Rob Burke

Biography

Associate Professor Robert Burke

Co-ordinator of Jazz and Popular Studies

PhD (perf), MMus (perf), BMus, AmusA, Cert in Tertiary Edu

Robert Burke has enjoyed a diverse and wide-ranging career as a performer, composer and educator in music. Although classically trained on the clarinet and saxophones, his main focus as a performer has been in jazz and popular music, including eight years performing and composing with Kate Ceberano (including a top-ten Australian hit) and fifteen years with ARIA award-winning band The Black Sorrows. Rob has performed on and contributed compositions to over 200 CDs by groups ranging from pop acts such as John Farnham, Ice House, Real Life, Vika and Linda Bull, to contemporary jazz projects with leading artists including Tony Gould, Tony Floyd, Doug De Vries, Slava Gregorian, Geoff Hughes, Nick Haywood, Stephen Magnusson, Don Burrows,  Tony Floyd and Mike Nock.

Rob has performed /recorded with many international jazz artists including Kenny Werner, Mark Helias, Nasheet Waits, Tom Rainey, Enrico Rava Dave Douglas, George Lewis, Red Rodney, John Abercrombie, Paul McCandless (Origon), George Garzone, Richie Barshay, Johannes Weidenmueller (USA), Lula Galvao, Roberta Valente, Hermeto Pascoal (Brazil), Mirko Guerrini, Debasis Chakroborty (India) and Qmars Piraglu (Iran)

Rob has also toured extensively through Asia, Europe, the United States and locally, including as leader of his own projects. He has studied under influential and pioneering jazz musicians including the likes of Dave Liebman, George Garzone and George Coleman in New York.

Research

• Performance – Saxophone – Flute – Clarinet (CD recordings and Performances)
• Practice-Based Artistic Research in Music performance (Jazz and improvisation)
• Jazz and World Music pedagogy (Oxford Handbook of Education)

Rob’s research focus is in Practice-Based Artistic Research. A practicing musician, Rob is currently co-writing a book on Practice-Based Artistic Research and co-editing a book(Perspectives on Artistic Research in Music) with Dr Andrys Onsman. Rob is also a member of the MSA steering group for ARiM (Artistic Research in Music). In 2015, Rob convened a 2 day symposium in Artistic research in Music

Conference Proceedings: Recent

Burke, R (2015).  DDCA – (Directors and Deans of Creative Arts) Conference – Sept 2015

Burke, R. & Onsman, (2015) A ‘The use of artistic research in music to develop expertise and creativity (in improvised jazz performance)

Burke, R. (2014) Analysis and observations of pre‐learnt and idiosyncratic elements in improvisation: a reflective study in jazz performance (IAML – International Association of Libraries, Archives and documentation centres Australia)

Burke, R. (2014) Analysis and observations of pre‐learnt and idiosyncratic elements in improvisation: a reflective study in jazz performance. Rhythm Changes-Jazz beyong Borders -Amsterdam

Burke, R (2004) SIMS

Cd Releases

Rob, a Jazzhead recording artist, has released 9 Cds under his own name or leader of the ensembles. Recently, Rob released a duet album with Tony Gould titled Here (Jazzhead 2009), the third in a series of such collaborations and a quartet album Live at Bennetts Lane – Jazzhead (2011). In 2014 recorded a CD in New York titled Do True  with pianist Kenny Werner, bassist – Johannes Weidenmueller and drummer – Richie Barshay (USA). In 2015 (again recorded in New York)  The Power of the Idea was recorded and released with bassist Mark Helias, drummer – Nasheet Waits (USA), pianist – Paul Grabowsky, trumpeter Paul Williamson and trombonist Jordan Murray.

In 2015 Rob has recorded (for CD release) with:

1.  George Lewis, Mark Helias and Paul Grabowsky in July – New York

2.  Debasis Chakroborty (India), Sam Evans and Steve Magnusson in June – Melbourne

3. Mark Helias, Nasheet Waits, Paul Grabowsky, Jordan Murray, Paul Williamson in September – Melbourne

Teaching

Rob has had extensive teaching experience giving workshops locally and internationally . In 2000 Rob was invited to conduct improvisation classes at Monash University’s School of Music. Rob subsequently developed an autonomous jazz course for the School of Music and in 2003, was appointed Coordinator of Jazz and Popular Studies. This jazz course is now regarded as the leading course for jazz education in Australia, offering both comprehensive practical training and strong academic qualifications, and providing students with exceptional learning and performance opportunities in Australia, Italy and the United States (New York).

