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Craig
Beard, vibraphone, marimba and untuned percussion
Anthony
Schulz, piano accordion and piano
Adam
Starr, guitar and vocals
Dave
Beck, drums
Simon
Starr, acoustic bass.
Frock are five musicians bringing together years of performance and writing experience in to one ensemble. The group explores compositional forms and aesthetics from cultures as varied as Eastern Europe, Cuba, West Africa and Latin America. These influences are combined with passion, energy, and humour to form the unique hybrid that is Frock.
It is from Melbourne, a cross-cultural melting pot, that this ensemble has been born. Drawing on a wide range of musical and artistic influences and using atypical instrumentation, i.e. Piano Accordion and Vibraphone, the group creates a sound that is at once past, present and future. Traditional acoustic instruments meet their modern electric counterparts, classical European folk forms get a modern Jazz treatment, the lines dividing individual virtuosity and collective improvisation are released. Truly original music. A unique sound experience.
In 1998, Frock released their debut CD "Caught Gesture", recorded at the ABC studios. An additional five tracks were recorded and have been regularly broadcast on Jim McLeod’s JazzTrack (ABC FM).
Frock performed at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival to rave reviews, and toured Sydney to critical acclaim in January 1999.
Following the release of "Caught Gesture", Frock performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and in other countries throughout Europe including Italy, Austria and Germany.
May of 2000 saw the release of Frock’s 2nd CD, Tales of Olive Groves, also recorded at the ABC. The CD was entered for ARIA nomination by Newmarket music. Later in the same year, Frock returned from its second European tour, which included performances in Switzerland (the Montreux Jazz Festival) and Germany, where the band recorded its 3rd. CD “Splash”. On the way home to Melbourne, Frock stopped over in Singapore, where they gave three performances and two workshops, one at the La Salle College of the Arts, and one for the general public. The final concert was given in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where they played before an audience of 5000 people.
In October 2000 Frock performed a sell-out concert as a sextet at “The Jazz Lab” featuring American Vibes and Marimba player Dave Samuels (Spyra Gyra, Yellow Jackets, Frank Zappa, Oscar Peterson and Pat Metheney to name a few of the groups he has played/recorded with).
In 2001 Frock has performed at “The Melbourne International Jazz Festival”, celebrated their 4th. Birthday and were the only representative Australian band at the inaugural “Singapore International Jazz Festival” in May.
2002 was a busy year for Frock, with a sell-out season at Bennett’s Lane in April, and one-off gigs at The 9th Ward, The Rooftop Café, The Planet, Dizzy’s, Kingston Arts Centre and The Loft. Frock accepted an invitation to perform at the 2002 Wangaratta Jazz Festival. In July they released their 3rd CD “Splash” at The Jazz Lab (through Newmarket Records). The recording has attracted much interest on radio both in Australia and abroad, with interviews on 3PBS and Radio International.
Frock performed in its fourth Melbourne International Jazz Festival in 2003, did many one-off concerts throughout the year as well as a residency at Bennett’s Lane, performances at the Swank Massive Music Festival.
In 2004, Frock recorded their 4th CD “Degustation” (through Vorticity Records) with a recording grant from Arts Victoria, and performed at many festivals and clubs in Melbourne and Australia in promotion of their CD. At the end of the year, guitarist Adam Starr began studying Film Scoring at the Royal College of Music, which meant that 2005 was a quiet year by Frock standards, playing only 4 special concerts, including the famous Spiegeltent, the Czech House, Bennett’s Lane and the Jazz Lab.
2006 has been one of Frock’s busier years: they have had a year long residency at Scarlett Jazz Bar, also fitting in many one-off concerts at jazz clubs around Melbourne. Frock have also done live-to-air performances and interviews on radio, and returned to the recording studio again, featuring in two different feature film scores, Wil, and Five Moments of Infidelity. 2007 looks to be another busy year, with further recording opportunities, as well as a much-awaited return to the European festival circuit.
Craig Beard, vibraphone, marimba and untuned percussion.
