The Vampires (band) explained

The Vampires
Origin:	Sydney, Australia
Genre:	World-roots jazz
Years Active:	2005–present
Label:	Earshift Music
Current Members:	Jeremy Rose Nick Garbett Alex Masso Noel Mason
Past Members:	Alex Boneham, Mike Majkowski

The Vampires are an Australian world roots jazz group comprising saxophonist Jeremy Rose, trumpeter Nick Garbett, drummer Alex Masso, and bassist Mike Majkowski.

History

The band formed in their final year of studying for their Bachelor of Music (jazz performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2005.

The band has released six albums and toured extensively around Australia, Germany, the UK, Czech Republic, Austria and Italy. The band performs mostly original music by Jeremy Rose and Nick Garbett that draws inspiration from their travels around the world and experiences in life. The band has performed at every major jazz festival in Australia, the Love Supreme Festival (UK), Glasgow Jazz Festival, Edingburgh Jazz Festival, Jazzahead Festival (Bremen, Germany), and the Enjoy Jazz Festival (Mannheim, Germany).

Members

• Nick Garbett (trumpet)
• Jeremy Rose (alto, tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet and piano)
• Alex Masso (drums and percussion)
• Alex Boneham (double bass, 2008–present)
• Mike Majkowski (double bass, 2006–2008)

The band members have lived in different parts of the world – bassist Alex Boneham became an established presence in Los Angeles, and Nick Garbett lived in Lampedusa, Italy.

On 1 March 2022, Alex Masso was appointed executive officer of the Australian Music Association.^{[1] [2]}

Collaborators

• Chris Abrahams (piano, organ, prophet, super 6, Quantum, Rhodes, 2021–2022, on Night Jar)
• Jonathan Zwartz (double bass, 2014–2017, on The Vampires Meet Lionel Loueke)
• Shannon Barnett (occasional guest, trombone on South Coasting, Chellowdene and Garfish)
• Fabian Hevia (guest, percussion, approx. 2009–2012, on Chellowdene and Garfish)
• Ben Hauptmann (guest, guitar, 2014–2017)
• Lionel Loueke (guest, guitar, 2016, on The Vampires Meet Lionel Loueke)
• Danny Fischer (guest, drums, 2016, on The Vampires Meet Lionel Loueke)
• Also one off performances with Matt Smith (guitar), Tobias Backhaus (drums), James Greening (trombone), Mike Rivett (saxophone), Peter Farrar (saxophone), Lloyd Swanton, Max Alduca, Rory Brown, Brett Hirst, Tom Botting, and Zephyr Quartet.

Awards and nominations

The Vampires were a finalist for Best Australian Jazz Ensemble and Best Produced Album at the Australian Jazz Bell Awards and in the AIR Awards.

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony held by the Australian Recording Industry Association.|-| 2017^[3] | The Vampires meet Lionel Loueke| Best Jazz Album| |-| 2023| Nightjar (featuring Chris Abrahams)| Best Jazz Album| |-

Australian Music Prize

The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. They commenced in 2005.^{[4] [5]} The Vampires were the first instrumental act to be shortlisted for this prize.

|-| 2017| The Vampires meet Lionel Loueke| Australian Music Prize| |-

Discography

Albums

Title	Album details
South Coasting	Released: March 2008^[6] Label: Jazzgroove Records
Chellowdene	Released: March 2010^[7] Label: Earshift Music
Garfish	Released: 25 March 2012^[8] Label: Earshift Music (EAR006)
Tiro	Released: October 2013^[9] Label: Earshift Music
The Vampires meet Lionel Loueke	Released: 5 May 2017^[10] Label: Earshift Music (EAR017)
Pacifica	Released: February 2019^[11] Label: Earshift Music (EAR026)

Notes and References

1. Web site: AMA appoints new Executive Officer . Australian Music Association . 2 March 2022 . 21 October 2023.
2. Web site: Briggs . Maddy . Make noise for Make Music Day in 2023! . Limelight . 21 June 2023 . 21 October 2023.
3. Web site: ARIA Awards search The Vampires. ARIA Awards. 29 August 2020.
4. Web site: Sampa the Great Scores $30,000 aus Music Prize. Themusic.com.au.
5. Web site: 2017 Shortlist – the Amp (Australian Music Prize) . 11 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180311150910/https://www.australianmusicprize.com.au/shortlists/2017/ . 11 March 2018 . dead .
6. Web site: THE VAMPIRES – SOUTH COASTING. Jazz. March 2008. 29 August 2020.
7. Web site: Chellowdene (DD). Apple Music. March 2010. 29 August 2020.
8. Web site: Garfish (DD). Apple Music. March 2012. 29 August 2020.
9. Web site: Tiro (DD). Apple Music. April 2014. 29 August 2020.
10. Web site: The Vampires meet Lionel Loueke (DD). Apple Music. 5 May 2017. 29 August 2020.
11. Web site: Pacifica (DD). Apple Music. February 2019 . 29 August 2020.