Rob Burke has developed curriculum and pathways for:

• Jazz and Popular Studies – Curriculum (2002 – present)
• International Units in Prato Italy and New York (USA) (2007 – present)
• An integrated Aural Training (Classical and Jazz and Popular Music 2006 – 2010)
• Creative Music Technology (2014 – present)
• Popular Voice (2016 – present)

Since 2007 Rob has focused on creating cultural and educational ties between Monash University in Australia and Brazil, by creating links with Unicamp University in Campinas and consulting with Brazilian funding agencies and other universities.

Rob has been artist-in-residence at Universidade Estadual de Campinas – Unicamp (Campinas), Musica de Scuola de Brasilia (Brasilia), Souza de Lima School of Music (Sao Paulo), New York University, Lulea University of Technology (Sweden), Huddersfield University (UK) etc.

Monash Sessions

Introduced and produced of recordings with iconic Australian and International artists, students and staff:

Released though Jazzhead records:

Kenny Werner: The Monash Sessions

Enrico Rava: The Monash Sessions

 

 

Vince Jones: The Monash Sessions
HEAD195

 

 

George Garzone: The Monash Sessions

 

 

Hermeto Pascoal The Monash Sessions

 

 

Jazz In New York The Monash Sessions

Leadership

Coordinator of Jazz studies  at Monash University 2002 – current

Head of The Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music 2011 – 2014

Deputy Head of The Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music 2009 – 2010

Rob has also built links with New York University (USA)(2010 present) – (both educational and research), Universidade Estadual de Campinas – Unicamp and Lulea University of Technology (Sweden).

Rob is also leading efforts to build philanthropic support for the School of Music at Monash University, with a view to expanding the facilities, scholarships and resources available to students.

During his 4 years of leadership for the School of Music, Rob oversaw a $1,000,000 (2011) deficit to profit in 2013 and 2014.

Rob Burke has developed curriculum and pathways for:

• Jazz and Popular Studies – Curriculum (2002 – present)
• International Units in Prato Italy and New York (USA) (2007 – present)
• An integrated Aural Training (Classical and Jazz and Popular Music 2006 – 2010)
• Creative Music Technology (2014 – present)
• Popular Voice (2016 – present)

Rob is currently a reviewer for TEQSA having assessed many music courses within Australia.

 “This is a groundbreaking collection — complex and adventurous” 4.5* J. McBeath – The Australian 2015

“A stunning jazz album that identifies Melbourne as a significant contributor of talent and inventive and pioneering jazz on the world stage. Beautifully recorded and presented. … This record is a collaboration of some of the most influential protagonists on the Melbourne scene and is undoubtedly a masterpiece.” – Eddie Naran – Jazz on the Street.

“An exciting tour of Melbourne. There are moments where you will get chills down your back’ 4.5* – The Age Green Guide. Melbourne, 28th July 2005.

‘There is a romance in the tracks that comes from an exploration of a stage of jazz which has pleasured many for a long time. While gentle… it is quietly persuasive of all the life, clarity and brilliance to be found in mainstream jazz. Emotional and relaxing.’ Canberra Times, Canberra, 18 Aug 2003.

“Variations of tempo and mood and a seemingly telepathic ability to complement each other make for stimulating listening.” MAG, Music Australia Guide, April 2010

“…carefully crafted explorations into the melodic beauty, space, timbre and dynamic variations of reeds and piano by players whose long friendship is evident.” Roger Mitchell, SHS 4-6 2010

“…an empathetic, melodic and tender album that reflects the saxophonist’s and pianist’s longtime playing partnership.” ABC Radio National, The Daily Planet, March 2010

“…to die for.” Leon Gettler, The Age Green Guide, 4-29 2010

Robert Burke on JazzHead: http://www.jazzhead.com/cms-artists/rob-burke.phps.

Rob is sponsored by R S Berkeley

Grants, Commissions and Prizes

• 2015 Bell Award – MAE – Monash Art Ensemble
• 2014 ARIA nomination – Vince Jones (producer)
• 2014 Victoria Arts Grant
• 2013 Australia council for the Arts Grant
• 2011 COALAR Grant (Brazil)
• 2009 COALAR Grant (Brazil)
• 2008 nominated for best composition APRA
• 2006 nominated for best composition MADC
• 2004 Australia council for the Arts Gran
• 2001 Australia council for the Arts Grant
• 1999 Victoria Arts Grant
• 1998 Aria awards – Black Sorrows
• Aria Awards – Kate Ceberano