Our jazz & pop bands have played at events for Tiffany & Co., Australia Day at Parliament House for the Prime Minister of Australia, in Perth for the Prime Minister of Japan, The NSW Art Gallery, and in-store for OMEGA and Louis Vuitton in Melbourne and Sydney.
Jeremy (sax):
Jeremy is one of Australia’s leading saxophonists and composers, performing nationally and internationally at festivals, concert halls, and jazz clubs. Jeremy regularly performs with Ensemble Offspring and The Vampires.
Studied: Sydney Conservatorium of Music (First Class Honours in Jazz Saxophone) & PhD at the Sydney Conservatorium. Jeremy has also studied in London, Oslo, Canada, Greece, Cuba, Bali and New York.
The media has reported that ‘his compositions stand out from the pack’ (SMH), ‘is developing into a significant Australian voice’ (Jazz-Planet.com), and that ‘his playing shows subtle glimpses of a mature master’ (The Australian).
Awards: The APRA Professional Development Award, Bell Award for Young Australian Jazz Artist, a BBM Award, and an Australian Postgraduate Award. He was a finalist in the 2012 and 2013 Freedman Jazz Fellowship and the APRA/MCA Art Music Awards for Best Jazz Work and Excellence in Jazz.
Matt (sax):
“CONCERTS at Sydney Opera House are always special occasions for local and overseas musicians, but they are particularly pleasing if you’re an Australian jazz muso and you walk away with $15,000.
That’s what happened to Sydney saxophonist and composer Matt Keegan at the weekend when his performance helped him win the MCA/Freedman Jazz Fellowship for 2011.
The award is designed to assist young musicians (under 36) developed their careers here and overseas. Keegan, 34, already a stalwart of the local jazz circuit, plans to forge a new music genre by taking his talents to India to collaborate with folk musicians there.
Keegan’s versatility has taken him in several directions. He has released five albums under his name and also spent a few years touring and recording in the US with California rock band Pseudopod at the turn of the century.” The Australian.
Studied: Bachelor of Music (1st Class Honours) + Masters in Music from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Pop: Maroon 5; Thirsty Merc.
TV: The Voice
Stringspace Events: Chifley Tower Christmas party at Guillaume – The Bennelong, Sydney Opera House; Carolina’s – in-store solo jazz sax performance.
Aaron (guitar):
Studied: Bachelor of Music
Awards: 1st prize winner in the National Jazz Awards at the prestigious Wangaratta Festival of Jazz.
Collaborations: “BAZ”, The MFW, Sidecar, Amphibious, Luke Escombe and The Corporation, Vince Jones, The Swinging Blades, Elana Stone, The Alcohotlicks, Zoe and the Buttercups & The 10 Guitar Project.
“This is one intelligent, obfuscating, revved-up release. These men play with repetition; they play sound, with effects and a form that lends itself to taking things just about as far as you can go. It’s Yes and Zappa in a minimalist setting, with a bit of Goldfrapp thrown in.” – Review of The Alcohotlicks album Danaides by Arne Sjostedt (Sydney Morning Herald)
“ Flower’s compositions are as masterful as his playing.” – Jessica Nicholas, ABC Jazz.
“This music bristled with fun, imagination, and surprise and constituted a fascinating project.” John Shand – Sydney Morning Herald
PJ (guitar):
Originally hailing from the lush countryside of rural New Zealand, Peter has become a regular fixture on Sydney’s music scene since late 2011, appearing with various jazz and pop groups around the country and abroad. His love of music was first sparked by the many varied albums in his Dad’s record collection, and he spent his late teens gigging around the Auckland jazz scene in bands led by Roger Manins and Frank Gibson Jr. before moving to Australia.
Recent highlights include tours to Asia with the Briana Cowlishaw Band and playing in Tim Firth’s jazz-metal band, Scordatura. 2014 Peter placed 3rd in the prestigious National Jazz Awards at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival. He currently tours with Katie Noonan.
“I think Australian jazz audiences have been waiting to hear a voice like Peter Koopman on guitar. He has such a sweet sound, and his inventiveness is individual.” – D. Goodman.
Stringspace Events: Porsche launch event at Alexandria; Feature performance with Briana for Clover Moore at the Museum of Contemporary Art; Art Gallery of NSW Garden Party; The Living Edge 20 Year Celebration, Tiffany & Co. Christmas Party.
Stringspace Projects: PJ features on our YouTube Channel StringspaceLive
Harry (piano):
Studied: Sydney Conservatorium of Music with first-class honours.
Collaborations: James Morrison, Dale Barlow, Matt Corby, Dereb the Ambassador, Touch Sensitive, Ben Hauptmann, Donny Benet, and Ngaiire.
