Guy Strazz PhD
Master Guitarist and Composer
Guy Strazz is an Australian master guitarist and composer based on the Central Coast of NSW.
His guitar playing, and compositions are rooted in a deep, long-standing relationship with contemporary and modern jazz, Afro-Brazilian, Western classical, and Indian classical music. He holds a PhD in improvisation and composition, and an MA (Hons) by research on Intercultural composition and improvisation.
He currently teaches composition and musicology at Avondale University, and he is head of the guitar program at the Central Coast Conservatorium of Music. He has taught at the University of NSW, Macquarie University, NAISDA, and Sydney Conservatorium of Music, credentials that underpin his extensive research and performance career.
Guy was awarded the Australia Council Music Fellowship (2001-2003) to compose, perform, and research music across America, Europe, and India. This period of study led him to study with the late great Pat Martino in Philadelphia, record with Mike Stern in New York, and produce Calcutta Express (Underscore Records) with santoor player Sandip Chatterjee—a project that earned a USA Indie Acoustic Project Award nomination for Best Global Beat CD.
Career Highlights and International Performances
Guy has worked with such artists as Matt McMahon, Don Burrows, Roger Frampton, Casey Bennetto, Bruce Cale, Sandy Evans, Dale Barlow, Greg Shehan, Pt. Ashok Roy, and Sandip Chatterjee. He has crossed paths and played with international guitarists such as Martin Taylor, Mike Stern, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Slava Grigoryan, Mark Johns, George Golla, Tommy Emmanuel, and the late jazz legend Pat Martino.
Winner of an Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA) Jazz Award; nominations for AIR and multiple APRA awards.
Global Stages: Featured at Jazz Yatra (India), Jakarta Jazz, the Sydney Opera House, Clusone Jazz (Italy), The Melbourne International Jazz Festival, and the Adelaide International Guitar Festival - Global Guitar.
Current Projects
Guy is part of several innovative ensembles, including 2@1, the guitar quartet The Fret Benders, and the jazz quartet StratoFibre.
Guy is an amazing player and a great composer Mike Stern
One of my favourite Indo-jazz guitarists
Niranjan Jhaveri (Downbeat & Jazz India)
Guy, it was truly my pleasure. I look forward to meeting again, and again!
Pat Martino