Singing lessons at JWA
Here at Jazz Workshop Australia you can take individual lessons on a wide range of jazz instruments. All our teachers are leading professionals: world - class educators and performers. Lessons are available in thirty minute and one hour slots.
Students of all ages and standards are welcome. Jazz Workshop caters to students who want to learn to play jazz or who are looking for an alternative to traditional exam-based teaching methods.
Singing lessons are available from Monday to Wednesday.
Voice
Jo Fabro has been performing in the Sydney Music scene since 2004. Jo began training as a vocalist as a teenager, focusing on Jazz studies, and completed a Bachelor of Music degree, from the University of New South Wales in 2003. Recently, Jo has been performing at some of Sydney's top venues such as The Basement, Winebanq, Will & Toby's, The Marble Bar, Pontoon Bar, Soup Plus, The Vanguard and Star City Casino. In 2005, Jo complated a four month residency, Singing in Kawasaki Japan. Upon her return, Jo was selected as a top 10 finalist in the Wangaratta jazz Festival, Vocalist of the Year competition. Jo can currently be seen around Sydney performing with her own bands, as well as vocal group Jubilation, and currently has a Sunday afternoon residency at Pontoon Bar in Darling Harbour.
Jo's debut album, Save My Soul, is available now. This stunning album brings together influences which hark back to jazz and soul singers of the 50's and 60's, and then hit you with a contemporary sound all of their own. Recorded at the famous Paradise studios, Jo brings together a band of some of Sydney's finest young jazz musicians including the versatile keyboard stylings of Nick Southcott, captivating guitarist Franco Raggatt, and the sensational brother-sister team of Zoe and James Hauptmann on bass and drums respectively.
Jane Irving has a willingness to explore a wide dynamic vocal range. This combined with her unique phrasing and rare ability to interpret a lyric has won her acclaim from audiences and respect from her fellow musicians.
Born in Sydney in 1971, Jane began classical piano studies at six. Her first teacher, Jenny Rumsey, an extraordinarily encouraging and devoted influence, became the reason for Jane's continued classical study to the age of eighteen. For her Higher School Certificate classical piano performance Jane was awarded third in the state.
Irving's family were all music lovers but says ..."it wasn't until my brother introduced me to the blues that I started trying new things on the piano. My ears really started to open up and then I heard Sarah Vaughan. She stirred so much inside me and was the reason I seriously started thinking about singing. Then I heard Carmen McRae, Betty Carter, Anita O'Day, Shirley Horn, Mark Murphy, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Thelonious Monk and so on. There are so many wonderful artists to draw information from and this was the very beginning of the journey to discover my new passion - the history, the roots and the meaning of jazz."
With a solid musical foundation already behind her by age 17, Jane got her first gig playing piano and singing two nights a week at an inner city hotel in Sydney. Although she continued to work in the piano/vocal environment for a few years, the voice was quickly becoming Janes instrument of choice. With just a microphone in front of her and a trio behind her, a newfound freedom was discovered and Jane formed her first quartet. Since then Jane has played with Matt McMahon, John Harkins, Andrew Dickeson, John Morrison, Phil Stack, Craig Scott, Alan Turnbull, Brendan Clarke, was vocalist with Evan Lohning's Jazz Orchestra, The Lost Cosmonauts, Michael Bartolomei, James Waples and Ben Waples, Bobby Gebert and Don Rader.
Jane's new recording, Beams, released late 2007 features Don Rader (trumpet and flugelhorn), Brendan Clarke and Ashley Turner (double bass), Michael Bartolomei and Matt McMahon (piano), James Waples (drums) and Fabian Hevia (percussion).
Jacki Cooper
Jacki Cooper joins us for workshops, masterclasses and Jazz Camp
Jacki Cooper has been singing in Adelaide since 1990. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Voice from Adelaide University. Besides private functions, corporate functions, and weddings, Jacki has also participated in jazz festivals around the country. While working for a jazz workshop at Stanford University in the USA, Jacki studied with US jazz singers Mark Murphy, Kitty Margolis, Madeline Eastman and Nancy King, and gigged regularly with local musicians. She recorded a radio program on Fog in the City Radio, and was also invited to San Antonio, Texas, to sing with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band at the famous Landing Jazz Club on the Riverwalk. In 2003, Jacki was the featured resident vocalist on the inaugural season for the cruise ship, Oceania Regatta, cruising around Europe, Russia, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean. In 2005, Jacki invited to perform at Sax n Art Jazz Club in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam with world-class saxophonist, Tran Manh Tuan.
In Adelaide, The Jacki Cooper Jazz Quartet performed regularly on the local jazz circuit. Jacki is also an actor and has featured in several commercials on television. In 1998 she was the presenter of CityScene, a lifestyle show promoting events in Adelaide.
Since moving to Sydney in July 2006, Jacki has been collaborating with Swing City's John Morrison. Together they formed "New Generation" which is a forum for young players. Currently "New Generation" features Tim Fisher on piano, Karl Dunnicliff on double bass, and Bernard Winetroube on vibraphone. In July 2007, Jacki and John are touring China where they will be joined by Tim Fisher to perform with the Shanghai Symphony Big Band.
Jazz Improvisation
All of the teachers at the Jazz Workshop can give lessons in jazz improvisation to any student, regardless of their instrument. Saul Richardson specialises in teaching improvisation to beginners and young players. Other JWA teachers, such as Jeremy Borthwick, Gai Bryant and James Ryan love to teach very advanced concepts.
So, whatever instrument you or your child play, one of our teachers can give lessons in jazz improvisation. Lessons can be either ongoing, occasional, or a short series. Call or email for details