Peter O'Mara
Encyclopedia
Peter O'Mara is an Australian jazz guitarist
, composer and teacher.
, at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
and at jazz clinics under Jamey Aebersold
, Dave Liebman
, Randy Brecker
, John Scofield
and Hal Galper
.
O'Mara began his professional career in Australia between 1976-81. He was a Prizewinner for Jazz Composition 1980 & 1982, awarded by the NSW Jazz Action Society. His first album "Peter O´Mara" was released 1980, receiving widespread critical acclaim. He was awarded the "Don Banks Memorial Fellowship" for overseas study. 1981 he was studying in New York under Dave Liebman
, John Scofield
, Roland Hanna
, Jimmy Raney
and Attila Zoller
.
O'Mara moved to Munich
, Germany
in late 1981. He joined Klaus Doldinger
's band Passport
in 1990 and has toured Europe a number of times with this group, as well as South Africa and Brazil.
His teaching activities include, among many workshops throughout Europe, a professorship for Jazz guitar at the Anton Bruckner Private University for Music, Drama, and Dance
Austria, as well as the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. He is also author of four highly acclaimed books published by internationally renowned Jazz publishers Advance Music.
, Jon Christensen
, Joe Nay, Maria Joao
, John Marshall
, Patrick Scales
, John Taylor
, Randy Brecker
, Charlie Mariano
, Benny Bailey
, Robben Ford
, Mike Nock
, Albert Mangelsdorff
, Ack van Rooyen, Johnny Griffin
, Willy Qua.
Jazz guitarist
Jazz guitarists are guitar players who play jazz music on the guitar using an approach to playing chords, melodies, and improvised solo lines which is called jazz guitar playing. The guitar has fulfilled the roles of accompanist and soloist in small and large ensembles and also as an unaccompanied...
, composer and teacher.
Biography
He studied at the Academy of Guitar under George GollaGeorge Golla
George Golla AM is an Australian jazz guitarist. In 1959 he commenced a long-term working musical partnership with clarinetist/flautist/saxophonist Don Burrows that continued for almost forty years. On 10 June 1985, Golla was made a Member of the Order of Australia with the citation, For service...
, at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia...
and at jazz clinics under Jamey Aebersold
Jamey Aebersold
Jamey Aebersold is an American jazz saxophonist and music educator. His "Play-A-Long" series of instructional book and CD collections, using the chord-scale system, the first of which was released in 1967, are an internationally renowned resource for jazz education...
, Dave Liebman
Dave Liebman
Dave Liebman is an American saxophonist and flautist. In June 2010, he received a NEA Jazz Masters lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts.-Biography:...
, Randy Brecker
Randy Brecker
Randal "Randy" Brecker is an American trumpeter and flugelhornist. He is a highly sought after performer in the genres of jazz, rock, and R&B, and has performed or recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Billy Cobham, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Sandip Burman, Charles Mingus, Blood, Sweat & Tears,...
, John Scofield
John Scofield
John Scofield , often referred to as "Sco," is an American jazz guitarist and composer, who has played and collaborated with Miles Davis, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Joey Defrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Pat Martino, Mavis Staples, Phil Lesh, Billy Cobham,...
and Hal Galper
Hal Galper
-Biography:He studied classical piano as a boy, but switched to jazz which he studied at the Berklee College of Music from 1955 to 1958. He hung out at Herb Pomeroy's club, The Stable, hearing local Boston musicians like Jackie Byard, Alan Dawson and Sam Rivers. Galper started sitting in and became...
.
O'Mara began his professional career in Australia between 1976-81. He was a Prizewinner for Jazz Composition 1980 & 1982, awarded by the NSW Jazz Action Society. His first album "Peter O´Mara" was released 1980, receiving widespread critical acclaim. He was awarded the "Don Banks Memorial Fellowship" for overseas study. 1981 he was studying in New York under Dave Liebman
Dave Liebman
Dave Liebman is an American saxophonist and flautist. In June 2010, he received a NEA Jazz Masters lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts.-Biography:...
, John Scofield
John Scofield
John Scofield , often referred to as "Sco," is an American jazz guitarist and composer, who has played and collaborated with Miles Davis, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Joey Defrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Pat Martino, Mavis Staples, Phil Lesh, Billy Cobham,...
, Roland Hanna
Roland Hanna
Roland Hanna was an American Jazz pianist.Hanna studied classical piano as a boy, but was strongly interested in jazz. This increased after his time in military service.He studied at Eastman School of Music and Juilliard School...
