MEET THE MUSICIANS
Mark Ginsburg
Mark's music career began in Cape Town, South Africa, before he moved to Australia in 1982. He has led a wide range of projects as a saxophonist, composer and bandleader, including Generations, Convergence and Oceans Together.
For this band, Mark has brought together four musicians with whom he has developed musical relationships over many years.
Ryan Grogan
A graduate of the College of Music at the University of Cape Town and Berklee College of Music, Ryan Grogan is a pianist, composer and producer whose work encompasses jazz, contemporary music, film and television. Alongside performing, he has written music for television, commercials, documentaries, short films and games.
Ryan and Mark have worked together in a number of musical settings. He was a member of Mark's band on Generations, recorded in 2009, and more recently the two collaborated on the writing and production of Oceans Together.
In the Mark Ginsburg Band, Ryan brings his distinctive combination of harmonic sophistication, rhythmic energy and compositional imagination to the piano. His long musical relationship with Mark provides a strong foundation for the band's exploratory and collaborative approach.
James Kennedy
A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, James Kennedy has long been a familiar voice on the Australian jazz scene. Equally at home on stage and in the studio, he has established himself as an accomplished trombonist, producer and audio engineer, contributing to recordings by many of Australia's leading jazz artists.
This combination of artistic and technical experience has given James a broad perspective on contemporary jazz and helped shape his expressive and thoughtful approach to performance.
In the Mark Ginsburg Band, James' trombone brings warmth, depth and character to the frontline partnership with Mark's tenor saxophone. Their musical dialogue sits at the heart of an ensemble featuring Ryan Grogan, Brett Hirst and Nicholas McBride, whose shared musical sensibility and collaborative spirit create a distinctive and engaging sound.
Brett Hirst
New Zealand-born bassist Brett Hirst holds a Diploma of Jazz Studies from the Christchurch School of Jazz and a Masters of Music in Performance from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Since moving to Sydney in 1998, he has developed a reputation as one of Australia's most versatile jazz bassists, performing and recording with many leading Australian and international artists.
Brett has collaborated with Mark in a number of settings over the years, including Judy Campbell's Mosaic project Common Ground and, more recently, Oceans Together.
In the Mark Ginsburg Band, Brett provides the harmonic and rhythmic foundation for the ensemble, combining a deep understanding of jazz with an instinctive ability to listen and respond. His playing gives the band both stability and freedom, allowing the music to develop organically.
Nick McBride
Nicholas McBride is a versatile drummer and percussionist whose musical journey has taken him from Australia to Africa, Asia and beyond. He studied at the Australian National University before travelling to Kenya, where he studied with master percussionist Bandika Ngao. He subsequently spent time living and performing in China, developing a broad musical perspective through his international experience.
Nick and Mark have collaborated over many years, including on Judy Campbell's Mosaic project Common Ground, where Nick's connection with Bandika led to further collaborations and international performances.
In the Mark Ginsburg Band, Nick brings an exceptional sense of rhythm, colour and interaction to the drums. His experience across different musical traditions gives him a particularly open and responsive approach to improvisation and ensemble playing.