ABOUT
MARK GINSBURG
Saxophonist · Composer · Bandleader
Mark Ginsburg is a saxophonist, composer and bandleader whose music is shaped by a lifelong engagement with jazz, improvisation and collaboration.
Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, Mark emerged as a saxophonist before migrating to Australia in 1982. Since then, he has been active across the Australian and international music scene, developing a distinctive voice as both a performer and composer.
FINDING A MUSICAL VOICE
Mark's musical interests have been shaped by a broad range of influences, including his South African background and a continuing fascination with the relationship between musical tradition, composition and improvisation. His Master's research at the Sydney Conservatorium explored the influence of Jewish cantorial practice on Jewish jazz musicians — part of a broader interest in how musical traditions find new expression through improvisation.
These interests came together particularly strongly in Generations, Mark's debut album as a leader. Emerging from research undertaken during his Master's studies, the project explored aspects of his musical roots through original compositions and improvisation. Generations was nominated for Best Jazz Album in the 2009 AIR Awards and attracted strong critical acclaim.
“Mark Ginsburg is a warm and talented saxophonist whose love for music making is clearly evident in both his beautiful compositions and his heartfelt playing.”
— Mike Nock
COLLABORATION AND CONVERSATION
Mark's work has also been shaped by creative partnerships. Convergence, his collaboration with Italian pianist and composer Vittorio Mezza, grew from a chance meeting in New York and eventually brought the two musicians together in Rome to record the album in 2015. Released in 2018, Convergence was awarded Best Jazz Album by the USA-based Indie Acoustic Project.
More recently, Oceans Together, a collaboration with pianist Ryan Grogan, has continued Mark's exploration of composition, improvisation and musical conversation. Born during the isolation of the COVID pandemic, the project creates an open and spacious sound world, with hand percussion replacing the conventional drum kit. Alongside his recording projects, Mark leads The Mark Ginsburg Band, performing original compositions alongside adventurous interpretations of the jazz repertoire.
BEYOND THE BANDSTAND
In addition to his work as a performer and composer, Mark has participated in numerous collaborative projects and composed and recorded the score for the feature-length documentary A Common Purpose, which received the Audience Award at the 2011 Sydney Film Festival. In recognition of his broader contribution to community and music, Mark was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2021.
Away from music, Mark enjoys working with wood, allowing the natural character, grain and form of the timber to shape each piece. It is another form of creative expression — hands-on, intuitive and very different from, yet strangely connected to the process of making music.
Touring with Spike Milligan
When I was a young musician, I had the extraordinary experience of touring South Africa with Spike Milligan. I was playing guitar in a quartet that backed his show, and every night was an adventure.
Going on stage with Spike was never quite the same twice. You never really knew what was going to happen. One night I mentioned to him that some members of my family were in the audience. After one of my guitar solos, Spike had the lighting guys switch off all the lights. He then came over to me carrying his own torch, shone it on me and announced: “That was Mrs Ginsburg’s son... she wanted him to be a doctor!”
There were many other memorable moments. After a performance, Spike would sometimes sit down at the piano and play jazz tunes to unwind. We played squash together almost every day while we were on tour, and when we had the opportunity, I would accompany him on drives through the South African countryside. On one occasion, he even rode on the back of my motorcycle.
We also talked a lot. His son in London was about my age, and I think some of our conversations were partly his way of understanding the world of someone from a younger generation.
What began as a touring engagement developed into a genuine friendship. Looking back, I feel very fortunate to have spent that time with him. He was funny, unpredictable, immensely creative and, underneath it all, a remarkably curious person.