Jonathan Zwartz

Jonathan Peter Zwartz is a New Zealand-born Australian jazz musician. In the 2018 ARIA Music Awards, he won the Best Jazz Album category for his third album, Animarum, released in 2018.

Early life Zwartz was born in New Zealand.

Career 1980s Jonathan Zwartz joined New Zealand pop band, the Crocodiles, on bass guitar, alongside Tony Backhouse on piano, Jenny Morris on lead vocals, Rick Morris (her brother) on guitar, and Barton Price on drums. The group were based in Auckland and performed at Sweetwaters 1981 in January before they relocated to Sydney in the following month. Other former members of the Crocodiles with contributions were Jenny Morris, Arthur Baysting and Peter Dasent.

1990s In 1991 Zwartz, on bass guitar, joined the Bernie McGann Trio, a Sydney-based jazz group, with McGann on saxophone and John Pochee on drums. McGann eschewed piano and explained, "You tend to think that because there's no piano in the group, you're restricted to just playing some songs. But I think you can play anything at all, and it's a very open sort of group which when it works, works extremely well indeed." Michael Foster of The Canberra Times wrote, "Wherever Scott went [the trio] were right with him, seemingly not needing the charts which Scott supplied. Their confidence was impressive, and justified." The Umbrellas recorded an album, Soundtrack to the Passing Parade (August 1993). Once more the performance was well received by Foster.

In 2009 Zwartz issued his debut solo album, The Sea.

2010s His next album, four years later, The Remembering & Forgetting of the Air (July 2013), was described by John Shand of The Sydney Morning Herald, as "...ambient in intent (although it could be used that way). But it has a deep peacefulness and a simple beauty carrying an implicit hint of ineffable sadness... [with] carefully layered production creates three-dimensional sound images...".

Zwartz third solo album, Animarum (February 2018), was feature album of the week on ABC Jazz, with their reviewer opining, "yet another smörgåsbord of intricate compositions, woven together... Each piece is unique, drawing on a plethora of musical influences from all over – yet they are also sequenced together to create a truly engrossing musical experience."

In June 2018 he led a performance of Animarum at the Sydney Con International Jazz Festival, which was well reviewed by The South Sydney Herald.

Discography Albums Title Details The Australia 2000 Suite Released: 1997 Label: Australia Council For The Arts Format: CD The Sea Released: 2009 Label: Jonathan Zwartz Format: CD The Remembering & Forgetting of the Air Released: 29 July 2013 Label: Jonathan Zwartz Format: CD Animarum Released: February 2018 Label: Jonathan Zwartz (JZ003) Format: CD This World Released: 2019 Label: Lionsharecords (LSR20196) Format: CD, DD Another Dance Released: January 2022 Format: CD, Digital Label: Lionsharecords (LSR20212)

Awards and nominations AIR Awards The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. 2010 The Sea Best Independent Jazz Album 2013 The Remembering and Forgetting of the Air Best Independent Jazz Album 2019 This World Best Independent Jazz Album or EP

ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. 2013 The Remembering & Forgetting of the Air Best Jazz Album 2018 Animarum Best Jazz Album 2020 This World (with Hamish Stuart, Julien Wilson & Mike Nock) Best Jazz Album

Australian Jazz Bell Awards The Australian Jazz Bell Awards, (also known as the Bell Awards or The Bells), are annual music awards for the jazz music genre in Australia.

himself Live Bassist of the Year

Live Bassist of the Year Live Jazz Act of the Year