Artists

Loops

Since its inception upon Jonathan Dimond's return from overseas in 1995, Loops has been defining and re-defining the nexus where improvisation meets composition, where jazz meets classical music, and where acoustic sound meets electronic sound.
Consisting of a core trio of Jonathan Dimond (electric bass, tabla), Jamie Clark (electric and acoustic guitar) and John Parker (drums and percussion), the band often augments itself with artists of such virtuosity and breadth as John Rodgers (violin), Soumya Chakraverty (sarod), Gulfam Sabri (tabla) and the classical ensemble Topology. Loops has also performed in collaboration with projected film and early childhood theatre.
Loops unique and multi-faceted nature has made us a popular participants in such events as the Pinnacles Festival (1996, 2001); the Brisbane International Festival of Music (1998, 2000); the Queensland Biennial Festival of Music (2001); and the Wangaratta Jazz Festival (2000). Loops was Ensemble in Residence at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University (2000, 2001). Loops competed as state finalists in the ABC's innaugral Improv Awards (1999). New compositions were created for and premiered at most of these events.
The band has toured New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria (2000/2002) and has two Compact Discs of its own: Recursion (1999) and the double album Ek! (2001).
Loops extensive repertoire features original compositions by the ensemble members, and standard-repertoire jazz with a modern twist. John Parker has completed a Bachelor of Music course at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University. During the course he studied classical percussion with teachers Alan Cumberland and David Montgomery and studied Jazz drums for the remainder of his course with Paul Hudson and Ken Edie. Already John is an experienced teacher himself, with percussion students in his private studio as well as regular teaching at schools, colleges and music camps around South-East Queensland. He has completed a commissioned work for the Ferny Grove S.H.S percussion ensemble. His performing accreditations include appearances with the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra, The Queensland Orchestra, The Sound Garden (Opera QLD/QLD Arts Council), Out of the Box Children's Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Pinnacles Jazz Festival, David Helfgot, Darryl Pratt, Topology, Venetta Fields, Steve Newcombe, Vince Genova, Katie Noonan, Trevor Hart and with the world renowned jazz Vibraphone and Marimbist, Arthur Lipner. John's versatility on drums and percussion instruments has seen him accompany groups overseas including tours to Singapore, Hong Kong, Hawaii and Macau. Currently freelancing with many diverse groups John's musical tastes encompass everything from classical to electronic music.

Jamie Clark has an Associate Diploma in Jazz and a Bachelor of Arts (Music) from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, gaining tuition under Mike Nock, Vince Genova, Clive Moorhead, Julian Byzantine and Barry Morton. Jamie is a multi-faceted musician, with skills and experience in a range of musical styles. As a guitar sideman, Jamie has appeared with Steve Russell, John Hoffman, Leah Cotterell, Tony Hobbs, Mark Isaacs, Andrew Gander, Claude Williams (USA), Jim Kelly, and his own Good Bait quartet. Jamie's groups have featured at such festivals as the Manly Jazz Festival, Pinnacles, Warana, Brisbane Biennial, and Maleny/Woodford folk Festival. He has also been a key musical figure in the Women In Voice theatre shows since 1993. Numerous live-to-air and recorded radio performances with Bacharacharama, Leah Cotterell & 18 Wheels, Good Bait, Loops, Brand New Sweeties, and El Caminos on ABC radio national, 4QR, 4BC, and 4ZZZ. As a composer, Jamie's works have appeared on four different CD's. Jamie continues to be a highly-demanded freelance guitarist, and teaches guitar at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University.

