{{Short description|Australian guitarist (born 1969}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox musical artist | instrument = Electric guitar, acoustic guitar | name = Stephen Magnusson | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Stephen John Magnusson | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1969|2|13}} | birth_place = | death_date = | alias = | occupation = Musician, composer | genre = Jazz | label = | years_active = | website = www.mag.net.au/about/ }}
'''Stephen John Magnusson''' (born 13 February 1969) is an Australian guitarist. He is known for his work as an improviser and has worked with the Australian Art Orchestra,<ref>{{cite web|title=Australian Art Orchestra|date=11 April 2024 |url=http://www.aao.com.au/artists/}}</ref> and Elixir and Katie Noonan, Charlie Haden, Meshell Ndegeocello, Ricki Lee Jones, Sinéad O'Connor, John Cale, Gurrumul Yunupingu, Paul Grabowsky, Vince Jones, Christine Sullivan, Megan Washington, Paul Kelly, Mike Nock, Barney McAll, Enrico Rava and Arthur Blythe among others.<ref name="mag.net"/>
In 2013, Magnusson was awarded the Melbourne Prize for Music<ref name="MelbTrust">{{cite web|title=Melbourne Prize for Music|url=http://melbourneprizetrust.org/prize-for-music/}}</ref> Outstanding Musician Award.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wallace|first=Ilona|title=Melbourne Prize for Music Winners Announce|url=http://www.melbournereview.com.au/arts/article/melbourne-prize-for-music-winner-announced|accessdate=29 May 2014|newspaper=The Melbourne Review}}</ref>
==Career== ===1969-1990: Early years=== Magnusson began playing musical instruments at age three when he was given a ukulele. At age six he had his first guitar and began performing at the age of ten on an electric guitar that he borrowed from a school teacher. He started to formally study improvisation under Gordon Pendelton at Box Hill TAFE in 1985.<ref name="mag.net">{{cite web|title=Stephen Magnusson|url=http://www.mag.net.au/about/|website=mag.net|publisher=Stephen Magnusson|accessdate=26 June 2015}}</ref>
In 1986, Magnusson began his formal training at the prestigious Victorian College of the Arts.<ref>{{cite web|title=Victorian College of the Arts|url=http://vca.unimelb.edu.au/contemporary_music}}</ref> Here, he worked under the supervision of musicians, Tony Gould, Bob Sedergreen and Paul Grabowsky.<ref name="mag.net"/> He practiced improvisation and composition, joining various bands and exploring many styles, developing an understanding of the mechanics of his instrument and the art of improvisation.{{cn|date=September 2020}}
Magnusson was influenced as a child by the Beatles whose music Magnusson describes as "a magical experience, because it was so produced, and because of this amazing journey that they'd take you on. Especially from the mid 1960s on, they just explored sound."<ref name="SM Garden">{{cite web|title=Stephen Magnusson Garden of Sound|url=http://australianjazz.net/2014/10/stephen-magnussons-garden-sound/|website=australianjazz.net|date=14 October 2014 |publisher=Australian Jazz|accessdate=27 June 2015}}</ref>
Magnusson was also influenced by the linear playing of George Benson and Wes Montgomery, but also fascinated by Andy Summers of the Police who Magnusson says "..played these beautiful colours that didn't sound like pop music at the time… I just loved exploring that principle."<ref name="SM Garden"/>
===1990-1999: Europe and ''Snag''=== In the mid 1990s, Magnusson travelled to Europe, performing and collaborating with musicians in Switzerland, Germany, Bulgaria and the Netherlands. In 1997 he was appointed to the staff of The Academy of Contemporary Music in Zurich and met his longtime collaborator Sergio Beresovsky.<ref name="mag.net"/> They performed regularly with Björn Meyer, a Swedish bassist and were joined soon after by Australian saxophonist Julien Wilson. They formed the group ''SNAG'' and recorded a self-titled album which was released in Australia with the title ''Hey Guess What''.<ref name="mag.net"/> Magnusson both played and taught across Europe and performed regularly with SNAG and other ensembles.<ref name="AusJazz">{{cite web|title=Stephen Magnusson|url=http://australianjazzrealbook.com/artists/steve-magnusson/|website=australianjazzrealbook.com|publisher=Australian Jazz Real Book|accessdate=27 June 2015}}</ref>
In 1999, Magnusson was nominated for the Swiss Fellowship award.<ref name="AusJazz"/>
===2000-2011: Solo success=== After three years living in Zurich, Magnusson returned to Melbourne in 2000.