Craig has been a performer and educator since 1983. He studied with Dave Samuels and David Friedman. He has recorded for the ABC with his own Quartet and with numerous other projects. Craig teaches at the V.C.A. and was the Head of Percussion at Box Hill TAFE until 1998. He has performed and recorded with artists including Joe Camilieri, Jex Saarelhat, Tony Gould, the Bharatam Dance company, and for many soundtracks including the critically acclaimed film "Two Hands". Craig has written columns for the national magazine "DRUMSCENE". In 1997, Craig coordinated and performed in a Vibraphone summit workshop and performance with Europeans Thomas Clausen and Severi Pyysalo. In August 1999 Craig toured Noumea with his own Jazz Quartet. In June/July 2002 Craig was invited back to New Caledonia to Tour with Hammond Organ player Michel Benebig. He played gigs in Noumea and in various locations including a Cave in the Northern Province of the island as well as doing a Television Performance and Workshop for French Music Day. Craig is endorsed by Billy Hydes to play and demonstrate Musser instruments throughout Australia.
Anthony Schulz, piano accordion and piano.
Since 1983 Anthony has performed as an accordionist and pianist throughout Australia. He works in various genres including Brazilian, Folk, Funk and Jazz. Anthony lectured full time at Box Hill TAFE for five years and teaches at the VCA and at Box Hill College of TAFE. He has firmly established himself as a contemporary composer and performer. Anthony is recognised and much sought after in professional music circles and performs regularly with leading Australian and international artists and ensembles including Luciano Pavarotti, The Australian Philharmonic Orchestra and toured overseas with renowned guitarist Doug De Vries. Recently he has also recorded with Nichaud Fitzgibbon and performed with Phil Slater.
Adam Starr, guitar and vocals.
With a jazz and rock background, Adam is a prolific composer and accomplished classical guitarist, playing in many different groups for which his music is the centrepiece. He is a young veteran of Melbourne’s jazz scene, with a wealth of international experience having been on numerous tours of Europe and Asia with the “Ashes Quartet” and “Frock”. Adam is active in soundtrack and television composition, as well as sessional playing. In 2001 - 03 Adam played guitar and banjo in several Victorian State Opera productions.
Adam has been the Music Director for a large community concert, held annually at the Melbourne Concert Hall (2003-07). His duties involve conducting, auditioning singers and musicians, selecting the program, and orchestrating music for Orchestra and Choir.
Adam has played in many National Jazz Festivals throughout Australia, with “Frock” and “Southside Six”, having also given a workshop on jazz guitar at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival in 2003. One of Adam’s compositions “Discount City” was featured in a compilation CD produced by the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland) as performed by “Frock”, and in November of 2006, his composition “The Storm Before The Calm” will be performed and recorded by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Dave Beck, drums.
One of the rising stars of the Australian music scene, Dave is in high demand as a first call session player, theatre pit musician and Jazz ensemble member. Dave is endorsed by Premier drums, Zildjian cymbals (USA), and Vater sticks. He has performed with the cream of Australian and International artists including Keb Mo, Randy Crawford, Vennetta Fields, John Farnham, Anthony Warlow, Olivia Newton John, Don Burrows, Hans Ulrich, Joe Chindamo, Barbara Morrison, Grace Knight, Christine Sullivan and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He has recorded many sessions and soundtracks for film and television including work on "In Melbourne tonight", "Neighbours ‘98", and Grundy’s "The Last Of The Ryans". Dave has also played in the Melbourne productions of Sweet Charity, Red Hot And Rhonda, and Crazy For You. In July 1999 Dave completed a tour of Europe’s Jazz festivals with pianist Joe Chindamo. Dave has already had a very busy 2002, , gigging with Joe Chindamo in Korea, and nationally with Mark Seymour (Hunters and Collectors) and Tina Arena. Dave has also done much television work, appearing several times on “The Bert Newton Show”, and “The Secret Life of Us”.
Simon Starr, acoustic bass.
Since completing his studies at the VCA in 1993, Simon has worked constantly as a session musician as well as composing and performing in ensembles of his own. He augmented his skills by studying in New York with Dave Holland and Gary Peacock, which has held him in good stead for performances with such jazz identities as James Morrison, renowned American jazz educator Mark Levine, Barney McAll and Tony Gould. Simon has also worked as a session musician on "Live and Kicking" (TV.Ch.7), with the Suze De Marchi band (Baby Animals), Andrew Lloyd Webber, and a 5 year stint with Joe Camileri and the Black Sorrows.
Simon has devoted much of 2006 to recording a solo album, and has taken his special interest in Brazilian music much further, featuring in Doug De Vries' ensemble Café Brazil.
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