Scott Tinkler

Scott Tinkler (born Melbourne, Australia 1965) is an Australian trumpeter and composer.

Current projects

Current projects include Chiri with the Australian drummer Simon Barker, Korean Pansori singer Bae Il Dong and Susan Boyle. In 2011, at the invitation of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, Chiri toured Korea, Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, Turkey, Cyprus and Jordan, North Korea, followed by a performance at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. and two tours of Korea in 2012.

Tinkler is also involved in an ongoing solo project that uses extended and prepared techniques; his first solo trumpet album called Backwards was released by Extreme in 2007.

He is a founding member and previous Associate Artistic Director of the Australian Art Orchestra and plays regularly in Australia in duos, trios and quartets with musicians including Marc Hannaford, Simon Barker, Paul Grabowsky, Erkki Veltheim, Ken Eadie and Carl Dewhurst.

Tinkler has done a range of projects with the composer and violinist John Rodgers, working in ensembles such as Ellision, Hydromus Krysogast and the Antripodean Collective. Notably, Rodgers composed Glass, a concerto featuring Tinkler as soloist performed with the London Sinfonietta, which premiered at the 2010 Adelaide Festival of Arts.

The 1990s

In the early '90s Tinkler performed and studied with Australian tenor saxophonist, Mark Simmonds, who had studied with George Coleman in New York. Simmonds introduced Tinkler to extended practice on the cycle of 5ths using many harmonic substitutions involving the diminished substitution theory, rhythm cycles and polyrhythms as a basis for his highly fuelled jazz-based music, which can be traced to earlier developments by John Coltrane.

Throughout Tinkler's career he has been interested in not only exploring and developing improvised music stemming from jazz, but also other forms of music and the cultures they come from. This has led to musical collaborations with Indian and Korean musicians, as well as with indigenous musicians from Australia.

Beginning in 1995, Tinkler's involvement with Indian Carnatic musicians (led by Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani ) has evolved into a longstanding and deep association. Tinkler has travelled to India five times for performances, as well as touring Australia and Europe with the project.

The 2000s

Tinkler has collaborated with a range of international artists over the past decade including Jason Moran, Tim Berne, Mark Helias, Anthony Burr, Tony Buck, Oscar Noriaga and Han Bennink.

In 2003 Tinkler travelled with his longtime associate Paul Grabowsky to New York to record an album of Grabowsky's original music with Branford Marsalis, Joe Lovano, Ed Schuller and Jeff "Tain" Watts. Tales of Time and Space was released on the Warner label to stunning reviews, many highlighting Tinkler's unique contribution to Grabowsky's music.

In 2006 Tinkler attended the Garma Festival, which celebrates the cultural inheritance of the Yolngu People, the indigenous Australians of Northeast Arnhem Land. The festival is held at Gulkula, near Yirrkala in the Australian outback. At this festival Tinkler collaborated with musicians from the Wagalik group, performing and workshopping. Tinkler has since been involved in touring and performing with these musicians in collaboration with the Australian Art Orchestra.

Personal life

Tinkler is married to the Australian artist Veronica Kent. They have two children and live in Melbourne, Australia.

Selected discography

2010 Chiri- Bae Il Dong, Simon Barker, Scott Tinkler – Kimnara
2009 Shank- Antripodean Collective – Extreme
2008 Fun Call – Antripodean Collective– Extreme
2008 Lost Thoughts– Scott Tinkler/Simon Barker– Kimnara
2008 Massacre of the Egos– Antripodean Collective– Extreme
2007 Garden of Forking Paths- Marc Hannaford– Extreme
2007 Backwards– Scott Tinkler Solo- Extreme
2006 Live – Tinkler/Rex/Grabowsky/Edie – Origin
2006 Watermark– James Sherlock Quartet– Jazzhead
2005 Before Time could Change Us– Paul Grabowsky- Warner Brothers Records
2005 Tales of time and Space– Paul Grabowsky – Sanctuary Records
2002 Juicy Shoots– F.A.T.S– Independent
2000 FATS – F.A.T.S– Independent
2000 A–Records All stars Edition, Challenge Record 1999 into the Fire- Australian Art Orchestra Recordings
1999 Passion – Australian Art Orchestra Recordings
1998 The Future in Today – Tinkler/Chaplin/Rex/Lambie – Jazzhead
1998 Shrike Like – Scott Tinkler Trio – Origin
1997 Sofa King – Scott Tinkler Trio – Origin
1996 Dance of Delulian– Scott Tinkler Trio– Origin
1995 Hop to the Cow- Scott Tinkler Quartet– Origin
1994 Fire– Mark Simmonds Freeboppers – Birdland
1993 Ringing the Bell Backwards– Origin
1993 Back of My Head– Scott Tinkler Quartet – Origin

Grants/awards

2015 Australia Council Project Grant Australia Council Fellow 2007/2009; research grant for exploring and developing prepared and extended trumpet techniques 2010 Australia Council New Work Grant 2008 Recording Grant, Australia Council,to be released, Extreme 2007 Recording Grant, Australia Council,Massacre of the Egos – Extreme 2001–2004 Various grants from Arts Queensland and the Australia Council for the contemporary ensemble Hydromus Krysogast with John Rodgers and Ken Edie 1998 Winner of the ARIA (Australia Record Industry Award) for Best Jazz Release: The Future in Today 1996 Recipient of Australia Council Grant for international tour with Scott Tinkler Trio
1996 Winner of the Wangarratta Jazz Festival National Jazz Award 1995 Winner of the ARIA Award for Best Jazz Release: FIRE