At the 2000 National Jazz Awards (as part of the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz), Magnusson won the National Jazz Award.<ref name="mag.net"/>
After performing with drummer Sergio Beresovsky and trumpeter Eugene Ball, the trio released the album, ''Healing Songs'' in February 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=ABC Radio National| website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation| date=18 February 2004| url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/dailyplanet/eugene-ball-stephen-magnusson--sergio-beresovsky/3405932}}</ref>
In 2001, Magnusson returned to Europe, touring throughout Germany and Switzerland. In October, Magnusson brought SNAG to Australia for an East Coast tour and again appeared at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival.<ref name="AusJazz"/>
In 2002, Magnusson spent time in the Northern Territory playing music in Aboriginal communities with old friend and collaborator Stephen Teakle. This had a significant impact on both his life and his music.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}} Upon returning to Melbourne, Magnusson embarked on a recording that would incorporate these influences compositionally and sonically. ''Boundaries'' was released that year with Bassist Frank Di Sario.<ref>{{cite web|title=Newmarket Music|url=http://newmarketmusic.com/album/Boundaries.html}}</ref>
In 2007, Magnusson released ''14 Little Creatures'' on ABC Music, with The Weekend Australian giving it 4 out of 5 saying "These 14 creatures are highly individual solo guitar performances, ten of which were composed by... Stephen Magnusson. Listening to this album is like having Magnusson in your lounge room to play an intimate, unique solo concert on acoustic guitar."<ref name="14LC">{{cite web|url=http://jazz.org.au/stephen-magnusson-14-little-creatures/|title=Stephen Magnusson14 Little Creatures(ABC Jazz/Universal)|website=JAZZ|date=September 2007 |accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref>
Magnusson has had three compositions added to The Australian Jazz Real Book<ref>{{cite web|title=The Australian Jazz Real Book|url=http://australianjazzrealbook.com/artists/steve-magnusson/}}</ref> and in 2013 the Melbourne Prize Trust awarded Magnusson the Outstanding Musician Award.<ref name="MelbTrust"/>
===2012-present: Magnet and Boundaries=== In 2012, Magnusson formed the four piece improvisational group called ''Magnet''. Their self titled debut album was released in October 2012.<ref name="magnet magnet">{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/archived/insidesleeve/ise-3-10-2012/4293844|title=Jazz guitarist Stephen Magnusson returns with Magnet|website=ABC|date=3 October 2012|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref>
Magnusson has had three compositions added to The Australian Jazz Real Book<ref>{{cite web|title=The Australian Jazz Real Book|url=http://australianjazzrealbook.com/artists/steve-magnusson/}}</ref> and in 2013 the Melbourne Prize Trust awarded Magnusson the Outstanding Musician Award.<ref name="MelbTrust"/>
In 2013 at the Australian Jazz Bell Award, Magnusson won Best Contemporary Jazz Album with his quartet MAGNET (with Carl Pannuzzo, Eugene Ball and Sergio Beresovsky).
In May 2015, Magnusson appeared at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival with the Stephen Magnusson Quartet, Kinfolk which, along with Magnusson on guitar, included Frank DiSario on double bass, Tim Neal on Hammond organ, and Dave Beck on drums.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stephen magnusson Quartet|url=http://melbournejazz.com/program/stephen-magnusson-quartet|website=melbournejazz.com|publisher=Melbourne International Jazz Festival|accessdate=27 June 2015}}</ref>
In November 2015, a second Magnet album was released, featuring Magnusson on guitars, Beresovsky on drum, Ball on trumpet, Carl Pannuzzo on voice and DiSario on acoustic bass guitar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stephenmagnusson.bandcamp.com/album/som|title= SOM by Magnet|website=Bandcamp|date=15 November 2015|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref>
As of 2020, Magnusson is writing for his duo Boundaries (with Frank DiSario) and trio MAGnet (featuring DiSario and Dave Beck).
