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EDUCATION
Jonathan has been University-educated in the fields of Classical music and
Jazz/Improvisation. His degrees include:
• Bachelor of Music in Classical trombone performance - Queensland Conservatorium
of Music (Brisbane, Australia, 1992)
• Graduate Diploma in Contemporary Improvisation (with Distinction in Performance)
- New England Conservatory (Boston, USA, 1995)
• Master of Music in Contemporary Improvisation (with Academic Honors) - New
England Conservatory (Boston, USA, 2006)
Jonathan
has also undergone vigorous training in North Indian classical music in Pune,
India.
Jonathan Dimond's teachers have included: Arthur Middleton, Phil Davis
(trombone); Jerry Leake, Warren Senders, Shri Bharat Jangam (tabla);
Bob Moses, Cecil McBee,
John Lockwood, Oscar Stagnaro (bass); Ran Blake, Scott Sandvik, Dominique
Eade (improvisation and Third Stream methodology); Abby Rabinovitz, Peter
Row, Harriotte
Hurie (Indian modal
improvisation); Joe Maneri (microtones); Mary Mageau, Gerhard Brophy, Stephen
Cronin, Dominique Eade and Pozzi Escot (composition).
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Since 1989 Jonathan Dimond has been active as a private teacher, passing on
his experience and skills in a wholistic and dedicated manner. In 1994 Mr Dimond
was the Teacher's Aid for a class in North Indian music, employed through the
Third Stream Department of New England Conservatory. He also ran the Jazz Composers'
Ensemble at NEC from 1993-5.
In 1996 he commenced part-time Tertiary lecturing at the Queensland Conservatorium
of Music, teaching a self-designed ear training course and electric bass. In
the same year he also took on regular employment in St.Josephs High School's
music department.
In 1997 Mr. Dimond commenced five years full-time employment as Jazz Department
Coordinator at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, teaching
ear training, jazz and classical theory, bass, trombone, introduction to Indian
music, songwriting/arranging, concert practice, and assuming administrative
responsibilities. In 2000 he was tenured into this position.
In 2002 he resigned
from the full-time position in order to pursue a diverse range of performing
and teaching experiences in Australia, the USA and Japan.
After 4 years overseas Jonathan Dimond is now based back in Australia, teaching
privately and at the Box Hill Institute
of TAFE in Melbourne.
RECORDINGS
Commercially-released recordings which feature Mr. Dimond as a composer, arranger,
trombonist, bassist, and/or tabla player include:
"Journeys: People, Places" (2005, JD Records)
A CD of original compositions in the jazz and Indo-jazz fusion style."Airwaves: 100 Years of Radio" (2005, Serrated Records)
Loops and Topology created a work that celebrates the century with a 75-minute composition looking back over some key figures and events as immortalised by radio recordings. The combined 8-piece band play along with the recorded voices of Churchill, Hitler, Gandhi, Earhardt, Whitlam, Howard, Freud, Einstein, Bradman, Melba, and a host of others, including Marconi himself. These figures are heard in "voice portraits" - a new technique using characteristic intonation patterns of a person's speech to make melody. The band plays music designed to emphasise this melody, so that when Bill Clinton talks about "that woman", it sounds like he's singing. The result is a new kind of opera. The two ensembles combine different approaches - Topology's contemporary classical perspective and Loops' jazz background - to create a new, wide-ranging ethos.Artisans Workshop: "Artisans Workshop" (1993, Tall Poppies)
"Youth and exceptional ability virtually guarantee that their music will offer listening experiences akin to the gravity-defying configurations of skaters on a tall ramp..." Sydney Morning HeraldMastaneh Nazarian: "Kafka Pony" (2006, MastMusic)
Loops: "Recursion" (1999, JD Records)
"The European classical tradition is at least as influential here as jazz. But then avant-garde sound sculpture, progressive rock and Indian classical music are also salient ingredients in this fascinating recipe." Sydney Morning HeraldLoops: "Ek!" double CD (2001, JD Records)
"All of this music is lyrical in a fresh and unsentimental way." Sydney Morning HeraldJuJu: "Jeff Usher's Jazz Unit Vol.I" (1991) and the double CD "Jeff Usher's Jazz Unit Vol.II" (1993)
New England Conservatory Jazz Bigband: "Events Dancing" (1995, Music & Arts)
Jonathan Dimond has also played in commercial studio projects for T.V. and radio.