, Jimmy Raney
Jimmy Raney
Jimmy Raney was an American jazz guitarist born in Louisville, Kentucky most notable for his work from 1951–1952 and 1962–1963 with Stan Getz and for his work from 1953–1954 with the Red Norvo trio, replacing Tal Farlow. In 1954 and 1955 he won the Down Beat critics poll for guitar...
and Attila Zoller
Attila Zoller
Attila Cornelius Zoller was a Hungarian born Jazz guitarist. He won Deutscher Filmpreis for Beste Filmmusik in Germany for the film Das Brot der frühen Jahre in 1962.-Biography:...
.
O'Mara moved to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in late 1981. He joined Klaus Doldinger
Klaus Doldinger
Klaus Doldinger is a German saxophonist, especially well-known for jazz and as a composer of film music. He was the recipient of 1997's Bavarian Film Awards .-Life and work:...
's band Passport
Passport (band)
Passport is a German jazz ensemble led by saxophonist Klaus Doldinger.Passport was initiated in 1971 as a jazz fusion experimental group, similar to American groups such as Weather Report. The ensemble's first recording was issued in 1971, and through the 1970s had a constantly revolving...
in 1990 and has toured Europe a number of times with this group, as well as South Africa and Brazil.
His teaching activities include, among many workshops throughout Europe, a professorship for Jazz guitar at the Anton Bruckner Private University for Music, Drama, and Dance
Anton Bruckner Private University for Music, Drama, and Dance
Anton Bruckner Private University for Music, Drama, and Dance is one of four universities in Linz, the capital of Upper Austria. It has ca...
Austria, as well as the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. He is also author of four highly acclaimed books published by internationally renowned Jazz publishers Advance Music.
Musicians that O'Mara worked with
He has worked with many musicians on the European Jazz scene including: Kenny WheelerKenny Wheeler
Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler, OC is a Canadian composer and trumpet and flugelhorn player, based in the U.K. since the 1950s....
, Jon Christensen
Jon Christensen
Jon Christensen is a Norwegian jazz percussionist.In the late 1960s he played alongside Jan Garbarek on several recordings by the composer George Russell....
, Joe Nay, Maria Joao
Maria João
Maria João is a Portuguese jazz singer.She is known for her vocal flexibility and improvisational skills. While normally considered a jazz singer, her music incorporates a mix of folk/ethnic music, modern jazz, and the avant-garde...
, John Marshall
John Marshall
John Marshall was the Chief Justice of the United States whose court opinions helped lay the basis for American constitutional law and made the Supreme Court of the United States a coequal branch of government along with the legislative and executive branches...
, Patrick Scales
Patrick Scales
Patrick Scales in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany is a German electric bass guitar player and teacher.-Biography:Patrick Scales was born in a small town in the Bavarian Alps. As the town was a recreation area for the American army, there were lots of clubs with live music around. Patrick could...
, John Taylor
John Taylor (jazz)
John Taylor is a British jazz pianist; he has occasionally performed on the organ and the synthesiser. He is one of Europe's most celebrated jazz pianists and composers.-Performing career:...
, Randy Brecker
Randy Brecker
Randal "Randy" Brecker is an American trumpeter and flugelhornist. He is a highly sought after performer in the genres of jazz, rock, and R&B, and has performed or recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Billy Cobham, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Sandip Burman, Charles Mingus, Blood, Sweat & Tears,...
, Charlie Mariano
Charlie Mariano
Carmine Ugo Mariano was an American jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts and died in Cologne, Germany.-Biography:Mariano was the son of Italian immigrants....
, Benny Bailey
Benny Bailey
Benny Bailey, born Ernest Harold Bailey , was an American bebop and hard-bop jazz trumpeter.-Biography:...
, Robben Ford
Robben Ford
Robben Ford is an American blues, jazz and rock guitarist.-Biography:Ford was born in Woodlake, California, United States, but raised in Ukiah, California, and began playing the saxophone at age 10, picking up the guitar at age 13...
, Mike Nock
Mike Nock
Mike Nock is a jazz pianist, currently based in Australia. He began studying piano at 11 and by 18 was performing in Australia. He headed a trio that toured England in 1961 and then attended Berklee College of Music...
