Perhaps best known as the trumpet player in iconic Australian band Hunters and Collectors, Jack Howard is also an established solo artist and band leader in his own right. His recording and stage projects such as The Long Lost Brothers, Epic Brass, Bacharach and Beyond have proven to be music lover favourites. Additionally, Jack is an in demand session/tour guy, playing with high profile acts like The Violent Femmes, Rodriguez, You Am I, The Living End and many more. In 2017, he toured the world with Midnight Oil as their multi-instrumentalist. If that’s not enough, in between teaching music at Wesley College, he also recently released a wonderful memoir “Small Moments Of Glory”.
In June this year, Jack delivered another solo album, Lightheavyweight 2, a follow up to 2018’s beat and brass-driven record, Lightheavyweight. Lightheavyweight 2 is different but similar. Written and recorded during our lockdown year of discontent 2021, it’s a local variant, drawing mostly on Jack’s St.Kilda life. Says Jack – “The tunes usually begin with a drum and bass loop or some layered horns and then proceed along very spontaneous lines. There might be a full lyric or just a handful of words. Maybe instrumental. A lot of flugel horn this time around and swirling synths; plus some fine guest appearances from Barry Palmer on guitar, Ed Bates on pedal steel, Paul Williamson on tenor sax and Fiona Leonard on backing vocals.”
Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips caught up with Jack Howard, our musician of the month for July, to chat about his career, gear and the new album Lightheavyweight 2. Photos by Jason Rosewarne.
Jack Howard’s music is available on vinyl, CD, streaming services and at jackhoward.bandcamp.com
