reading, theory and piano technique are all areas which enhance the abilities a musician needs to match his or her skill with a desired musical intention. Each is addressed in a context that makes them relevant to the student – not in isolation or as ends in themselves. With the student’s consent, some physical contact is used to aid learning of technique. “[The student] may have gained some insight into music, or may just have continued to work on where he is at that point, which will eventually lead him to his goals. I am satisfied with a lesson when the student leaves knowing what to do, believes they can do it, and can't wait to!” – Jeremy Woolhouse

Clinic/Workshop Information

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