Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Robert Burke is Associate Professor in Jazz and Improvisation at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music at Monash University of Melbourne. He holds a BMus and MA from the Victorian College of the Arts (University of Melbourne), and a PhD at Monash University. Robert was the initiator and convenor of jazz and improvisation from 2002 - 2019 at Monash University, founder and currently president and (AJIRN) Australasian Jazz and Improvisational Research Network (2015 to current) and has held the position of head of the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music from 2011 – 2014. Robert is currently the deputy head of School of Music.
Robert's practice and research interests include composition, improvisation, human-machine relationships and more recently gender studies in music (PCI on ARC grant 2020 -2023). At the heart of Rob’s research lies the question: what happens when we improvise? His main research collaborators are Andrys Onsman, Paul Grabowsky, Clare Hall and more recently Raymond MacDonald
An internationally acclaimed improvising performer and composer, Robert has released 15 CD’s under his own name and has composed and performed on a further 300 CD’s. His sensitive and balanced perspective has allowed Rob to traverse many different styles and this has, in part, been expressed as collaborative performances with international leaders in classical, jazz and experimental music. His embrace of many genres of music and the clear expression of his diversity in his role as an educator, researcher and performer, has given rise to a vibrant dialect that resonates through his students and also his performances.
Robert has also embarked on numerous musical collaborations within Australia and overseas and has established research, educational and artistic ties with institutions, researchers and musicians in Italy, USA (New York), Japan and Brazil. Collaborators include: Professor George Lewis, Columbia University – NYC; Professor Raymond MacDonald, Edinburgh University; Dave Douglas, USA; Enrico Rava, ITL; Hermeto Pascoal, Brazil; Kenny Werner, USA; Mark Helias, USA; Ben Monder, USA; Tom Rainey, USA; Tony Malaby, USA; Nasheet Waites, USA; George Garzone, USA; Paul Grabowsky; Tony Gould; Debasis Chakraborty, India; and Paulo Angeli (Italy).
Recent publications include a co-written book: Onsman, A. & Burke, R. Experimentation in Improvised Jazz: Idea Chasing (Routledge 2019), editor for 'Perspectives of Artistic Research in Music (Lexington 2017) and a co-written chapter in The Oxford Handbook of Music Education, Vol 1, (2012, 2019)
'A stunning jazz album that identifies Melbourne as a significant contributor of talent and inventive and pioneering jazz on the world stage. Beautifully recorded and presented. This record is a collaboration of some of the most influential protagonists on the Melbourne scene and is undoubtedly a masterpiece.' - Eddie Naran - Jazz on the Street.
'An exciting tour of Melbourne. There are moments where you will get chills down your back' 4.5* - The Age.
'There is a romance in the tracks that comes from an exploration of a stage of jazz which has pleasured many for a long time. While gentle, it is quietly persuasive of all the life, clarity and brilliance to be found in mainstream jazz. Emotional and relaxing.' Canberra Times.
Robert Burke is both an FMR-UK and JazzHead recording artist.
Research area keywords
- Jazz, Improvisation, Artistic Research, Music Performance, Music Composition, Music Pedagogy, Music Analysis, Reflective Practice, Cyborg Jazz, Experimentation in improvised Music
Network
Projects
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Diversifying Music in Australia: Gender Equity in Jazz and Improvisation
Burke, R., S. Barrett, M., Hall, C., Hope, C., Devenish, L. & Canham, N.
23/11/20 → 22/11/23
Project: Research
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Saltzer Foundation for the Monash Art Ensemble (MAE)
Burke, R., Williamson, P. & Murray, J.
3/09/19 → 3/09/22
Project: Research
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Post Graduate Jazz and Improvisation Scholarship
Burke, R., Williamson, P. & Murray, J.
29/11/18 → 28/11/24
Project: Research
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HERE NOW HEAR: Manufacture & promotion of 8 new Australian works recorded by Monash Art Ensemble
Williamson, P., Burke, R., Murray, J., Grabowsky, P. & Burslem, M.
6/05/19 → 29/10/19
Project: Research
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Paul Grabowsky and Robert Burke present the Gravity Project - Japan 2018
Burke, R. & Grabowsky, P.
Monash University – Internal Faculty Contribution
23/08/18 → 10/10/18
Project: Research
Research Output
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Experimentation in Improvised Jazz: Chasing Ideas
Onsman, A. & Burke, R. L., 11 Oct 2018, New York: Routledge. 192 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research › peer-review
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Manipulating Hip Hop Beats: Collaborative improvisation and composition
Burke, R., Grabowsky, P., Nakamura, N. & Choulai, A., 2018Research output: Non-textual form › Recorded/ Rendered Performance › Research
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Pathways to Learning and Teaching Indigenous and World Music Ensembles
Burke, R. L. & Evans, S. J. N., 28 Jun 2018, 2018 Vocal, Instrumental, and Ensemble Learning and Teaching: An Oxford Handbook of Music Education. McPherson, G. & Welch, G. (eds.). 1 ed. UK: Oxford University Press, Vol. 3. p. 347-363 17 p. (An Oxford Handbook of Music Education).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other › peer-review
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Discordant methodologies: prioritizing performance in artistic research in music
Burke, R. & Onsman, A., 17 Jan 2017, Perspectives on Artistic Research in Music . Burke, R. & Onsman, A. (eds.). Lanham Maryland USA: Lexington Books, p. 3 - 17 15 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
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Disturbing perspectives of research in music
Onsman, A. & Burke, R., Jan 2017, Perspective on Artistic Research in Music. Burke, R. & Onsman, A. (eds.). Lanham Maryland USA: Lexington Books, p. 201-214 14 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
Prizes
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Bell Award - Best Avant garde record
Burke, Robert (Recipient), Paul Grabowsky (Recipient), Williamson, Paul (Recipient) & Murray, Jordan (Recipient), 15 Mar 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Monash Art Ensemble - Hexis
Burke, Robert (Recipient), Paul Grabowsky (Recipient), Williamson, Paul (Recipient) & Murray, Jordan (Recipient), 12 Mar 2015
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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The Australian Bell Award - Best Produced Album
Williamson, Paul (Recipient), Burke, Robert (Recipient), Murray, Jordan (Recipient) & Paul Grabowsky (Recipient), 23 Sep 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)