Perth drummer Daniel Susnjar leads jazz nominations

Award winning Perth drummer Daniel Susnjar leads the nominations for this year’s Australian Jazz Bell awards, announced last night. They are held on Thursday April 30 at theRegent Theatre Ballroom in Melbourne, hosted by Helen Kapalos.

Susnjar’s debut album Su Su Nje is up for three gongs, in Best Australian Modern Jazz Album,Best Australian Jazz Song of the Yearand Best Australian Jazz Ensemble.

The track Forte Pulse Torte is up for Best Australian Jazz Song of the Year alongside Paul Grabowsky’s Black Saffron and Some Kind Of Dream by former model turned singer Penelope Sai who moved to Paris to study under the legendary singer Anne Ducros.

Susnjar, hailed as Perth’s best jazz drummer when in his teens, was inspired to make Su Su Nje while visiting Peru. He went there as part of his doctorate on applying Afro-Peruvian rhythms to jazz drumming. He ended up using the rhythms to his own songs as well as covering classic Peruvian songs with musicians from Peru, Miami and New York where he constantly performs.

Su Su Nje contends for Best Australian Modern Jazz Album with Paul Grabowsky’s The Bitter Suite where he drew some of Sydney’s best players to create a music about the night, and James Mustafa Orchestra’s debut album The Last Sanctuary of orchestral and improvised music made with his 19-piece ensemble.

Other categories are:

Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album:

Josh Kyle & Sam Keevers – Songs of Friends

Tom Barton – Aspirations

Sarah McKenzie – We Could Be Lovers

Best Australian Contemporary ‘Avant-garde’ Jazz Album:

Monash Art Ensemble –George ‐ Hexis

Barney McAll = Trio Feral ‐ Trio Feral = Don’t Feed

Paul Van Ross ‐ My Cuban Soul

Best Australian Traditional Jazz Album:

James Morrison ‐ A-Z Of Jazz

The Hunters & Pointers ‐ The Hunters & Pointers

Geoff Bull ‐ Clarence Williams Tribute

Best Australian Jazz Ensemble:

Mike Nock Octet ‐ Suite Sima

Daniel Susnjar ‐ Su Su Nje

Daryl McKenzie Orchestra‐ Return Journey

Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year:

James Mustafa Jazz Orchestra ‐ The Last Sanctuary

Nic Vardenga ‐ Inverno

Jessica Carlton ‐ Not Alone

The winner of the Graeme Bell Hall of Fame – in recognition of an outstanding career – will be announced on the night.

The 2015 judging panel, made up of experts in their field,are from Australia and overseas. The panel comprises Albert Dadon, Adrian Jackson, Gerry Koster, John McBeath, Martin Jackson, Carl Griffin and Luis Tineo.