Awards: James Morrison Scholarship
Radio: ABC Jazz digital radio and featured on Jazztrack with Mal Stanley.
Finalist in the 2019 Freedman Jazz Fellowship.
“My music director Harry Sutherland – when I sent him the music after it was done and asked him to come on tour, he scored the entire album part by part, and he was almost more responsible for divvying up each specific role for each band member more than I was. To have someone with that kind of genius-level of operating has made my job really fun.” – Matt Corby (1883 Magazine)
Gerard (piano):
Gerard is a sought-after virtuoso pianist in demand with elite pop and jazz artists of Australia.
Collaborations: Lior, Wes Carr, Lisa Mitchell, Pete Murray, Lily Dior, James Morrison, Emma Pask, The MyClymonts & Missy Higgins
Musical Director: Lisa Mitchell (touring band); Wes Carr (Australian Idol winner)
Projects: Member of ‘Tambalane’ with Ben Gillies (Silverchair) and Wes Carr; solo support shows for Lior; Lady Rizo band – Sydney Festival.
Luxury/fashion brand events: Tiffany & Co, Paspaley, Rolex, Kennedy, Chivas Regal, Mecca, Camilla, BMW & Porsche.
Independently released ‘Spin’ EP – film clip frequently played on the ABC TV show ‘Rage’.
- Studio sessions with The Potbeleez, co-writing song ‘101 Reasons’ on their Gold Record.
- The song’ Red Rocket’ was included in the smash US TV show ‘Breaking Bad’.
Stringspace Events: Louis Vuitton in-store Christmas jazz band; Providence Wealth; Moët & Chandon Christmas Party.
Gary (piano + accordion):
Gary Daley is a highly respected pianist, accordionist, educator and composer. Best known as a musician playing in some of the elite bands of Australian jazz, most notably, The Catholics. He appears on many highly regarded Australian recordings with numerous artists.
Collaborations: He leads the quartet, Bungarribee, which features several of Australia’s preeminent contemporary musicians. Bungarribee performed original compositions along with fresh improvisations on music by classical composers such as Bartok, Ligeti and Bach, filtered through diverse styles such as jazz, folk and Carnatic rhythms.
Awards: Gary is the recipient of two Australia Council for the Arts grants for new work and recording.
His projects have received many glowing reviews, and he has presented his music at major venues and festivals.
“Something new and unforgettable……..magic happens on the stage, and it’s hard to put a finger on it. What an intelligent approach to music! “- Zoli Mauritius, Music by The Sea Festival.
Bungarribee is a band that can go anywhere and seemingly do anything, keeping the listener’s eyebrows in a near-permanent state of astonishment.”
[4.5⭐] – John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald.
Another side to Gary is his appearances on the ABC TV children’s channel in the twice-Aria nominated pre-school show Lah Lah’s Adventures and the Stripy Sock Club. In addition to performing, recording and touring, Gary is the artistic director for the highly regarded concert series Live at the Village in the NSW Blue Mountains.
Stringspace Projects: Gary features on our YouTube Channel StringspaceLive.
Max (double bass):
Studied: Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Double bassist Maximillian has established himself as a force of creative energy in the Sydney Jazz and experimental music scene.
He has worked alongside some of Australia’s biggest names in Jazz, including Mike Nock, Paul Grabowsky and Dale Barlow. As well as accompanying such luminaries, Max is a chief collaborator in projects that have been touring locally and internationally, with recent performances at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival (Vulkan DK/Aus), Wellington Jazz Festival and The Manly Jazz Festival (The Pocket Trio) to name a few.
Max is an active recording artist featured on recent album releases, including ‘Blueprints and Vignettes’, ‘Good Winter’ (Antipodes Aus/NZ) and the recent debut album by The Pocket Trio “All At Once.”
Barry has selected some fellow cosmonauts of equal fearlessness and intrepidity for this trip. Jeremy Rose, who seems to spend as much time digging deep into the earth as he does cruising the cosmic breezes, is on alto and bass clarinet. And, after hearing how they breathe as one with these tunes, I couldn’t think of a better rhythm section than the masterful Dave Goodman on drums and rising star Max Alduca on double bass. – Words About Music review.
Stringspace Projects: Max features on our YouTube Channel StringspaceLive
Stringspace Events: Tiffany & Co. Christmas Party; The Living Edge party.
Alex (drums):
Studied: Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Performance from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, studying with Richard Miller.
Collaborations: James Muller, David Theak, Sean Wayland, and Judy Bailey.
Awards: James Morrison Generations in Jazz Scholarship finalist and 1st prize winner of the prestigious 2018 National Jazz Awards at Wangaratta.