==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! Title ! Album details |- ! scope="row"| ''Healing Songs'' <br> {{small|(with Eugene Ball and Sergio Beresovsky)}} | * Released: February 2002<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stephenmagnusson.bandcamp.com/album/healing-songs|title=Healing Songs|website=Bandcamp|date=28 February 2003|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref> * Label: Newmarket Music (NEW3132.2) * Format: CD |- ! scope="row"| ''Departures / Assumptions'' <br> {{small|(with Julien Wilson and Will Guthrie)}} | * Released: 28 February 2003<ref name="DA">{{cite web|url=https://stephenmagnusson.bandcamp.com/album/departures-by-assumptions|title=Departures / Assumptions |website=Bandcamp|date=28 February 2003|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref> * Label: Newmarket Music * Format: CD, DD * Also known as ''Departures'' by Assumptions.<ref name="DA"/> |- ! scope="row"| ''Assumptions 2'' <br> {{small|(with Julien Wilson and Will Guthrie)}} | * Released: 2003 * Label: Newmarket Music (NEW3132.2) * Format: CD * Recorded live at the Cape Lounge, Fitzroy on 27 July 2003 |- ! scope="row"| ''Boundaries'' <br> {{small|(with Frank Di Sario)}} | * Released: 2004 * Label: Newmarket Music (NEW3141.2) * Format: CD |- ! scope="row"| ''Mag'' | * Released: December 2005 * Label: * Format: CD, DD |- ! scope="row"| ''14 Little Creatures'' | * Released: 9 June 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/14-little-creatures/1444094416|title=14 Little Creatures (DD)|website=Apple Music|date=9 June 2007|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="14LC"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Upcoming Events|url=http://mjc.org.au/gig/james-sherlock-stephen-magnusson-solo/|website=mjc.org.au|publisher=Melbourne Jazz Cooperative|accessdate=27 June 2015}}</ref> * Label: ABC Jazz (4765977) * Format: CD, DD |- ! scope="row"| ''Deflection'' <br> {{small|(with Ren Wilson)}} | * Released: 29 December 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewCollaboration?cc=au&ids=28552083-209954077|title=Deflection (DD)|website=Apple Music|date=29 December 2008|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref> * Label: Vorticity Music * Format: CD, DD |- ! scope="row"| ''Kaleidoscopic'' <br> {{small|(with Julien Wilson, featuring Barney McAll, Mark Helias and Jim Black)}} | * Released: 4 July 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/kaleidoscopic/322247623|title=Kaleidoscopic (DD)|website=Apple Music|date= 4 July 2009|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref> * Label: Jazzhead (HEAD113) * Format: CD, DD |- ! scope="row"| ''Inflection'' <br> {{small|(with Ren Walters)}} | * Released: 6 July 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=https://renwaltersandstephenmagnusson.bandcamp.com|title=inflection|website=Bandcamp|date=6 July 2012|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref> * Label: Ren Walters and Stephen Magnusson * Format: DD |- ! scope="row"| ''Magnet'' <br> {{small|(as Magnet)}} | * Released: 22 October 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stephenmagnusson.bandcamp.com/album/magnet|title= Magnet by Magnet|website=Bandcamp|date=22 October 2012|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="magnet magnet"/> * Label: ABC Jazz * Format: CD, DD, LP |- ! scope="row"| ''Aquacheta'' <br> {{small|(with Mirko Guerrini, Frank DiSario and Niko Schäuble}} | * Released: 27 October 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aquacheta.bandcamp.com/album/aquacheta|title= Magnet by Magnet|website=Bandcamp|date=22 October 2012|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="magnet magnet"/> * Format: CD, DD |- ! scope="row"| ''Paper Tiger'' <br> {{small|(with Jamie Oehlers and Ben Vanderwal)}} | * Released: 2014 * Label: Assemblers Records (ASSEMBLERS001) * Format: CD |- ! scope="row"| ''The Slide Project Trio'' <br> {{small|(with Sam Evans and Debasis Chakroborty}} | * Released: 