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1969: Born in Newcastle,
Australia. Approximately 200km north of Sydney and grew up in Toronto on
the beautiful Lake Macquarie.
1988: Moved to Sydney to
commence jazz studies
diploma at Sydney Conservatorium. Performed with James Morrison, Mike
Nock, Dale Barlow, Jackie Orzasky, Monica & the Moochers and formed own
Quintet called "Free Spirits" . Received JAS award for "Best Jazz
Composition"
1989: Recorded "Free
Spirits" for the Roo Art Jazz Label. Performed with Don Pullen (USA),
Bobby Shew(USA), Paul Grabowsky, Bernie McGann, Ten Part Invention and
the Bob Coasin Big Band supporting Buddy Defranco, Louis Bellson & Joe
Williams. Composed and performed the ensemble music to a historic 1910
silent film for the Newcastle Film Festival. Received Conservatorium
Diploma with Merit.
1991: Received Australian
overseas study grant and took lessons in New York with Conrad Herwig,
Steve Turre, Robin Eubanks and Richie Beirach. Toured Germany with the
Harald Rüshenbaum sextet and recorded the the Marcus Plattner Trio,
Switzerland. Performed with Joe Haider, Andy Scherrer and Stephan Kurman.
Returned to Australia and received two composition grants for
Australia`s 10-piece jazz ensemble "Ten Part Invention".
1992: Won again "Best Jazz
Composition" and "Free Spirits" toured five states of Australia with the
support of a National touring grant from the Australian Arts Council.
Was Voted "Best Australian Trombonist" and also received the "Mo" award
for "Best Australian Jazz Group". Was featured as "artist in residence"
in workshops and concerts during the Perth Festival. Then moved to
Europe.
1993: Became head of the
trombone department in the Mannheim Conservatorium. Recorded for ENJA
records in New York together with German saxophonist Johannes Enders
featuring Joey Calderazzo, Ronnie Burrage & Ed Howard. Was musical
director of the Harald Rüschenbaum Quintet which toured Germany and also
recorded the CD "Free Spirits". Tutoring regularly at workshops for the
Bavarian Youth Big Band.
1994: Performed with
Conexion Latina. Had further lessons in New York with Conrad Herwig,
Slide Hampton, Steve Turre. Touring with the quintet co-led by Johannes
Enders together with Roberto DiGioia, Marc Abrams and Falk Willis.
Toured and recorded with the Bobby Burgess Big Band.
1995: Performed at the North
Sea Jazz Festival & Vilshofen Jazz Fest with own Quintet. Recorded with
the group BABAMADU for ENJA records. Toured with the McCoy Tyner big
Band in the absence of Steve Turre. Gave Didgeridoo workshop in Provence,
France.
1996: Took over the position
from Jiggs Whigham as head of the trombone department in Cologne
Conservatorium. Recorded and performed with the group "Cocinando"
featuring Paquito D`Rivera. Toured and recorded with the hard - bop
sextet, UGETSU "Live in Athens". Studied didgeridoo with Austrlian
Aboriginal, Alan Dargin. Formed the 10-piece "Australian Composers
Ensemble" and performed in Munich. Toured Germany and Austria and
recorded with the group "A-Strain", co-led by Peter O`Mara.
1997: Festival performances
in Australia. Received a grant to compose for the German classical brass
ensemble "Bach, Blech & Blues" which later recorded, featuring himself
and Till Bronner (tpt). Wrote the music to a series of Australian Travel
Documentaries produced by Mike Leyland. Attended the International
Didgeridoo festival and studied with Mark Atkins and Phill Peris.
Performed solo concert and workshop in Lindenfelds Summer Festival. Was
a main soloist featured in the 150th year aniversary of Seimens(Germany),
performing from Australia via sattelite together with the Berlin Opera
Symphony Orchestra. Resigned from teaching in Cologne. Recorded second
album with UGETSU in Holland, touring 5 european countries over three
weeks. Won first prize together with a Munich group in the Blue Note/Henessy
Jazz search. Performed at the Berlin Jazz Festival with his ethno trio
BABAMADU. Toured and recorded a live CD at the St Ingbert Jazz Festival
with the International quartet "East West Wind". Performed with Eddie
Palmeri in the absence of Conrad Herwig.
1998: Recorded for Blue Note
with the "Scales Brothers". Toured Europe with Ugetsu with new member on
trumpet from New York, Valery Ponomarev. Performances with the Bone &
Drum duo. Performed with East West Wind at the Jazz Ost West Festival
and live Radio recording. Gave Didgeridoo workshop in Switzerland.
Trombone workshop in Würzburg Conservatorium. Live Radio Recording with
Carlo Mombelli. Performances with The Lungau Big Band feat Ray Anderson.
Composition grant for the Austrian Juvavum Brass Ensemble. Ethno project
at the Stuttgart Jazz Tage. One week tour with the Munich Big Band
featuring Joe Haider and his music. Was the featured artist for 1 week
at the Jazz club Unterfahrt, Munich with 4 various own groups. Moved to
Switzerland. Performances at Manly Jazz Festival with Ugetsu and also
recorded the 3rd Cd "Live in Shanghai as a part of the bands two week
tour of China. Trio concerts with Barbara Dennerlein. Performed and
recorded for Denon records with the Bamberg Symphony Big Band.
Performances with the Dejan Terzic Quartet feat Antonio Farao.
1999: 24 concert tour
through Germany, Belgium, Austria with Ugetsu. Several concerts in
Germany as guest soloist with Klaus Doldinger´s Passport. Received
composing commission for the German Brass Ensemble, "Bach, Blech &
Blues" and completed performances in Jakarta/Indonesia. Records his
debut album "All For One" as a leader for ENJA records featuring various
line-ups from duo to tentet. Performed at the Swiss Off-Beat Jazz
festival with "Cubano Bop". Guest soloist with Klaus Doldingers
"Passport" and the Düsseldorf Symphonic at the Düsseldorf Jazz Rally.
