Graeme William Lyall (AM),[1] is an Australian saxophonist, composer and arranger. He became a Member of the Order of Australia on 26 January 2003: "For service to music as Artistic Director of the Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra, and as a musical director, composer and performer."[1]
Graeme Lyall | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 January 1942 |
| Origin | Australia |
| Genres | Jazz, big band, classical orchestration |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, arranger, teacher |
| Instrument(s) | Saxophone, flute, clarinet |
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Labels | Graeme Lyall Music |
Biography
editGraeme William Lyall was born in Melbourne, Australia on January 25, 1942. In his growing up years he trained as a musician with Frank Smith in his native city.[2] He began playing professionally in Melbourne at the age of 17.[3]
In 1961 Lyall moved to Sydney when he began studying at the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music. While a student there he played regularly at the El Rocco club in Sydney from 1961-1963.[2] By the time he was 22 years old he was working as a woodwind player and a music arranger in the TCN 9 Orchestra. His work with the group included writing arrangements for Bobby Limb, Dave Allen, Don Lane, John Laws and Stuart Wagstaff.[3]
In 1969 Lyall was a founding member of the Daly-Wilson Big Band. In 1970 he toured Japan as a member of Don Burrows’s septet.[2] In 1971 he took a composing, arranging and record production role at Armstrong Studios and moved back to Melbourne.[citation needed] He was a member of the ABC Melbourne Showband from 1974-1977.[2] He become the Director of Music at GTV-9 Melbourne, including work on the Don Lane Show. During his time in Melbourne, Graeme was the Winner of the Best Arrangement at Yamaha International Song Festival four times and winner of the Australian Writers and Art Directors Guild Award for the Best Music for a Television Commercial (Hallmark Greeting Cards).[3]
Lyall often did not record under his own name. He performed on recordings by John Sangster (1974), Tony Gould (1984, c mid-1990s), and Judy Bailey (1992).[2]
He is the 2015 inductee into the Bell Awards Hall of Fame.[4]
He became a Member of the Order of Australia on 26 January 2003, "For service to music as Artistic Director of the Western Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra, and as a musical director, composer and performer."[1][3]
He currently lives in Mount Gambier.[5]
Generations in Jazz
editGraeme was the Division 2 adjudicator at Generations in Jazz, an annual festival that provides an opportunity for High School big bands from around Australia to compete against each other and for students to hear live performances from the likes of, John Morrison, Ross Irwin and several others.[citation needed]
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [6] | ||
| Feel So Good |
|
83 |
| Love Blues and Other Fiction (with Joe Chindamo) |
|
- |
| Smokingun (with The Joe Chindamo Trio) |
|
- |
| Esperança (with The Con Artists) |
|
- |
| The Hunters & Pointers (with John Hoffman, Tony Gould, Ben Robertson, Tony Floyd) |
|
- |
Awards and nominations
editARIA Music Awards
editThe ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Smokingun (with Joe Chindamo) | Best Jazz Album | Nominated | [7] |
| 2014 | The Hunters & Pointers (with John Hoffman, Tony Gould, Ben Robertson, Tony Floyd) | Best Jazz Album | Nominated | [7] |
References
edit- ^ a b c "LYALL, Graeme William". It's an Honour - Honours - Search Australian Honours. Government of Australia. 26 January 2003. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Pressing, Jeff; Whiteoak, John; Jackson, Adrian (2001). "Lyall, Graeme (William )". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J277000.
- ^ a b c d Hash Varsani (25 January 2023). "GRAEME LYALL AWARDED ORDER OF AUSTRALIA FOR SERVICES TO MUSIC". Jazz Australia.
- ^ "REPORT: AUSTRALIAN JAZZ BELL AWARDS 2015". Australian Musician. 1 May 2015.
- ^ "Music education through jazz at Fringe". The Border Watch. 29 March 2023.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 182. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b ARIA Award previous winners. "ARIA Awards Best Jazz Album". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 26 June 2022.