Troy Roberts

Troy Roberts began playing the saxophone at age 13. He was granted an early entrance into WAAPA (West Australian Academy of Performing Arts) at the age of 15, studying with Graeme Lyall, Roger Garood and Jim Cook. During this time at WAAPA, he won the PJS Encouragement Award for two consecutive years and performed at the 2000 Olympics, The Manly Jazz Festival, and other shows around Sydney with the West Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra.In 2001 he graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance) degree winning the acclaimed Bob Wyllie Jazz Scholarship, the Melville Toyota Jazz Scholarship and the James Morrison Jazz Scholarship.The following year he completed an Honors Degree at the University of Miami, studying with Ron Miller, Gary Keller, Whit Sidner, James Moody, Dave Leibman and Frank Foster. During this time, he also won 2 Downbeat Awards (“Outstanding Soloist” and “Best Group Performance”) and performed with many great American musicians such as Ernesto Simpson, Kevin Mahogany and Silvano Monasterios. However, Troy returned to Australia in 2003 to record live at the Sydney Opera House on James Morrison’s album and DVD, “On The Edge”, which was immediately followed by 2 “On The Edge” European tours with Morrison.In 2004 Troy performed at the Fremantle Jazz Festival and the Perth International Arts Festival with trumpeter Ingrid Jenson (Canada) and drummer Jon Wikan (New York) before heading back to Europe with James Morrison to headline the Burghausen Jazz Festival in Germany. More notable performances that year include him as a soloist in front of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, performances with Simon Stockhausen (Germany), Gary Bartz (NY), and Christoph Spendel (Germany). Troy also sustained a fruitful 3 year residency at the Llama Bar (Perth, West Australia) with his original project, "VOID" (Winner’s of the PJS’s “Best Original Jazz Act Award” for 2005, and the “2007 West Australian Music Industry Award”). Troy recorded his first album under Morrison Records and “VOID’s” debut album and DVD before relocating to the U.S.A. in 2005 where he acquired a Masters degree and taught mostly jazz saxophone at the University of Miami, and was the recipient of the Downbeat “Best Soloist Award” for 2005 and 2006. He commenced 2006 with performances at the I.A.J.E. (International Association of Jazz Educators) Conference in New York with the “Bop Brothers Jazz Sextet”, 3 European tours with Morrison, and “VOID’s” 1st European tour. His freelance schedule for the rest of the year included performances with Ed Calle, Slide Hampton, Dennis Macrell, Melton Mustafa, Kevin Mahogany, Obed Calvier (of the Richard Bona Band), Rashawn Ross (of Soulive), hip-hop/R&B legend, Lauryn Hill to name a few, whilst working with his latest original Nu-Jazz project, “The Jive Collective”.Winning yet another 2 Downbeat Music Awards, 2007 has been a busy year for Troy after “VOID’s” two successful USA tours, which included performances and television appearances in Texas, L.A., San Fransisco, Santa Barbara, Miami, the I.A.J.E. Conference, NYC and headlining the Houston International Jazz Festival. “VOID” was also the proud recipient of the 2007 WAMI Award for Best Original Jazz Act. Troy performed on Sammy Figueroa’s Grammy Nominated album “The Magician” (Savant Records) and performed shows with Figueroa around NYC including the ‘Jazz Standard’ before heading out on another European tour with Morrison. His freelance schedule includes performances with Figueroa, Melton Mustafa, Jonathan Joseph, Pete McGuinness, John Fedchock, Mike Rodrigues, Ludwig Afonso (of Spyro Gyra), Robby Ameen and Lew Soloff to name a few. Having relocated to his home-town in Perth, West Australia, Troy is currently working on an 8-part suite of original music for jazz quartet and string quartet, to hopefully be recorded before his re-location back to the USA in 2009.

Myspace Layouts - Myspace Editor - Image Hosting