Soon to be released are 2 new CD's by Jonathan - a CD with Bulgarian Moonshine Co., and a CD with Ron Feuer, Ernie Watts and Paul Tavenner.
For more information and audio samples please check out the recordings page.
PERFORMANCES
Jonathan's
talent was spotted early, as published in a review of a concert he participated
in during a tour to Sydney:
" at age 14 (Jonathan) sounds like Bill Harris did all those years ago". (Kevin
Casey, 8/4/1986).
• Artistic
Collaborations:
Jonathan Dimond has featured on-stage with such diverse and renowned artists
as John Denver, Paul
Grabowsky, George Russell, Mike
Nock, Roger
Dean, Lou
Rawls, Bob Moses, Ronnie Corbett, Gulfam
Sabri, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Ran Blake, Satoko
Fujii, James Morrison, Arthur
Lipner, Darryl Pratt, Virgil
Donati, Roger Frampton
and Urbie Green. He has participated in masterclasses with Cecil
Taylor
and Trilok
Gurtu.
• Venues:
He has performed at such key venues as the Sydney Opera House, Queensland
Performing Arts Centre, Jordan Hall (Boston), Lincoln Center (New York),
the
REDCAT theater (Los Angeles) and
the
Brisbane
Powerhouse.
• Bands:
Since
1995 his chief creative performance outlet has been his band "Loops",
an eclectic ensemble which performs original compositions fusing jazz,
classical and world musics. Loops have performed in festivals, concerts,
clubs, and
theatres around Australia. Prior to "Loops", Jonathan was also a member of
the group Artisans' Workshop.
• Guest Artist:
As
a 6-string electric bassist, Jonathan has featured with the Queensland Symphony
Orchestra
on the Steve
Martland composition "Hard Times" (written for the Australian
Chamber Orchestra and "Bang On a Can All Stars", performed
at the 2000 Sydney Olympics). He also performed the Australian premiers
of Jeff
Beal's "Concerto for Jazz Bass and Orchestra", and Gerard
Brophy's "Hot Metallic Blues". He has performed as guest
bassist with Wind Symphony Ensembles at Boston University (conducted
by David
J. Martins)
and New England Conservatory (conducted by Frank
Battisti), performing works
by Frank Zappa and Rob
Smith.
• Shows:
As
a trombonist, tabla-player and electric bassist, Jonathan has performed in numerous
settings as a pit musician for music theatre. Some of the show productions
have included "Jerry's Girls", "Grease", "Bats", "Workin'",
"Stars", and
"Kiss of the Spiderwoman".
AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Numerous awards and scholarships have facilitated Jonathan's study and
performances in India, Japan, U.S.A. and across Australia. These include:
• American Composers' Forum "Subito" grant for assistance in producing a CD
of original compositions, 2004
•
Asialink Performing Arts Residency for professional development in Japan, 2002-2003
• Playing Australia grant to tour interstate, 2000
• Queens Trust scholarship to travel to India for intensive study of tabla,
1998-1999
• Australia Council for the Arts: Individual Development Grant, to study
North Indian music, contemporary composition, improvisation & ear-training in
Boston, 1994-1995
• Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor's Performing Arts Fellowship to travel
to India for intensive study of tabla, 1995-6
• Arts Queensland: Professional Development Grant, to produce a concert
of original Third Stream music in Boston, 1995
• Won three "Honors Ensemble" auditions at New England Conservatory with
his
trio
(1993-1994), quintet (1994-1995), and trio (2005-2006)
• Winner of Yamaha Brass Competition, Queensland Conservatorium, 1992
• Winner of Queensland Conservatorium Jazz Prize, 1991, and joint winner,
1992
• Dr Gordon Spearitt Prize for Best Research Project, 1992
• Prize for Excellence in Trombone, Queensland Conservatorium, 1989 and
1991
• Winner of Brass Specialist Shop Competition, Queensland Conservatorium,
1991
•
Winner of the Ricky May Memorial Jazz Competition, 1990
REFERENCES
For references on my teaching and performance, visit my
references page.
CRITICAL REVIEWS
Some of the critics' comments about the music of Jonathan Dimond:
"wildly
adventurous"
"virtuosic"
"astute compositional awareness"
"works of captivating beauty"
"innovative and stunning
composition"
"his teaching is responsible for the huge increase in focussed, internationally-viable
jazz musicians coming out of the Conservatorium."
Jonathan Dimond's resume and biography are available in MS Word and as PDF files.
MS Word |
PDF |
Please click
here to view published reviews of Jonathan's recordings and concerts.