This was published 17 years ago
For this jazz great, we have a little brother to thank
By Sunanda Creagh
TEENAGERS rarely take advice from their younger siblings, but the jazz pianist Graeme Bell says his career was started by his little brother.
"I remember one day he came home from school with a jazz record," the 92-year-old musician said yesterday.
"Having been trained as a classical pianist, I didn't like it at first; I found it too abrasive, but he corrupted me in the end."
Over time, the corruption paid off. Yesterday, Bell was announced as one of two performers who will accept a JC Williamson Award for lifetime achievement at this year's Helpmann Awards. The ceremony, which honours the best in Australian performing arts, will be held at Star City's Lyric Theatre on July 31.
Nominees for the other main awards were also announced yesterday.
Robert Menzies (Sydney Theatre Company's Julius Caesar) and Greg Stone (Company B's Stuff Happens) were among the nominees for best male actor in a play, while Caroline O'Connor ( End of the Rainbow) and Jennifer Flowers ( Doubt) made the shortlist for best female actor in a play. Company B was nominated twice in the best play category, for Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? and Stuff Happens.
The St Jeromes Laneway Festival and Splendour in the Grass were the two newcomers to the shortlist for the best contemporary music festival category, while The Go-Betweens' Sydney Festival show was nominated for best performance in an Australian contemporary concert.
A new comedy category was also announced last night, with Judith Lucy, the Umbilical Brothers, Akmal Saleh and Lano and Woodley on the shortlist.
John Clark, who headed the National Institute of the Dramatic Arts for more than 30 years, will also receive a JC Williamson Award. Clark, 73, says the real thrill will be sharing the stage with Bell.
"He was one of my boyhood heroes as a jazzman and a great musician," he said yesterday.
See the full list of nominees at www.helpmannawards.com.au.