, Albert Mangelsdorff
Albert Mangelsdorff
Albert Mangelsdorff was one of the most accredited and innovative trombonists of modern jazz who became famous for his distinctive technique of playing multiphonics.-Biography:...
, Ack van Rooyen, Johnny Griffin
Johnny Griffin
John Arnold Griffin III was an American bop and hard bop tenor saxophonist.- Early life and career :Griffin studied music at DuSable High School in Chicago under Walter Dyett, starting out on clarinet before moving on to oboe and then alto sax...
, Willy Qua.
Books
- A Rhythmic Concept For Jazz Guitar (Advance Music)
- A Rhythmic Concept For Funk/Fusion Guitar (Advance Music)
- A Modal Concept for Jazz Guitar (Advance Music)
- A Chordal Concept for Jazz Guitar (Advance Music)
Discography (selected)
- Acentric featuring Michael Hornek, Patrick ScalesPatrick ScalesPatrick Scales in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany is a German electric bass guitar player and teacher.-Biography:Patrick Scales was born in a small town in the Bavarian Alps. As the town was a recreation area for the American army, there were lots of clubs with live music around. Patrick could...
& Christian Lettner Marangani 2009 - YuMag featuring Michael Hornek, Patrick ScalesPatrick ScalesPatrick Scales in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany is a German electric bass guitar player and teacher.-Biography:Patrick Scales was born in a small town in the Bavarian Alps. As the town was a recreation area for the American army, there were lots of clubs with live music around. Patrick could...
& Christian Lettner Marangani 2008 - Mirage featuring Adam NussbaumAdam Nussbaum-Biography:Nussbaum grew up in Norwalk, Connecticut and started to play drums at age 12 after studying piano for five years. He also played bass and saxophone as a teenager. He moved to New York City in 1975 to attend The Davis Center for Performing Arts at City College...
Pirouet 2003 - With-Within-WithoutAcoustic Music 2001
- Back Seat Driver featuring Johannes Enders Enja 1999
- Too Early For This WorldGLM Edition Collage 1998
- Heritage featuring Guido May & Biboul Darouiche SBF 1997
- A-Strain featuring Adrian Mears, Patrick ScalesPatrick ScalesPatrick Scales in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany is a German electric bass guitar player and teacher.-Biography:Patrick Scales was born in a small town in the Bavarian Alps. As the town was a recreation area for the American army, there were lots of clubs with live music around. Patrick could...
& Falk Willis SBF 1996 - Symmetry featuring Bob Mintzer, Marc Johnson & Falk Willis GLM Edition Collage 1995
- Travellers featuring Tony Lakatos, Roberto di Gioia, Anthony Jackson, Ernst Stroeer & Wolfgang HaffnerWolfgang HaffnerHe is currently associated with the band Wolf Gang Haffner.Wolfgang Haffner is a German jazz drummer with an extensive discography.-Discography:* 2009 – Round Silence* 2008 – Acoustic Shapes...
SBF 1994 - Stairway featuring Tony Lakatos, Russell FerranteRussell FerranteRussell Keith Ferrante is a jazz pianist from San Jose, California who is a founding member of the group Yellowjackets. During his early career, Ferrante performed with American blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon and guitarist Robben Ford. He also toured with Joni Mitchell. The group Yellowjackets...
, Anthony Jackson, Tom Brechtlein & Alex AcuñaAlex AcuñaAlejandro Neciosup Acuña aka Alex Acuña is a Peruvian drummer and percussionist, in the Afro-Cuban jazz style.Born in Pativilca, Peru, Acuña played in local bands from the age of ten, and moved to Lima as a teenager. At the age of eighteen he joined the band of Perez Prado, and in 1967 he moved...
Enja 1993 - Avenue U featuring Joe LovanoJoe LovanoJoseph Salvatore "Joe" Lovano is a post bop jazz saxophonist, alto clarinetist, flautist, and drummer. Since the late 1980s, Lovano has been one of the world's premiere tenor saxophone players, earning a Grammy award and several nods on Down Beat magazine's critics' and readers' polls...
, Roberto Di Gioia, Dave HollandDave HollandDave Holland is an English jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader who has been performing and recording for five decades. He has lived in the United States for 40 years....
& Adam NussbaumAdam Nussbaum-Biography:Nussbaum grew up in Norwalk, Connecticut and started to play drums at age 12 after studying piano for five years. He also played bass and saxophone as a teenager. He moved to New York City in 1975 to attend The Davis Center for Performing Arts at City College...
Enja 1990