Roger Frampton
Encyclopedia
Roger Frampton was an Australian jazz pianist, saxophonist, composer, and educator. Based in Sydney
, he played a major role in shaping the evolution of Australian jazz
. He taught at the Jazz Studies course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
, and also became Head of Jazz Studies during the late 1970s.
and Joe Harriott
.
He migrated to Australia with his family in 1968 and in the following year joined the experimental electronic music group Teletopa and also AZ Music, which performed the works of John Cage
, Steve Reich
and others. Frampton toured overseas with Teletopa in 1972, playing in London at the International Carnival of Experimental Sound, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and in Munich, Manila, Tokyo, Amsterdam and Cambridge.
On returning to Australia, he formed a trio, the Jazz Co/op, along with Sydney drummer Phil Treloar
and bassist Jack Thorncraft. In 1974 this trio was expanded to a quartet when joined by US saxophonist Howie Smith
who was in Sydney for three years, setting up Australia’s first formal jazz course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
The Jazz Co/op was in demand in Sydney over the following two years. It played over thirty engagements at Sydney’s major jazz club of that time, The Basement, as well as many other performances including the Musician’s Club, Sydney Town Hall
, the Sydney Opera House
, and the Conservatorium of Music. The band also recorded two albums for Horst Liepolt
’s “44” record label.
Howie Smith returned to the USA in 1976 and the Jazz Co/op soon disbanded. Frampton continued to play jazz in Sydney in a variety of situations, both as a sideman and as leader of his own groups. He formed the quartet “Intersection” in the early 1980s. This group included Phil Treloar
on drums, Peter Boothman
or Guy Strazullo on guitar and Lloyd Swanton
or Steve Elphick on bass. Intersection performed regularly at Jenny’s Wine Bar, appeared at concerts at the Australian Museum
and the Manly Jazz Festival, and undertook a Musica Viva sponsored tour of India.
In 1980 he performed with the Bruce Cale Quartet with Dale Barlow
(saxes) Bruce Cale
(bass) and Phil Treloar
(drums). Two live concerts by this group have been recorded, The Bruce Cale Quartet Live (Adelaide concert) and On Fire - The Sydney Concert. These recordings feature some of the best examples of Frampton's work as a pianist, saxophonist and composer.
In the late 1980s and during the 1990s, Frampton performed to critical acclaim with groups such as Ten Part Invention (touring Russia with that band), the trio The Engine Room with John Pochée
and Steve Elphick, and with renowned US jazz musicians such as Don Rader
, Steve Lacy
and Lee Konitz
. His work during this period, as a pianist, saxophonist and composer, has been extensively recorded, with a number of releases available on the Tall Poppies and ABC Classics labels. In 1991 he was awarded an APRA Award for jazz composition.
He was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1999, but nevertheless continued to perform with various ensembles, and was awarded a Doctorate of Creative Arts from Wollongong University in 1999 for his thesis exploring co-relations between his own composition and improvisation
.
He participated in the 1999 Wangaratta Festival of Jazz
, performing a concert of his own music with Ten Part Invention. Frampton died at home in January 2000 and was survived by his daughter Emily and partner Sherylene
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, he played a major role in shaping the evolution of Australian jazz
Australian jazz
Jazz music has a long history in Australia. Over the years jazz has held a high profile at local clubs, festivals and other music venues and a vast number of recordings have been produced by Australian jazz musicians, many of whom have gone on to gain a high profile in the international jazz...
. He taught at the Jazz Studies course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia...
, and also became Head of Jazz Studies during the late 1970s.
Biography
Born in Portsmouth, England in 1948, Frampton began learning piano and saxophone at an early age and by the age of 15 he had formed his own modern jazz group which played in local clubs, also performing with top English jazz musicians such as Don Rendel, Bill Le SageBill Le Sage
Bill Le Sage, born William A. Le Sage, born London - died , London, was a British pianist, vibraphonist, arranger, composer and bandleader. His credits include the score for the 1960 film The Tell-Tale Heart....
and Joe Harriott
Joe Harriott
Joseph Arthurlin 'Joe' Harriott was a Jamaican jazz musician and composer, whose principal instrument was the alto saxophone....
.
He migrated to Australia with his family in 1968 and in the following year joined the experimental electronic music group Teletopa and also AZ Music, which performed the works of John Cage
John Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
, Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
and others. Frampton toured overseas with Teletopa in 1972, playing in London at the International Carnival of Experimental Sound, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and in Munich, Manila, Tokyo, Amsterdam and Cambridge.
On returning to Australia, he formed a trio, the Jazz Co/op, along with Sydney drummer Phil Treloar
Phil Treloar
Phillip Maurice Treloar is an Australian jazz drummer, percussionist and composer. In an extensive career devoted to creative pursuit Treloar has addressed himself to the problems of relationship found at the intersection of notated music-composition and improvisation...
and bassist Jack Thorncraft. In 1974 this trio was expanded to a quartet when joined by US saxophonist Howie Smith
Howie Smith
Howie Smith, is a saxophonist, composer, jazz musician and educatorHowie Smith was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania in 1943...
who was in Sydney for three years, setting up Australia’s first formal jazz course at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
The Jazz Co/op was in demand in Sydney over the following two years. It played over thirty engagements at Sydney’s major jazz club of that time, The Basement, as well as many other performances including the Musician’s Club, Sydney Town Hall
Sydney Town Hall
The Sydney Town Hall is a landmark sandstone building located in the heart of Sydney. It stands opposite the Queen Victoria Building and alongside St Andrew's Cathedral...
