Carl Dewhurst's High 5

Historical article recovered from a Wayback capture dated 2018-02-24.

Carl was born in 1969 and started playing guitar at age nine. He obtained his first electric guitar when 12 years old and started playing the music of Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, The Police and George Benson. He started studying Jazz guitar at age fourteen and began playing extensively with long time friend and bassist / composer Cameron Undy. He was accepted into the Canberra School of Music preparatory Jazz studies program during year 12 and went on to complete a Diploma of Music. He completed a Masters Degree in Music in 2001.

Carl leads his own group the Carl Dewhurst Quartet. The group has released two CD’s : “Put Put Put”(2000) and “CDQ Live” (2004). Since forming in 1998 the Carl Dewhurst Quartet has performed at the Sydney Opera House, the Big Day Out, The Basement, The Seymour Centre and at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival. Carl and drummer Simon Barker joined forces in 2005 to release an album of improvised duets entitled “Showa 44”. They traveled to Korea to perform and are appearing at the 2007 Brisbane Biennial of Music. The Carl Dewhurst Trio is a new project commenced in 2006. The trio featuring Cameron Undy and Evan Mannell plays music drawing from a wide range of influences, from jazz, rock, electronica, ambient minimalism and free improvisation. Since 2000 he has been a member of the Australian Art Orchestra led by Paul Grabowsky and has performed works such as Testimony, Love In The Age of Therapy, Into The Fire and most recently the celebrated Ruby’s Story featuring indigenous artists Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach.

Carl’s performing credits include many of Australia’s leading Jazz artists including James Morrison, Vince Jones, Dale Barlow, Mike Nock, The Catholics, Cameron Undy, Phil Slater, Scott Tinkler, Susan Gai Dowling, Bernie Mc Gann, Steve Hunter, Lily Dior and Michelle Nicolle. He has also worked with artists such as Paul Capsis, Jade Mc Rae, Delta Goodrem, James Reyne, Tim Freedman and EON to name a few.Carl has played with international touring artists Terumasa Hino, Bobby Previte, Mose Allison, Bobby Shew, Andy Bey, and most recently with drumming virtuoso Jim Black.

Carl was the winner of both the judges and peoples choice awards at the Ike Isaacs International Jazz Guitar competition in 1998 and was runner-up at the National Jazz Awards in 2000. He has been a guest lecturer at several universities and is on the judging panel for the 2006 Music Council of Australia Freedman Fellowship. Carl was a founding member of the Jazzgroove Association.

1. PETER BROTZMAN AND PETER KOWALD - Canberra School of Music 1987

As a young high school student these two German musicians were unknown to me. I didn’t know how they played but expected some intimate Saxophone and Double Bass duets. When they came out on stage and assaulted us with an hour of frighteningly intense improvisation I thought I was going to die of shock! I wasn’t sure if I dug it but the spontaneity and sheer energy of these two stayed with me for a long time.

2. ROGER FRAMPTON - Strawberry Hills Hotel, 1990

Roger was on fire this night. He was joined by Eddie Bronson, John Pochee and a youthful Cameron Undy on bass. They played a set that seemed to go on forever. Roger would direct the band so that they would meld from one tune to the next without stopping. It was like a DJ set! Softly as in a Morning sunrise became a blues and then something else without you really noticing. It was Roger the magician at work!

3. SONNY ROLLINS QUINTET - The Village Gate NYC, 1993

Hearing Sonny live was a dream come true for me. An added buzz was long time associate Bob Cranshaw on bass. Sonny just seemed to produce endless waves of sound that had me totally absorbed. Everyone on the bandstand was vibing off his playing. There was a lot of smiling and laughing. Sonny seemed like an artist totally inspired. He had the kind of aura that touched everyone. Truly sublime!

4. PAUL MOTIAN - The Village Vanguard NYC

For this gig Paul was joined by guitarist Bill Frisell and saxophonist Joe Lovano. As they wove their way through standards and Monk tunes I realized these guys were really doing something special. The unique voice of each musician spoke with total clarity whilst the musical result was one of true symbiosis. It was amazing to hear a traditional repertoire played with such daring and invention.

5. STEVE COLEMAN & THE FIVE ELEMENTS – Live studio recording for album “Tao of Mad Phat”. NYC

This was the first time I’d seen Steve Coleman’s group and it was really incredible. It was just one big lesson in rhythm. They all rocked from side to side in unison whilst navigating some of the most rhythmically complex grooves I’d heard. Guitarist Dave Gilmour’s playing left an indelible impression on me that night, as did the drumming of Gene Lake. Of added weight was the fact that this was a live recording for an album and everything was played down once only. Heavy.