Simon Jeans
Simon Jeans
Guitar
Simon Jeans has recorded and performed around Australia and overseas with a number of original jazz and fusion groups such as Salamander (performing at the Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival in Rome 2006), Thrust, Memory of Elements, Michael Pignéguy Sextet, Frames of Minds, including a number of times at the Wangaratta Jazz & Blues Festival, iconic venues Bennetts Lane Jazz Club (Melbourne) and The Basement (Sydney).He has performed in the rhythm section alongside the West Australian Symphony Orchestra for numerous concerts, and as a sideman accompanying visiting artists such as James Morrison, Grace Knight, Dave Samuels (Spyra Gyra) in Perth and the region.
In 2007 Simon was one of ten jazz guitar finalists for the National Jazz Awards at Wangaratta and has since recorded two albums featuring his original compositions, available at www.simonjeans.com
In 2011 his fusion trio thumpR released “Echo Papa Alphabet” and in 2016 the Simon Jeans Quartet released “Spirograph”, both groups having performed at the Perth International Jazz Festival.
2018 saw the release of the self titled album by the group “Southpaw” featuring a majority of compositions by Simon, available at www.peterevans1987.bandcamp.com/album/southpaw
Pete Jeavons
B Mus (Jazz), Dip Ed.
Bass
Active as a professional musician for over 25 years, Pete graduated from the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (W.A.A.P.A.) in 1997 with a Bachelor of Music (Jazz) and is an in-demand bassist performing regularly in a wide range of styles on both Double Bass and Electric Bass Guitar.
Pete has performed extensively throughout Australia and also in India, China, the U.K, Italy, Singapore, Japan, the U.S.A and New Zealand and he has performed with many well known artists including Michel Legrand, Hank Marvin, Mark Murphy, Leo Sayer, The Brodsky Quartet, Geoffrey Keezer, Carmen Lundy, Andy Sheppard, Gary Bartz, Walter Smith III, Karrin Allyson and James Morrison to name only a few.
As a member of many classic Perth based groups over the years, Pete has featured on numerous albums by artists/groups such as Helen Matthews, Michael Pigneguy Sextet, Tom O’Halloran Trio, Tal Cohen Quartet, Memory of Elements, Carl Mackey, Troy Roberts, Salamander, Thrust, Salamander, Hank Marvin Gyspy Jazz and many more. Pete currently leads a number groups including “Sassafras” (gypsy jazz), The “Swan River Ramblers” (trad. jazz), “Freewheel” (modern jazz) and various jazz groups under his own name ranging in size from trio to quintet.
An avid composer, Pete has written numerous original works including commissions for the Nuevo Tango group “Guapo”, Southern Forests Arts and also JAZZWA (the 26th Parallel Suite) and he has won WAMi awards for jazz composition. Pete also writes original music for his own groups/projects including the Pete Jeavons Quintet.
Named the Perth Jazz Society’s most outstanding contributor in the year 2011 (and previously in 2000 too), Pete was also a finalist in the 2008 National Jazz Bass Awards. Despite maintaining a busy schedule as a freelance musician Pete has been a driving force in the not-for-profit arts organization “JAZZWA” for 20 years as Treasurer, General Manager and Project Manager. Pete has produced six volumes of the Jazzaziz Compilation CD for JAZZWA (which features original contemporary jazz from various Perth jazz groups) and organized countless performances, tours and jam sessions for JAZZWA. Pete has also produced albums for Tom O’Halloran & Graham Wood (‘Piano Perspectives’ 2011), Penny King (‘Journey’ 2013 – nominated for Bell awards best jazz vocal album) and Juliana Areias (‘Bossa Nova Baby’ 2015 – winner USA Focus Brazil Music Award).
Pete teaches in the jazz program at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (W.A.A.P.A.), and is a presenter of the ‘Giant Steps’ contemporary jazz program on community radio station RTR-FM 92.1.
Daniel Susnjar
Drums
Dr Daniel Susnjar is a Western Australian drummer / composer / producer / educator known internationally for his expertise in the field of Afro-Peruvian Jazz. He has performed and recorded with music legends including Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Steve Miller, Terence Blanchard and Dave Grusin, and has toured throughout the USA, Peru, Australia, Asia and the Caribbean Islands. As director of the Daniel Susnjar Afro-Peruvian Jazz Group, he has released three critically-acclaimed albums (“Su Su Nje” in 2014, “Moth to a Flame” in 2016 and “Spark” in 2018) and has won multiple awards for his tireless experimentation in combining Afro-Peruvian and Jazz sensibilities. In 2018, Daniel performed alongside percussion legend Alex Acuña at the renowned Australian Ultimate Drummers Weekend, and his solo drum improvisations can be heard throughout the multi award-winning 2017 film “Whiteley.” Daniel earned his Doctoral and Masters degrees from the University of Miami Frost School of Music and is an adjunct professor at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Max
Max was born in Hong Kong in 2014, the offspring of composer Wing Sang Wong and the Cycling74 Max/MSP program. They started playing music almost immediately, and soon joined the Adrian Kelly Quartet on tours around the region. Max has developed an individual sound and way of improvising that has delighted and fascinated audiences around Asia. Listening closely to their band mates, they can accompany or take the lead in a composition using a variety of stylistic approaches. More recently, Max has been excited to add video output to their repertoire of techniques, and looks forward to more performances with his friends in AK4.
