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Quentin Bryan Angus

Originally from country South Australia, Quentin Angus is a multi-award winning Australian jazz guitarist, 24 years of age, who recently moved to New York to undertake a Masters at the Purchase College Conservatory of Music. Since his arrival in NY just one year ago, Angus has already begun leading his own bands at various venues in Manhattan, has recorded an album of original compositions entitled ‘Retrieval Structure’, and toured Europe with the 'Quentin Angus Quintet' in September 2011, which included performing at the 2011 ‘Jazz Hoeilaart Festival’ in Belgium.

Angus was also selected as one of Downbeat Magazines '34th Annual Student Music Awards' for his composition 'Five Ahead', and was one of 20 musicians from around the globe selected for the 2011 'Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residency' at the Kennedy Centre. His guitar tutor at Purchase College is the world renowned John Abercrombie, although, he is also working closely with John Riley, Todd Coolman, Hal Galper, Jon Gordan, Andy Laverne, Kermit Driscoll, and Randy Johnston.

Quentin has performed in Australia, Japan, Europe, New Zealand and the United States, including events such as the Adelaide International Guitar Festival, Mt Barker Jazz Festival, Jazz Hoeilaart (Europe), and the Adelaide FRINGE. He has performed/ recorded with John Abercrombie, Bob Mintzer, Wolfgang Muthspiel, James Morrison and Michelle Nichole, while being involved in various Australian music groups such as The Quentin Angus Quintet, Mr Goodnight, The Cerberus Project, and The New Cabal. Angus also has had the opportunity to study under Pat Martino, Gilad Hekselman, Steve Khan, Adam Rodgers, Jonathan Kreisberg, Mike Moreno, and Randy Johnston

While in Australia, at the University of Adelaide, Quentin graduated with 'first class honours', while winning numerous awards, such as the ‘most outstanding jazz guitar undergraduate’ (2006), ‘most outstanding postgraduate music student’ (2009), and is also the 2010 recipient of the prestigious 'Keith Michell Performance Award', from the Helpmann Academy. In recent years Quentin has also been involved in Musicology. This has included being invited to present his research and transcriptions of Gilad Hekselman and John Abercrombie at conferences in New Zealand and Australia, including recently publishing transcription books of Gilad Hekselman's Improvisations from all three of his albums; 'Split-Life', 'Words Unspoken' and 'Hearts Wide Open'.

Awards

Summary of Awards/ Honours Received: 2011- SABAM Prize for 'Best Arrangement' @ 2011 Jazz Hoeilaart Festival (Belgium) 2010- Awarded the prestigious ‘Keith Michell Performance Award’ as the top graduate from the Helpmann Academy’s Partner Schools (which includes: Adelaide Central School of Art, Adelaide College of the Arts; Flinders Drama Centre, Flinders University; Flinders Screen Production, Flinders University; Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide; South Australian School of Art, UniSA) 2009- Awarded the ‘Naomi Cumming Postgraduate Prize’ as the ‘Most Outstanding Postgraduate Music Student for 2009’ (Elder Conservatorium of Music, The University of Adelaide) 2009- Awarded the inaugural Elder Conservatorium’s 'Director’s Award' for a series of original jazz compositions created during 2008 (Elder Conservatorium of Music, The University of Adelaide) 2008- Honours degree awarded with First Class Honours (Elder Conservatorium of Music, The University of Adelaide) 2006- Awarded the DB magazine award for ‘Most Outstanding Jazz Guitar Undergraduate’ (Elder Conservatorium of Music, The University of Adelaide) (award presented in 2007) Previous Grants and Scholarships Received: 2010- Awarded an MSA Travelling Scholarship to present a paper at an MSA (Musicological Society of Australia) and NZSM (New Zealand School of Music) joint meeting at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand 2009- Awarded an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) to study a Doctor of Philosophy in Music (Performance) (Ph.D) at The University of Adelaide 2008- Awarded a project and development grant from the South Australian Youth Arts Board (SAYAB) to undertake study with international jazz guitar masters in New York in 2009 2008- Awarded a project and development grant from the Helpmann Academy to undertake study with international jazz guitar masters in New York in 2009

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7
Album Review

Quentin Bryan Angus: In Stride

Read "In Stride" reviewed by Friedrich Kunzmann


In Stride sees Australian guitarist/composer Quentin Angus following up his two critically acclaimed outings, Retrieval Structure (Self Produced, 2012) and Perception (Self Produced, 2014) in a stripped back trio-setting, featuring Ari Hoenig (dr) and Sam Anning (b). Not only does Angus cut back on the instrumentation when compared to his previous efforts, but the youthful urgency, which left a mark on the quintet outings, seems to have evolved into a more mature energy as well, making for a more laid-back ...

