Quentin Angus

Beginning his journey in Eden Valley, a small South Australian country town with a population of only 200, guitarist/composer Quentin Angus has been based in the world’s Mecca for jazz—New York City—since 2010. Quentin is an Assistant Professor of Music at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, where he is the program director of jazz. He holds a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), awarded with a ‘Dean’s Commendation’, a Master of Music Degree (Jazz Performance) under the tutelage of jazz great John Abercrombie, awarded ‘Summa Cum Laude’.

Since his arrival in NYC he has received national and international recognition for both his guitar playing and composing including an APRA Art Music Award for ‘Excellence in Jazz’ (2012), subsequent nominations in 2013 (‘Excellence in Jazz’) and 2014 (‘Work of the Year’), winning three ASCAP ‘Young Jazz Composer Awards’ (2012/2013/2015), five Downbeat Magazine Awards in the ‘Composition’ (2011/2012/2014) and ‘Soloist’ (2012/2014) categories, and being named the Channel 9 ‘Young Achiever of the Year’ (Arts Category/2013).

Described by critics as “Lord of the strings"– The Age (Michael Dwyer), “The Future of Jazz Composition"– Paul Williams (ASCAP), and “Exuberant, richly melodic and smartly arranged"– Richard Kamins (Culture Creature), Angus has been leaving audiences in awe around the world with performances in Holland, Belgium, Romania, Switzerland, Turkey, New Zealand, Australia and the United States. This includes appearances at the ‘Montreux International Jazz Festival’ (Switzerland), ‘Melbourne International Jazz Festival’ (Australia), and ‘Jazz Hoeilaart Festival’ (Belgium), along with the release of three critically acclaimed albums as a band leader, ‘In Stride’ (2018), described as “Eclectic, dynamic and lyrical” – Dragon Jazz, ‘Perception’ (2013), described as “A truly special and essential recording” – Jazz Inside Magazine (Eric Harabadian), and ‘Retrieval Structure’ (2011), described as “fresh, sophisticated, vibrant and formidable"– All About Jazz (Edward Blanco).