Performances with the Florian Ross Quartet at Belgium Jazz festival and
a live WDR television appearance in "the Subway", Cologne. Tour with
"East West Wind" including the Luneberg Jazz festival. Gives Trombone
workshop in Wurzburg and Mainz. Live recording at the Montreux Jazz
Festival with the "Lungau Big Band" from Austria.
Starts to teach Trombone and Ear Training at the Basel Jazz School,
Switzerland. 17 Day Ugetsu tour and makes new recording "Cape Town
Blues" for Naxos records at Power House studios, Switzerland. Performs
with the "Stephan Kurman Strings" at Jazz No Jazz Festival, Zürich. Live
radio recording with "Trombone Fire" in München. Guest soloist on the
new recording of Conexion Latina (ENJA records).
2000: Becomes member and
experiences first tour with "the Vienna Art Orchestra", 3 weeks through
Austria, France, Switzerland and including a live CD/TV production
(Artistry In Rhythm program). Live radio performance in Munich with
Johannes Farber`s "Consortium". 25 concerts through Germany,
Switzerland, Belgium and Holland with Ugetsu. Composition grant and tour
with the Austrian ensemble "Heavy Tuba feat. Jon Sass". Featured soloist
and composer with the "Transit Orchestra" in Bamberg Concert Hall and
debut of his suite "Between Two Worlds" for Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Trio
and Didgeridoo. Austrian tour with the "Lungau Big Band" feat. Bobby
Shew. Two appearances at the Classical Rheingau Festival with the
"Transit Orchestra" and "Bach, Blech & Blues" feat. Ack Van Rooyen.
Teacher and soloist at the Frauenfeld(CH) International Jazz Workshop
together with Benny Golson, Billy Drummond, Brad Leali, Peter
Herbolzheimer. Tour with Swiss all-star "Lars Band". Performance at EXPO
with Peter Weiss group. Concert with Peter Herboltzheimer big band.
Adrian Mears Quartet Swiss tour. Live radio recording in Munich with
Adrian Mears & Johannes Enders Quintet.
2001: Played lead trombone
on the new recording "Watlzing with Zoe" with the Bob Brookmyer New Art
Orchestra in Holland for Challenge records. The four trombones and
rhythm section, "Trombonefire" completes german tour and recording
"Different Moods" including many Mears originals. Performed in Sydney
with Mears Trio. Recorded on with the Christian Stock trio featuring
Shiela Jordon. Played lead and solo with the NDR Big Band production
feat Tim Haagens. Replaces Gary Thomas on Polish jazz festival, Gdynia
with the Adam Pieronczyk group. Mears`s Australian Composers Ensemble
performs at Düsseldorf Jazz Rally. Concerts and performance at Berlin
Jazz festival with Charlie Mariano and Johannes Faber`s "Consortium".
Composition grant for swiss avantgarde ensemble "Ton 2000". Concerts
with Peter Herboltzheimer`s big band and guest Teacher at BUJAZZO
national youth big band workshop. Vienna Art Orchestra records new
program "Art and Fun" featuring Mears on Trombone and Didgeridoo.
Transit orchestra performs Mears suite "Between Two Worlds" for Chamber
orchestra and Jazz trio feat Mears on trombone and Didgeridoo.
2002: Vienna Art Orchestra
celebrates its 25 aniversary and completes 3 tours with over 65, with 3
different programs concerts, in 11 different countries including 3
Canadian festivals. Performed with "Bach, Blech & Blues" featuring Kenny
Wheeler and his music for brass ensemble. Teacher at Generations Jazz
Workshop in Frauenfeld, Switzerland as well as performing with other
masterclass teachers such as George Mraz, Don Friedman and Adam
Nussbaum. Tours in germany with Trombonefire, Johannes Faber and Peter
Herboltzheimer. Concerts in Austria with Harry Sokal.
2003: Composed and performed
music for brass ensemble and soloists which featured Kenny Wheeler, Judy
Niemack (voc), Jean-Francois Prins (Acoustic Guitar) and Jürgen
Friedrich (piano) in Düsseldorf Concert Hall. Vienna Art Orchestra tours
with programs "Art & Fun", Ellington and records the music for Austrian
art installation in Langenlois. Further performances and becomes member
of the Stephan Kurmann Strings together with Andy Sherrer(saxophone) and
Cuban drummer Julio Barretto. Founded the group "New Orleans Hardbop"
Gives further jazz workshops with BUJAZZO and masterclasses in the
Conservatoriums in Hannover(D) and Luzern(CH). Tour with the Quintet "Joinville"
from saxophonist Herwig Gradischnig. Starts a one year position at
Berlin University for Art with student Johannes Lauer who wins "Frank
Rosolino" International trombone competition. Performance and recording
of the complete suite "Between Two Worlds" with the Deutschen Kammer
Akadmie Neuss including special guest John Hollenbeck on drums. Finishes
year performing the Vienna Art Orchestra`s interpretation of "All that
Strauss" in Vienna.
2004: 8 day German tour with
Trombonefire promoting new CD "Different Moods". Ends semester in
Mannheim and bids the school a farwell concert after teaching for 10
years. Concerts and recording in Zürich radio DRS studios with new
five-man international project "Adrian Mears New Orleans Hardbop".
Festivals in Belgium and Vienna with VAO. First invitaion to 13th IASJ
in Freiburg as representative of Basel Jazz School. Performs in Germany
5 concerts as guest soloist with Matthias Daneck trio the music of Kenny
Wheeler.
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