10 May 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/the-slide-project-trio/1457440436|title=The Slide Project Trio (DD)|website=Apple Music|date=10 May 2015|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref> * Label: Sam Evans * Format: DD |- ! scope="row"| ''SOM'' <br> {{small|(as Magnet)}} | * Released: 15 November 2015<ref name="SOM">{{cite web|url=https://stephenmagnusson.bandcamp.com/album/som|title= SOM by Magnet|website=Bandcamp|date=15 November 2015|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="magnet magnet"/> * Label: Magnet * Format: DD |- ! scope="row"| ''Beech/Magnusson'' <br> {{small|(with Jack Beeche)}} | * Released: 11 May 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/beeche-magnusson/1108967005|title=Beech/Magnusson (DD)|website=Apple Music|date=11 May 2016|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref> * Label: Newmarket Music (NEW3359.2) * Format: CD, DD |- ! scope="row"| ''Endure'' <br> {{small|(with Eugene Ball)}} | * Released: 18 June 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stephenmagnusson.bandcamp.com/album/endure|title= Endure|website=Bandcamp|date=18 June 2020|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref> * Format: Streaming, DD * Recorded at Adria Studios Melbourne during lockdown |}
==Awards and nominations== ===Australian Jazz Bell Awards=== The Australian Jazz Bell Awards, (also known as the Bell Awards or The Bells), are annual music awards for the jazz music genre in Australia. They commenced in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|title=Australian Bell Awards|url=http://www.bellawards.org/index2.php?act=past&year=2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202022234/http://www.bellawards.org/index2.php?act=past&year=2013|url-status=usurped|archive-date=2 December 2014}}</ref>
{{awards table}} |- | 2008 | "14 Little Creatures" | Australian Jazz Composition of the Year | {{nom}} |- | 2013 | ''Magnet'' by Magnet | Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album | {{won}} |- {{end}}
===Melbourne Prize Trust=== The Melbourne Prize Trust grants awards on a rolling three-year basis for Urban Sculpture, Literature and Music and commenced in 2005.<ref name="MelbTrust"/>
{{awards table}} |- | 2013 | Stephen Magnusson | Outstanding Musician Award | {{yes2|inductee}} |- {{end}}
===National Jazz Awards=== The National Jazz Awards are organised as part of the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues and began in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wangarattajazz.com/national-jazz-awards/past-winners-national-jazz-awards/|title= past winners – national jazz awards|website=wangarattajazz|accessdate=7 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Stephen Magnusson Monash University|url=http://profiles.arts.monash.edu.au/stephen-magnusson/|website=monash.edu.au|publisher=Monash University|accessdate=27 June 2015}}</ref>
{{awards table}} |- | 2000 | Stephen Magnusson | National Jazz Award | {{won}} |- {{end}}
===National Live Music Awards=== The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016. {{awards table}} |- | National Live Music Awards of 2019<ref name="2019noms">{{cite web|url=https://www.nlmas.com.au/2019/10/22/here-are-your-2019-national-live-music-awards-nominees/|title=HERE ARE YOUR 2019 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES!|website=NLMA|date=22 October 2020|accessdate=5 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="2019wins">{{cite web|url=https://www.nlmas.com.au/2019/12/05/and-the-winners-of-the-2019-national-live-music-awards-are/|title=AND THE WINNERS OF THE 2019 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS ARE… |website=NLMA|date=5 December 2020|accessdate=5 September 2020}}</ref> | Stephen Magnusson | Live Jazz Act of the Year | {{nom}} |- {{end}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Magnusson, Stephen}} Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:Australian guitarists Category:Australian composers