The Jacam Manricks Quartet

Jacam Manricks is back in Sydney from his New York base and this time is bringing three fellow acclaimed New-York ex-pat musicians with him on a national tour!

Manricks, who has played for SIMA in various projects over many years, is a featured soloist, composer/arranger and clinician throughout Europe, North America and Australia. Following graduation from QLD Conservatorium in 2000, Jacam moved to the US to undertake further jazz studies, receiving many prestigious awards and scholarships along the way. As a composer, Jacam has written works for ensemble ranging from quartet to 30-piece big bands and recorded his first album of original compositions with his jazz ensemble in 2003. Jacam was a featured soloist and composer for the Queensland Conservatorium of Music’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert in September 2007. In June 2008, he is scheduled to record his second album of original works for jazz ensemble and string quartet in New York featuring Ben Monder (guitars), Jacob Sacks (piano), Thomas Morgan (bass), Tyshawn Sorey (drums), and himself on saxophones and woodwinds.

As a performed, Jacam has performed with some of the most prestigious national and international artists of our time, including Ray Charles, the Village Vanguard Orchestra, David Liebman, Bob Mintzer, James Morrison and Mike Nock, to name a few. Jacam has given master-classes and lectures on Improvisation, Jazz saxophone, Jazz composition and arranging at some of the leading music institutes in the world, including the Manhattan School of Music and Sydney Conservatorium of Music – he currently teaches Jazz saxophone and improvisation for the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York.

BARNEY MCALL – Pianist
Barney McAll grew up in Melbourne, playing improvised Music and graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1991. He has toured Australia and Europe extensively with Vince Jones and produced two albums for him. Barney came to NYC in 1993 on a study grant from the Australian Arts Council and began performing with such artists as Billy Harper, Jim Black, Josh Roseman, Ben Monder and Vincent Herring. He moved to NYC permanently in 1997 to join Gary Bartz’ band and since then has performed and recorded with musicians such as Kenny Garrett, Badal Roy, Stefon Harris, Seamus Blake, Dewey Redman and Roy Ayers.

DANNY FISCHER – Drummer
Danny Fischer also hails from Melbourne, Australia. His lineage comes from study in the U.S. with Leon Parker, Barry Altschul, Andrew Cyrille and Matt Wilson. In 2000/2001 on a study grant from the Australian government, he resided in London and studied under Roger Turner (U.K.) and Paul Lovens (Germany). From 2001-2004 Danny was the most in-demand jazz drummer in Melbourne appearing on over 30 recordings. Whilst in Australia Danny performed with many overseas artists including Gary Bartz, James Williams, Sheila Jordan, Mark Levine, Claire Martin and others. Since moving to New York City in 2004 he has performed with Jacam Manricks, Perry Robinson, Julie Hardy, Tim Collins and the Jon Lundbom/Bryan Murray quartet.

JASPER LEAK – Bassist
Born in Sydney, Jasper performed with some of Australia’s finest artists at a young age including Mike Nock, Dale Barlow, James Morrison, and pop diva Deni Hines. In 2002, Jasper studied in Cologne, Germany before relocating back to Sydney where he joined the Vince Jones’ band, which led to performances at major festivals and clubs throughout Australia. Jasper moved to New York in early 2005 and since then has performed with jazz greats Clark Terry and Russell Malone, Jacam Manricks, Island/Def Jam artist Marc Broussard, recorded with Barney McAll, appeared on the ‘Today’ show with Delta Goodrem, and is currently studying at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music on scholarship.