Oliver (Ollie) Shute is a 20-year-old drummer based in Melbourne, Australia with a deep passion and innate flair for the genre of jazz.

 

Ollie has been fortunate to have been tutored and mentored by Australian master drummers Darryn Farrugia and David Jones. His musicality and improvisational skills have been nurtured by some of Melbourne's most experienced and well-respected jazz musicians and educators: James Morrison, Andy O'Connell, Steve Sedergreen, Daryl McKenzie, Toshi Clinch, Grant Windsor and Mat Jodell.

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Ollie developed his love of jazz during a six-year tenure as a drummer within the prestigious Blackburn High School Jazz Orchestra program.  Highlights during his secondary school music education included featured solos at the Midwest Clinic (Chicago) alongside Victor Goines, Jazz at the Lincoln Centre Workshops (New York) and being selected as school Music Captain for 2018.

 

Recent and memorable career highlights include performing with Dick Oats and Rich De Rosa at the Paris Cat Jazz Club (Melb), touring and playing alongside James Morrison in the 2019 JMA Student Tour and the honour of being included as a guest artist for Tony Gould's recent 80th birthday celebrations at Jazz Lab (Melb). 

 

Ollie has established himself within the Melbourne Jazz scene and performs regularly with the Paris Cat Big Band, Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra, Jack Earle Big Band, Toshi Clinch Big Band plus many smaller ensembles and jazz trio's alongside some of Melbourne's elite jazz musicians.

 

Other highlights include recording for Brolga Music, 6 continuous years of performing at Generations In Jazz with Blackburn High School and a 2017 USA School Tour - attending JALC workshops in NYC and being selected as a featured performer alongside Victor Goines at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago.

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Accolades include:

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• Pat Corrigan Jazz Scholarship - 2020 Recipient 

• James Morrison Academy - 2019 Artist in Residence Award (Tony Gould) 

• The Organ Donors - 2019  Formed and managed own Organ Trio group

• Big Band Through The Ages - 2018/19 Album Recording and performances

• Peter Martin Jazz Scholarship - 2018 Honourable Mention

• Oliver Shute Big Band - 2018 Formed and managed own youth big band

• Generations in Jazz - 2017 & 2018 Div 1 Superband & 2016 Div 2 Superband

• Jazz Workshop Australia - 2017 Summer Camp Scholarship Recipient

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Ollie is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Music (Jazz) at the highly acclaimed James Morrison Academy of Music based in Mount Gambier based in South Australia, learning from some of the most experienced and accomplished jazz musicians in Australia and from around the world. He regularly returns to Melbourne for professional performance commitments and to undertake additional studies in fusion, latin and funk drumming styles. 

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Ollie plans to carve out a diverse career as a creative and professional jazz musician/educator whilst remaining a life-long learner and contributor to the jazz community. Post-graduate plans include undertaking further studies in New York and Europe whilst immersing himself in international jazz cultures and communities.

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