Bossa Negra

He has performed with Dale Barlow as part of the Jazz Works finale concert at the Victorian College of the Arts in 1998, The Wangaratta Jazz Festival (1998) with the Canberra Youth (Jazz) Orchestra, the Old Australian Parliament House (1998), the Australian National Press Club with Phil Slater (1999) and the Manly Jazz Festival (2000) in Sydney.

He graduated from the jazz course at the Canberra School of Music (part of the Australian National University) in 2000 with a Bachelor of Music (Jazz). While at CSM he was under the tuition of Colin Hoorweg (Nat Adderley), Miroslav Bukovsky (Wanderlust, Ten Part Invention), Eric Ajaye (Freddie Hubbard, Barry White) and Dave Panichi (Buddy Rich, Blood Sweat & Tears).

Between December 2000 and 2002 he has successfully organised and performed from Australia to Hong Kong with such musicians as Anton Delecca, Nick Freer, Julie O’Hara, Glenn Cannon (Australian National Jazz Awards Finalist), Ben O’ Loghlin (Wynton Marsalis), Tim Mark Wilson and Martin Breeze (Australian National Jazz Awards Finalist) at such venues as the Hong Kong Jazz Club, Brown, Fringe Club, Cubana, the Hong Kong Exchange Square, FCC, The Macau Jazz Club and Manhattan Ing.

To further his studies and knowledge of jazz music, he travelled to U.S.A. in 2002 where he studied with Johnny Vidacovich (James Booker, Professor Longhair, Astral Project) in New Orleans and John Riley (Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, John Scofield, Stan Getz) in New York.

From 2003-2004 he undertook a 17 month trip to South America through Argentina & Brazil. Cities included Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Salvador, Belo Horizonte and Buenos Aires to source for the best musicians from these cities for his company Freelance United Music. To further his studies in Brazilian music he also took the time out studying with local percussionists such as Márcio Bahia (Hermeto Pascoal) and Samba jazz drummer Edu Ribeiro.

Willow Neilson – Tenor Saxophone
Willow Neilson was placed third in both the Montreaux Jazz Festival (2003) and London Jazz Festival (2004) International Saxophone competitions (2004). His debut album titled The Willow Neilson Quartet has received favourable reviews- Among other things, jazz is the art of building and releasing tension, and Neilson's band gives a lesson in this on their CD, belying the members age and experience. There is no sense of treading water or fishing for ideas as the improvising races from one action-packed episode to another leaving pools of suspense between. The drama suggests near desperation to vent ideas and energy -John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald 12th April 2002 in the best traditions of its chosen style, the collective performance is where the fun really is. The talk is articulate and robust, in musical conversations between band members that are every bit as important to the action as the featured solos. Having acknowledged this though, Neilson’s musical ideas are so mature and executed that he really sparkles throughout this recording.- Andy Sugg, Music Forum, April/May 2002 This Sydney tenor saxophonist has crafted an album of high artistry that requires-and rewards- close and frequent listening.

Although firmly in the post-bop mould, Neilson and his excellent cohorts rise above their influences with a powerful display of group playing Kenny Weir, Sunday Herald Sun, July 14, 2002. Melbourne Willow Neilson is currently working on a new album with the Gerard Masters trio and new music with his Melbourne group playing Afro-Latin rhythms such as Abakua, Gandinga, Festejo and Sikyi.

Gideon Brazil – Tenor Saxophone
Gideon has performed/recorded with/for artists from many genres including Madison Avenue, Paul Mac, Cheyne Coates, Monique Brumby, Slava Grigoryan, Mark Isaacs and Bob Sedergreen and he is an active member of the Adam Simmons Toy Band, Marc Hannaford Septet and performs regularly with his original jazz project The Natives. Gideon has performed at Australian music festivals including the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz, Melbourne International Jazz Festival and Queenscliff Music Festival and has also performed at some of Melbourne’s best venues including Rod Laver Arena, Myer Music Bowl, BMW Edge and Bennetts Lane. Gideon is a co-founder of Half Bent (a group dedicated to promoting new, original music) and he has a Bachelor of Music (Melb Uni) and a Graduate Diploma in Music (VCA).

Glenn Cannon - Guitar
Glenn began playing guitar in 1988, and was soon playing in school rock groups until 1994, when he entered the Victorian College of the Arts. In his final year he was awarded the 'John Gaitskell Memorial Mensa Prize' to encourage further study in music, and after gaining a Bachelor of Music Performance Degree ( improvisation ), Glenn was working constantly as a full-time player, playing mainly in jazz groups and rock groups. In 1999 he was a member of jazz'fusion group 'Sphinx' which featured master drummer David Jones, and some of Glenn's compositions.

In 2000, Glenn was a finalist in the National Jazz Awards as part of the Wangaratta Jazz Festival. In the same year, Glenn formed fusion group 'Logic' with saxophonist Tim Wilson, who were joined by legendary Australian rhythm section Darryn Farrugia (drums) and Craig Newman (bass). Logic recorded their first self-titled album in 2001, and their second album 'The Waiting Game' in 2004.

The band had the opportunity to play at The Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2001, The Electric Jazz Festival 2002, The Ultimate Drummers Weekend 2002 (captured on commercially released DVD) and numerous jazz club dates. With the release of his debut solo album,'Leverage', in 2004, Glenn has formed his own band which performed at The Ultimate Drummers Weekend 2003 (also captured on DVD for commercial release). He is currently writing for his second solo cd which will be recorded in 2006.

Glenn has conducted improvisation workshops with guitar duo 'Avatar' at the 2005 Frankston Guitar Festival, and for music students at the four major universities in Bangkok, Thailand, after which Glenn relocated to Paris to work as a freelance jazz guitarist. Glenn has played all over Australia and South East Asia and has made numerous television appearances as a session guitarist, including Channel 7's Good Friday Appeal, Channel 9's Starstruck and Carols by Candlelight, and Channel 10's GMA. He has recently worked with some of Australia's most highly regarded musicians including, Bob Sedergreen, David Jones, Darryn Farrugia, Tim Davies, Linda Cable, Nina Ferro, John Foreman, John St. Peeters, and Chinese pop stars Anthony Lun, Elisa Chan and Teresa Carpio. He has been a member of bands Adoration on the Gospel Train, Australian Shania Twain Show, Peter Sullivan Big Band, Beven Addinsal Group.

Michael Story - Bass
Michael completed his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance at the Christchurch Jazz School in 2004 with thanks to Creative New Zealand and the Jerry Wise Young Performers Scholarship. After receiving funding from the Dame Malvina Major Foundation he completed his Honours Degree at the Victorian College of the Arts and is now based in Melbourne, Australia.

Michael formed his own piano trio in 2005 with pianist Luke Howard and Drummer Daniel Farrugia, and completed their first self-titled album in 2006. Michael is also a member of 'The Tim Shawcross Septet', 'MONOPOD', 'Flow and Plenty' and various other ensembles in Melbourne.