5
Album Review

Quentin Angus: In Stride

Read "In Stride" reviewed by Mark Sullivan


Australian jazz guitarist Quentin Angus has a more complicated back story than most. Based in New York City since 2010 (where he is Associate Professor of Music for the City University of New York), he appears here on a German record label. He leads an empathetic trio with bassist Sam Anning and busy drummer Ari Hoenig. The set list is an ambitious, eclectic blend of originals, jazz standards, and contemporary pop/rock covers. The opener is Wes Montgomery's “Jingles," ...

7
Album Review

Quentin Bryan Angus: In Stride

Read "In Stride" reviewed by Barry O'Sullivan


Keeping 'in stride' on his journey from Eden Valley, South Australia, guitarist/composer Quentin Angus hasn't batted an eyelid since arriving in the world's Mecca for jazz in 2010. Angus is an Associate Professor of Music for the City University of New York, teaches several courses at the Borough of Manhattan Community College and holds a PhD (Phrasing and Polyrhythm in Contemporary Jazz Guitar), plus a Master of Music Degree in Jazz Performance.He has also received national and international recognition ...

5
Album Review

Quentin Angus: In Stride

Read "In Stride" reviewed by Geno Thackara


Quentin Angus comes across as the kind of player who's seemingly absorbed everything in developing a repertoire--one whose extensive study lets him draw on any style and throw out familiar licks on a whim. Here we have soft electric tones worthy of Grant Green crossed with the expansive compositional smarts of Pat Metheny. Fleet lines and chords (and sometimes devilish combinations of both) flow from strings with silky smoothness, often showing impressive smarts but always sounding as effortless as breathing. ...

7
Album Review

Quentin Angus: Perception

Read "Perception" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Australia boasts an embarrassment of great jazz musicians, an increasing number of whom have made their way to jny:New York in recent years to broaden their horizons. Guitarist Quentin Angus is one such notable Aussie talent. Here Angus follows up his promising debut, Retrieval Structure (Self Produced, 2011) with another assured work that highlights his tasteful virtuosity and growing strengths as a composer. Angus effectively fronts two quartets, with drummer Kenneth Salters the anchor throughout. Stylistically, the music shares a ...

5
Album Review

Quentin Angus: Perception

Read "Perception" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Quentin Angus, a multi-award-winning Australian guitarist, follows up his 2011 debut recording, Retrieval Structure, with the ambitious Perception. Born in 1987, he still clocks in as a “young" artist, but his music is strikingly mature. An apt comparison is the monumentally talented guitarist Pat Metheny, with a broad vision and a penchant for grand statements and complex, layered arrangements. Angus, of course, has not reached a Metheny-esque level of artistry, but the groundwork-the foundation-is there. Perception is not ...

3
Album Review

Quentin Angus Quintet: Retrieval Structure

Read "Retrieval Structure" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Hailing from South Australia's elegant and cultural capital of Adelaide, Quentin Angus leads a vibrant and formidable US quintet with the modern fusion-like Retrieval Structure, the young guitarist's debut as leader, delivering a set of fresh, sophisticated compositions. Currently based in New York while he pursues a Master's degree from the State of New York Purchase College, Angus has toured internationally, appearing at various jazz festivals throughout Europe as well as performing at some of New York City's most popular ...

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"Angus' compositions and playing are rooted in the best of the Jazz tradition while eagerly embracing modern concepts. " - John Riley

"Quentin Angus is a very talented young guitarist and composer with a great future ahead of him." - Jon Gordon

" (Angus') statement on the guitar is very personal and unique. His debut record includes a collection of very adventurous, yet heartfelt, compositions."- Gilad Hekselman

"(Quentin's) beautiful original compositions were matched with elegant, weaving improvisational resonances"- Chris Braham (Performance Review- Jazz Notes)

"(Angus's) guitar sparkled with adept and often high speed fingering"- John McBeath (Performance Review- The Advertiser)

Primary Instrument

Guitar

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

In Stride

QFTF
2017

buy

Perception

Self Produced
2014

buy

Retrieval Structure

Self Produced
2012

buy

Particular Peculiar

From: Perception
By Quentin Bryan Angus

Coltrane Matrix

From: Retrieval Structure
By Quentin Bryan Angus

Videos

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