Jonathan Dimond holds a Bachelor of Music with Distinction (Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University), and a Graduate Diploma in Contemporary Improvisation with Distinction (New England Conservatory, Boston). He has won many awards and scholarships including:
*Queen's Trust Fellowship to study Tabla in India, 1998-1999.
* Australia Council for the Arts: Individual Development Grant, to study North Indian music and contemporary composition, improvisation and ear-training in Boston, 1994-1995.
*Winner ofthe 1995 inaugural Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor's Performing Arts Fellowship to study tabla in India in the following year.
* Arts Queensland: Professional Development Grant, to produce a concert of original Third Stream music in Boston, 1995.
*Dr Gordon Spearitt Prize for Best Research Project, 1992, awarded for his 29,000 word thesis "Improvisation in Composition Since 1950".
* Highest grades ever awarded at the Queensland Conservatorium for the final assessment of his Writing Techniques course (98%), 1992.
* Equal highest grades awarded at New England Conservatory for the final assessment of his Graduate Third Stream Ear Training course, 1994.
* Won "Honors Ensemble" auditions two consecutive years with his trio (1993-1994) and quintet (1994-1995) at New England Conservatory.
*Prize for Excellence in Trombone, Queensland Conservatorium, 1989 and 1991.
*Winner of Brass Specialist Shop Competition, Queensland Conservatorium, 1991.
*Winner of Yamaha Brass Competition, Queensland Conservatorium, 1992.
*Winner of Queensland Conservatorium Jazz Prize, 1991, and joint winner 1992. Jonathan's professional experience is on bass, trombone and tabla:
*Performed extensively with Artisans Workshop quartet, periodically augmented by guest artists (including Paul Grabowsky, Mike Nock, Roger Dean, Roger Frampton, etc). Performances have taken place throughout Australia. Released their first self-titled CD in 1993 on the Tall Poppies label, distributed by Polygram nationally and overseas. Further recordings since then have not yet been commercially released.
*Founding member of JuJu - a modern jazz septet, led by pianist Jeff Usher. Performances have occurred throughout Queensland, Victoria, and in Sydney. Appeared on trombone on the group's first cassette release in 1988. Since then have featured on "Jeff Usher's Jazz Unit" CD volume one (1991) and the double CD and tape volume two (1993).
*From 1988 through 1991, composed and arranged a large volume of works for the ensemble "Contemporary Focus", which was formed and modeled on the contemporary jazz quintet of Dave Holland's. In 1994, reformed this group in Boston, and represented New England Conservatory with performances throughout Massachusetts and in New York City. Back in Australia in 1995, this group is performed in Brisbane and Melbourne. *Loops was formed in 1995 on his return from the U.S.A. This group is a multi-faceted ensemble which explores a variety of original techniques, often fusing diverse elements such as Indian music and jazz, and diverse instruments such as acoustic and electric ones. It is currently his main practical outlet to compose,experiment and perform.
*Freelance bassist and trombonist active since the age of 12. This work has seen me involved in residencies (e.g. Terranora Country Club Leisuretime Resort, Brisbane Jazz Club), plus casual one-off and short-term performance commitments for festivals (e.g. Brisbane Biennial), cabaret shows, theatres, clubs, and concerts. Recording sessions have taken place in studios, performance spaces and radio live rooms for various commercial and non-commercial situations (e.g. ABC, 4MBS, and WGBH-Boston). These have taken place throughout Queensland, in Sydney, and in Massachusetts. As a teacher, Jonathan Dimond has had experience since 1989:
*Coached a large number of different ensembles while in Boston from 1993-1995, employed as head of the Jazz Composers Ensembles at New England Conservatory.
*In 1994 Teacher's Aid for a class in North Indian music, employed through the Third Stream Department of New England Conservatory.
*Taught private lessons to students with a range of abilities and interests, in Brisbane, Mackay, and Boston.
*Master classes and workshops in trombone/bass performance and jazz improvisation in Brisbane and Mackay.
*In 1996 commenced a position as a part-time lecturer at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, teaching a self-designed ear training course, and electric bass, to students in Bachelor and Diploma of Music (Jazz) courses.
*In 1996 bass tutor in the music department of St Joseph's School, Brisbane.
*In 1997 Coordinator of the Jazz Department at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, teaching ear training, writing techniques, concert practice, and assuming administrative responsibilities.
*In 1998 accepted a full-time position as Convenor of the Jazz Department at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, contracted to continue teaching and administrative role for a further two years.
*In 2001 I was tenured by the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University in order to continue the Jazz Convenor role. Since 1981 Jonathan has been tutored by some of the highest calibre teachers in their fields, including: Arthur Middleton, Phil Davis (trombone); Jerry Leake, Warren Senders, Bharat Jangam (tabla); Bob Moses, Cecil McBee, John Lockwood (bass); Ran Blake, Scott Sandvik, Dominique Eade (improvisation and Third Stream methodology); Abby Rabinovitz, Harriotte Hurie (Indian modal improvisation); Joe Maneri (microtones); Pozzi Escot (composition).

Website: http://www.kick-art.com.au/loops