Home » Jazz Musicians » Kym Ambrose

Kym Ambrose

Kym's prpofessional career began at 16 when he started playing vibes. He'd already been playing drums with his father's jazz ensemble for a few years before this.

After studying with Jim Bailey in Adelaide, Kym moved to Sydney in the early 80's to undertake a Diploma in Jazz at the N.S.W. Conservatorium of Music, with teachers such as the legendary Don Burrows. Kym's work on kit and vibes continued predominantly in the jazz and blues scene, backing international artists in between doing resident gigs at clubs throughout Sydney in the 80's and early 90's.

His passion for, and focus on, the vibraphone deepened when he moved to the less manic city of Brisbane, and met his now wife Anje West, with whom he founded The View From Madeleine's Couch, considered one of Australia's best, and certainly most distinctive Brazilian music ensembles.

His first trip to Brazil took place in 2004, where he studied under the great pianist/composer/arranger Alberto Farah, who was a huge influence on Kym's composing and arranging style. Kym and Anje's first original tunes together were written with Alberto looking on and encouraging them. The band's first full length album, Tranquilo, is a direct result of those two months of work with Alberto.

Sadly, Alberto died in 2009, but the band continues to pay tribute to him through their music and performances.

Kym is now considered to be one of the best vibes players in Australia, being flown interstate for shows and recording sessions. He is the only vibes player in the country working full-time in the Brazilian idiom, and has worked consistently to develop the rhythmic and harmonic fluidity required for this music.

He teaches drums part-time, as well as vibes students and the Brazilian ensemble at the Qld. Conservatorium of Music. Kym's solo project, The Cocktail Hour, showcases his original material in a vibes/guitar/double bass ensemble.

In late 2012 he and Anje will perform in Brazil with legendary artists Marcio Bahia (drums), Dino Rangel (guitar), Beto Lopes (guiatr/bass) and Mazinho Ventura (bass)

Gear

Musser ProVibe K & K pick-up system


Tags

"The album's hallmarks are its delicate and uncluttered song arrangements, West's sweetly plangent voice (singing mostly in fluid Portuguese), and Ambrose's skilled vibraphone playing. It's not often that vibes feature in Brazilian music, and here their melodic infusion is truly gorgeous". Jane Costessi

"This grouping of songs underlined just how good their compositions are - a very Latin sound, yet still distinctively, well different, I think defined and underpinned by Kym Ambrose's vibraphone, and Anje's vocals". Sharon Thompson, Thompson's Corner FM 99.3

"Kym by using the vibraphone you have lifted the band into a dimension beyond 99% of other groups

Read more

Primary Instrument

Vibraphone

Location

Brisbane

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Kym has been a freelance drum teacher for many years, and now teaches two days a week at a College in Brisbane, ages 11 - 17. He has two vibraphone students and takes the Brazilian Ensemble at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, a course which was specifically created in order to utilise Kym's knowledge and skills.

Music

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.