Shannon Barnett
Shannon Barnett (born 1982) is an Australian trombonist and composer who was named Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2007 Australian Jazz Bell Awards.[1]
Background
Since completing studies at the Victorian College of the Arts, Barnett has become an important contributor to the Australian music scene, performing in ensembles including Vada, The Bamboos, The Black Arm Band, The Vampires, the Bennetts Lane Big Band and as a guest with the Andrea Keller Quartet, on the 2004 ABC Jazz release Angels and Rascals.
Barnett has also appeared with the Australian Art Orchestra, Barney McAll's Mother of Dreams and Secrets feat. Kurt Rosenwinkel, Charlie Haden, Flap! and the Paul Grabowsky Sextet.
From 2009-2010, Barnett worked as a multi-instrumentalist and composer with the contemporary circus group Circus Oz, as part of the Barely Contained season[2]
In January 2014, Barnett became a member of the WDR Big Band in Cologne, Germany and has since performed with guest artists including Christian McBride, Paquito D'Rivera, Ron Carter, Maria Schneider, Joshua Redman and Jimmy Heath.
In 2015, Barnett formed her own quartet with Cologne-based musicians Stefan Karl Schmid (tenor saxophone), David Helm (bass) and Fabian Arends (drums). They plan to release their debut album in late 2016.
Releases
In 2010, Barnett released her debut album as a leader, entitled Country on the Which Way Music label. The recording also features Christopher Hale (acoustic bass guitar), Nashua Lee (electric guitar) and Ben Hendry (drums), and was nominated for Best Jazz Album in the 2010 AIR Awards and Best Jazz Recording in the 2011 ABC Limelight Awards[3]
In 2011, Barnett relocated to New York City, to pursue a Master of Music degree. Since moving she has performed with the likes of Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Ralph Alessi's SIM Big Band and Jon Faddis.