Stringspace Events: Final Fantasy – Stringspace Orchestra Concert; The Living Edge party; Providence Wealth; Australia Day party in Parliament House, Canberra – an event hosted by the Prime Minister of Australia.
Stringspace Projects: Alex features on our YouTube Channel StringspaceLive
Jack (guitar):
Studied: Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Performance.
Collaboration: Jack has performed on stages such as the ICC Sydney, Theatre Royal Sydney, Seymour Centre, and Foundry616, but with a particular focus on jazz, Jack is carving out a unique voice that both echoes tradition and innovation.
Stringspace events: Tiffany & Co. Christmas Party; Bottega Veneta Dinner Party; Coach & Kate Spade – Tapestry Thanksgiving Lunch.
Matt (bass):
Studied: Bachelor of Music majoring in Jazz Performance on double bass.
Awards: Principal double bass chair for the 2024 Australian National Youth Jazz Orchestra. Principal double bass for the Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra in 2022 & 2023. Sydney Metropolitan U18 Bass Guitar Champion.
Collaborations: Matt has learned from and performed alongside numerous international and award winning jazz artists & also performs classical double bass.
Stringspace events: Tiffany & Co., The Living Edge – Celebrating 25 Years; Providence Wealth; Coach & Kate Spade – Tapestry Thanksgiving Lunch.
Freddie (piano):
Studied: a young jazz pianist and composer originally from Newcastle, NSW. Now based in Sydney, and in his final year of the Bachelor of Music Jazz performance degree majoring in jazz piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Freddie began classical piano lessons at the age of six and quickly developed a deep love for the instrument. At 12, he was introduced to jazz after hearing the classic Ella and Louis (1956) album — a moment that sparked a passion for the genre. He soon began learning from local Newcastle musicians and, by age 15, was gigging regularly in the local scene.
Collaborations: Now an established presence in the Sydney jazz community, Freddie performs weekly at venues across the city. He has appeared at the Sydney Opera House, Foundry616, Church St Studios, St Stephen’s Uniting Church, and many other stages.
Drawing strong influence from pianists like Bud Powell, Freddie’s playing is deeply rooted in the jazz tradition, while also reflecting a fresh and personal sound. He maintains a deep respect for the greats who came before him, while continuing to explore his own artistic voice within the genre.
‘He sounds like a seasoned professional and plays at the highest level. His performance skills are formidable and a homage to jazz in every respect’ – Craig Scott
Stringspace events: Coach & Kate Spade – Tapestry Thanksgiving Lunch.
Brett (bass):
Studied: Diploma of Jazz Studies from the Christchurch School of Jazz in New Zealand, and a Masters of Music (Performance) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Australia.
Residing in Sydney since 1998, Brett maintains a busy performance and recording schedule with some of Australia’s premiere musicians, as well as international jazz and contemporary artists.
His performance and recording credits include: Mike Nock, Mark Isaacs, Sandy Evans, Phil Slater, Matt McMahon, James Muller, James Morrison, Lior, Katie Noonan, Vince Jones, James Greening, Mara, Josh White Jr., Wendy Matthews, Sharon Shannon, Damien Leith, Mary Coughlan, Dominique Fillon, Greg Osby, Ricky Ford, Sheila Jordan, Sean Wayland and many more.
Ross (sax):
Studied: Bachelor of Music majoring in Jazz Performance on saxophone.
Awards & collaborations: Sydney Conservatorium Irene Malcolm Scholarship for Jazz Saxophone”; “Big Brother Scholarship” to pursue further study in the UK where he learnt with several respected saxophonists and also performed at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.
Since returning to Australia Ross has continued to compose and perform with his original project “Midnight Tea Party”.
“Midnight Tea Party dance through an infectious concoction of jazz, rock, gypsy and dub to craft a sound that belongs entirely to themselves. The result of this strange brew of sounds is one of the most dynamic listening experiences we’ve come across in some time.” – Happy Mag
Stringspace events: Tiffany & Co. Christmas Parties; The Living Edge – Celebrating 25 Years.
Dominic (drums): Pop & Cuban style
Dominic is Australia’s youngest Babalawo and only Olu-Bata (Priest of Aña Sacred Bata drums).
Collaborations: Deni Hines (AUS), HERMITUDE (AUS), Pedrito Martinez (CUBA), OMAR (UK), Bill Summers (Herbie Hancock), Julio Padron (CUBA/Irakere), and Huey Dunbar (DLG), among others.
Dominic placed 2nd, competing at the prestigious international percussion festival held annually in Havana, ‘La Fiesta Del Tambor’.
