|
Greg Sheehan Bio and more: Greg Sheehan is one of Australia’s premier and most innovative percussionists, widely regarded internationally as a leader in his field. As a performer, he is significantly represented in the last three decades of Australian contemporary music as both a live band member and studio musician on hundreds of recordings. From such rock stalwarts as Goanna and Richard Clapton, to the cult fusion of Mackenzie Theory or the improvisational jazz of Sandy Evans, Mark Simmonds and Mike Bukovsky, Greg’s rhythms are a solidly distinctive favourite for many of Australia’s most renowned musicians. As a teacher, Greg has coordinated community arts projects throughout the country over many years, along with teaching both professionals and the wider community with his unique style of rhythmic notation and extraordinary body percussion techniques. A distinctly Australian musician, Greg’s heritage is Irish and his music draws not only from its Celtic roots but also strongly from the geography, seasons and indigenous culture of the country that is his home. Adding influences from Polynesia, South East Asia, and Latin America and Africa, Greg has laid the bedrock for a truly integrated Australian sound. As an exciting kit drummer in a jazz, world or rock band, as a dynamic director in a percussion extravaganza, as a band leader or an extraordinary tambourine player, Greg Sheehan is undeniably one of Australia’s not so hidden treasures. His performances are a knockout at every level and audiences from schoolchildren through to jazz and classical aficionados have been captivated by his palpable, organic, accessible rhythmic musicality and utterly engaging showmanship. Greg loves to take the music to as many people as possible. His attitude has never been elitist or selective. ‘Music is everywhere and it is for everyone’ has been his credo. His generosity, wonderful humour and wholehearted musicality in performances, jams and community development has seen Greg almost single handedly change the face, and most certainly, the rhythmical foundations of contemporary Australian musical culture. Diamonds and triangles ….. a new realm of rhythmic understanding Greg has developed a revolutionary form of rhythmic understanding. His fascination with the numbers and patterns of our modern lives, combined with a variety of ancient rhythms and sacred geometry led him to formulate his uniquely creative ‘Diamonds’ formula. Two generations of students around the country have benefited from Greg’s distinctly original teaching methods and many of his contemporaries and musical colleagues were once taught, or inspired by him. TAMBOURINE Another noteworthy and influential aspect of Greg’s percussion playing is his development of the skinned tambourine. His unique style developed over the years blends techniques & sounds from the West African talking drum, Indian tabla and African American kit beats. From traditional Celtic to funk and hip hop, his tambourine playing thoroughly debunks any misconceptions about this instrument’s limitations and is often said to resemble the range of an entire drum kit. Body Percussion and Workshops Body percussion is a term for percussive dance based on the ancient and primal human reaction of clapping hands. One may see a simplified modern example of body percussion’s evolution in the musical handclapping games of children. Greg’s unique method, developed over 30 years begins with a basic walking rhythm. From that basis, a handclap is added and finally overlaid with rhythmic number patterns. The workshops are therapeutic, informative, fun and uniquely bonding. Many hundreds of groups, conferences and audiences have benefited from and delighted in his energetic, accessible techniques which have seen Greg’s particular body percussion style spread globally. Greg’s workshops are in high demand both in Australia and around the world. He conducts sessions for school children, professional musicians, music students and teachers as well as anyone in the broader community with a passion for music and rhythm (eg Bondi Youth Wave, Drumming Up Darwin). He is particularly committed to his regular teaching engagements in the indigenous communities of Australia’s Red Centre. Here music, rhythm, instruments and body percussion are barrier breaking languages of culture, age and gender with Greg’s workshops widely and enthusiastically attended in the remotest of locations. Performing History, selected groups: Shane Howard & Goanna Blackfeather (Number 1 hit single in '73, check out Blackfeather, Bobbin the Blues on Youtube)
Artistic Performance residency / Tour - Ireland 2001 Hothouse Flowers
KEEP CHECKING FOR GIG UPDATES!
|
Gigs & Tours 2008Up-coming gigs30th March, Rhythm Workshop Buddha Bar, byron Bay, 9.30am - 12.30 bring any instrument- it'll be fun!5th April, duet with Gene Peterson, Lismore, NSW16th - 27th April, The Drum, Children's show, Opera House, Sydney with CORlook out for Sydney COR gigs in April!3rd May, Nimbin Hotel, Rhythmland, 1.30 - 5pm Mardi Grass
5th April, duet with Gene Peterson, Lismore, NSWRecent GigsSt Kilda festival, Melbourne, CORCanberra multicultural festival, CORRhythmland, Nimbin and LismoreWoodfordAvailable on CDcoming soon! Greg's debut solo album!!Metrical, by Circle of Rhythm, (photo coming soon.)WINIFRED'S WORLD
|
