Sean Coffin

*check out my interview with Frank Presley at www.jazzand beyond.com.au*SEAN COFFIN BIO "…What's very obvious is that Sean Coffin sounds very comfortable in his own skin these days, and whatever he brought back from the US in his passion for that distinct East Coast US sound, he's now expressing his own musical voice". (Michael Smith, Drum Media - Aug 2006)Sean was born in Salem, MA, USA, north of Boston and emigrated to Australia as a youngster. Sean, and his brother Greg, grew up in a very musical home where Mum played piano and guitar and Dad growing up in the 50’s USA playing saxophone. Having completed the HSC he left for Boston in late 1987 and in 1988 started at Berklee College of Music, graduating with a BMus (Jazz Perf) studying with Joe Viola, Bill Pierce, George Garzone, Hal Crook, Ed Tomassi et al. Within the years 1992-1995 Sean formed the Coffin Brothers with Greg and Simon Barker and did the rounds of all types of gigs in the Sydney area whilst gaining the reputation not only as a performer but as a valuable teacher. Sean’s other original project during this time was the funk/jazz band Medicinal Purpose. 1995 saw Sean return to Boston and then in 1996 to NYC where Sean lived until 2000. In 1999, Sean completed his Masters (Jazz Perf) at Manhattan School of Music, NYC studying with Bob Mintzer, Garry Dial, Manny Albam and Ludmilla Ulehla. While in the USA, Sean performed at NYC jazz venues Birdland, Savoy Lounge, C Note and in Boston at Wally’s and Willow Jazz Club etc, etc. Since 2000, Sean has been back in Sydney lecturing and teaching at the Australian Institute of Music (thanks to Dr Peter Calvo) and steadily performing as a side-man and band-leader (mostly) with his original projects: Coffin Brothers, Sean Coffin Quintet, Eff Sharp And The Theory Of Nostrils, Medicinal Purpose. Sean has performed with Mike Nock, Chuck Yates etc, etc. and has also recently recorded on Tim Bruer’s CD (yet to be released). Sean has just released his first CD, COFFIN BROTHERS LIVE……finally . "The blood of this music is not so much energy (although it assuredly has form of that) as the inter-relationship of sounds...nor is it relaxed, so much as brooding; simmering via slow and mid-tempo's towards sudden, short lived explosions of intensity...Just as a hypnotist requires co-operation from a subject, this music needs commitment from the listener for the spell to fully work." (John Shand - Sydney Morning Herald, August, 2006) You can contact Sean Coffin at www.myspace.com/seancoffinmusicCOFFIN BROTHERS LIVE CD Newmarket Music - Distributor. Cat .. NEW3222.2Sean Coffin - tenor saxophone Greg Coffin - Piano Simon Barker - Drums Brett Hirst - Acoustic Bass___________________________________________".. sophisticated collection of contemporary jazz delivered with an assurance and imaginative flair that speaks of an inate sensibilty and understanding within the quartet....What's very obvious is that Sean Coffin sounds very comfortable in his own skin these days, and whatever he brought back from the US in his passion for that distinct East Coast US sound, he's now expressing his own musical voice". Michael Smith, Drum Media - August, 2006 "The blood of this music is not so much energy (although it assuredly has form of that) as the inter-relationship of sounds...nor is it relaxed, so much as brooding; simmering via slow and mid-tempo's towards sudden, short lived explosions of intensity...Just as a hypnotist requires co-operation from a subject, this music needs commitment from the listener for the spell to fully work." John Shand - Sydney Morning Herald, August, 2006