, the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
, and the Conservatorium of Music. The band also recorded two albums for Horst Liepolt
Horst Liepolt
Horst Liepolt is a jazz producer and artist.In Australia, and later in the United States, he organized numerous successful jazz concerts and festivals and also produced a large number of jazz recordings....
’s “44” record label.
Howie Smith returned to the USA in 1976 and the Jazz Co/op soon disbanded. Frampton continued to play jazz in Sydney in a variety of situations, both as a sideman and as leader of his own groups. He formed the quartet “Intersection” in the early 1980s. This group included Phil Treloar
Phil Treloar
Phillip Maurice Treloar is an Australian jazz drummer, percussionist and composer. In an extensive career devoted to creative pursuit Treloar has addressed himself to the problems of relationship found at the intersection of notated music-composition and improvisation...
on drums, Peter Boothman
Peter Boothman
Peter Boothman is an Australian jazz guitarist, composer, and educator. Since he started playing in the late 1960s he has worked at most top jazz venues in Sydney including The Basement, Festival of Sydney, Sydney Opera House, Jenny's, The Rocks Push, El Rocco, Wentworth Supper Club, and Horst...
or Guy Strazullo on guitar and Lloyd Swanton
Lloyd Swanton
Lloyd Stuart Swanton is an Australian jazz double bassist/bass guitarist and composer, based in Sydney. Swanton was a member of Dynamic Hepnotics in 1986 and co-founded, jazz trio The Necks in 1987 with Chris Abrahams and Tony Buck....
or Steve Elphick on bass. Intersection performed regularly at Jenny’s Wine Bar, appeared at concerts at the Australian Museum
Australian Museum
The Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, with an international reputation in the fields of natural history and anthropology. It features collections of vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, as well as mineralogy, palaeontology, and anthropology...
and the Manly Jazz Festival, and undertook a Musica Viva sponsored tour of India.
In 1980 he performed with the Bruce Cale Quartet with Dale Barlow
Dale Barlow
Dale Barlow is an Australian jazz composer, multi-instrumentalist: especially tenor, alto saxophone, soprano saxophonist, baritone saxophone and flute....
(saxes) Bruce Cale
Bruce Cale
Bruce Cale is an Australian jazz double-bassist and composer.Cale began studying music at age nine, and worked professionally in Sydney from 1958. He worked with Bryce Rohde from 1962-65, then moved to England, where he played with Tubby Hayes and worked in John Stevens's Spontaneous Music Ensemble...
(bass) and Phil Treloar
Phil Treloar
Phillip Maurice Treloar is an Australian jazz drummer, percussionist and composer. In an extensive career devoted to creative pursuit Treloar has addressed himself to the problems of relationship found at the intersection of notated music-composition and improvisation...
(drums). Two live concerts by this group have been recorded, The Bruce Cale Quartet Live (Adelaide concert) and On Fire - The Sydney Concert. These recordings feature some of the best examples of Frampton's work as a pianist, saxophonist and composer.
In the late 1980s and during the 1990s, Frampton performed to critical acclaim with groups such as Ten Part Invention (touring Russia with that band), the trio The Engine Room with John Pochée
John Pochee
John Pochée, is a Jazz Drummer and Bandleader.John Pochée was born in Sydney, Australia in 1940.His career as a professional musician began in 1956. He formed The Last Straw in 1974 and also played with the Judy Bailey Quartet from 1974 to 1979...
and Steve Elphick, and with renowned US jazz musicians such as Don Rader
Don Rader
Don Rader is an American jazz trumpeter.Rader began on trumpet at age five, taught initially by his father...
, Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy , born Steven Norman Lackritz in New York City, was a jazz saxophonist and composer recognized as one of the important players of soprano saxophone....
and Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz is an American jazz composer and alto saxophonist born in Chicago, Illinois.Generally considered one of the driving forces of Cool Jazz, Konitz has also performed successfully in bebop and avant-garde settings...
. His work during this period, as a pianist, saxophonist and composer, has been extensively recorded, with a number of releases available on the Tall Poppies and ABC Classics labels. In 1991 he was awarded an APRA Award for jazz composition.
He was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1999, but nevertheless continued to perform with various ensembles, and was awarded a Doctorate of Creative Arts from Wollongong University in 1999 for his thesis exploring co-relations between his own composition and improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
.
He participated in the 1999 Wangaratta Festival of Jazz
Wangaratta Festival of Jazz
The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz is an annual festival of jazz and blues held in the town of Wangaratta, 2.5 hours from Melbourne in North East Victoria, Australia. It has become the premier jazz event in Australia and is renowned internationally....
, performing a concert of his own music with Ten Part Invention. Frampton died at home in January 2000 and was survived by his daughter Emily and partner Sherylene
Selected discography
- Jazz Co/op (44 Records)
- Jazz Co/op - Live at The Basement (44 Records)
- On Fire - The Sydney Concert (Bruce Cale Quartet) (Tall Poppies Records)
- Bruce Cale Quartet Live (Tall Poppies Records)
- Tall Stories – Ten Part Invention (Rufus Records)
- Full Steam Ahead – The Engine Room (ABC Jazz)
- Live at Wangaratta: The Music of Roger Frampton (ABC Jazz)
- Totally Prepared (Tall Poppies Records)
- Pure Piano (Tall Poppies Records)
- Off the Beaten Track (with Don Rader) (Tall Poppies Records)
External links
- Music Australia, an online service developed by the National Library of AustraliaNational Library of AustraliaThe National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
, has information about recordings and scores by Roger Frampton - A Story of Jazz in Sydney by Peter Boothman
- Tall Poppies Records