Gerard Masters

Tunes by Gerard Masters

  • Pendulum
    Swing · 2000-2010 · Medium · Instrumental · 4/4
  • Red Rocket
    Swing · 2000-2010 · Medium · Instrumental · C · 4/4
  • Richie P
    Other · 2000-2010 · Hard · Instrumental · Odd meter
  • Sean Wayland
    Straight · 2000-2010 · Medium · Instrumental · 3/4

Biography

Gerard Masters was born in Masterton, New Zealand in 1977. He moved to Christchurch at the age of 10 and began studying Piano, Violin and Voice. After finishing secondary education at Burnside High School in 1995, Gerard went to study jazz piano with Doug Caldwell at the Christchurch Polytechnic Jazz School. During his three years of study at the Polytech he became very active in the local jazz scene and took part in many local and national gigs, including a tour with the New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra in 1996. Also in 1996 he was awarded the best pianist award in the under 25 section at the New Zealand National Jazz Festival in Tauranga. From 1997 - 98 Gerard was a member of the New Zealand National Youth Choir and was involved in national tours and recordings.

After completing a Diploma in Jazz Studies, Gerard departed for New Orleans for a three-month stint with a Carnival Cruise Lines jazz orchestra. In 1999 he moved to Sydney, Australia and began studies with world renowned jazz pianist/composer, Mike Nock at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. During 1999 Gerard played around Sydney with many of Sydney's leading musicians including Tim Hopkins, Cameron Undy, Carl Dewhurst and Lily Dior. Gerard has now completed a Bachelor of Music from Sydney University.

As well as working with his own piano trio and electric jazz group "Toaster". Gerard is currently playing with Rick Robertson's (ex D.I.G) E.O.N band, Lily Diors band, Nick McBride's Rectangle and the Don Rader Quintet. He has recently been commissioned to write a piece of music for the Mike Nock Big Small Band.

Gerard plays regularly at Sydney's top music venues including The Basement, The Side on Cafe, Winebanc, the Harbourside Brasserie, the Grand Pacific Blue Room and many more. He has also performed at the Australian International Jazz Festival, The Sydney Festival, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, The Wangaratta National Jazz Festival and the St Kilda Festival.

Gerard's debut trio record 'Palindrome' is set for release in April 2002

References