ABOUT
Improvising pianist and composer Luke Sweeting resides in Sydney, Australia. His composing and improvisational work has most recently focused on the New Zealand-Australian contemporary jazz collaboration Antipodes. Antipodes most recent album “Good Winter” demonstrates some of the most sublime and distinctly creative work coming from AUS/NZ shores of late. At home Luke has most recently been exploring collaborations with Sydney bassist Max Alduca and drummer James Waples, exploring different states and forms of compositional directive and their effect on improvisation and spontaneity. Luke’s album release Amoroso, with the Grey Wing Trio, is acclaimed for its wonderfully distinct compositional energy and artistic direction. In 2020 Luke is pursuing more creative work with his energy going into composing a suite of new material for Antipodes jazz band to perform in Sydney and tour in Australia and NZ nearer, hopefully near the years end.
ALBUMS
“Like the wing of a sparrow, what appears as mono-toned becomes multi-hued upon closer examination. The lightness of Sweeting’s touch gifts him the opportunity to cycle through one crystalline moment after another and the echoes of each chord hang in the air with delicate subtlety.”
His release, Amoroso, from the Grey Wing Trio features Ken Allar's virtuosic style, Finn Ryan's fresh approach to drums and Luke's compositional and improvisational adventurousness. He released the contemporary jazz album “Good Winter” with Antipodes on NZ label Rattle, a brilliantly diverse contribution of compositions and with rather soulful and formidible improvisations throughout. Other notable releases of which he wrote and performed include 'Transitions' (2015) with Swedish-Australian band Svelia, 'The Great Unknown' (2011) with vocalist Rachael Thoms. He has arranged for vocalist Liam Budge on his self titled album.
FILM
Luke has performed for the National Sound and Film Archive on regular occasions to perform for historic silent film screenings.
STUDIES/AWARDS
Luke studied at the ANU School of Music before their recent course changes, receiving the Dennis Griffin Scholarship to complete his performance based masters. He studied and performed with and alongside trumpet legend Miroslav Bukovsky (of Wanderlust and Ten Part Invention fame), James Greening (of Greening from Ear to Ear) amongst many others at the school. Luke received the Sprogis Woods Composition Competition for his large ensemble piece Sound Canvas in 2010. In 2013, with the help of the Australia Council Luke was able to pursue overseas studies with Florian Ross (German pianist/composer) and Hävard Wiik (Norwegian/Berlin pianist).
EDUCATOR
Luke has lectured for the pre-tertiary and tertiary program at the ANU School of Music and continues to be an in-demand music educator and piano tutor. He teaches jazz piano for Sydney Grammar School and is a seasonal music lecturer for Excelsia College.
ARTS COMMUNITY
Luke has been an active contributor to the arts community by co-founding and artistic directing the distinguished Canberran concert series, Jazz at the Loft (Canberra) and is the festival and artistic director of the Summer Hill Folk Festival since 2016.
