Research Catalogue

BMus (VCA), GCHE (Monash), MMus (VCA), PhD (Monash)

Robert Burke is a practice based researcher  - composer, saxophonist and Head of Music and the Co-ordinator of Jazz and Popular Studies at Monash University, who has written for the Oxford Handbook of Education, and has completed a practiced-based PhD titled: Analysis and observations of pre-learnt and idiosyncratic elements in improvisation: a reflective study in jazz performance.

Robert Burke has enjoyed a diverse and wide-ranging career as a performer, composer and educator in music; an improvising musician and classically trained on the clarinet and saxophones, his main focus has been in the jazz and popular music. Rob has performed on and contributed compositions to over 200 CDs Australian musicians such as Tony Gould, Tony Floyd, Doug De Vries, Slava Gregorian, Geoff Hughes, Nick Haywood, Stephen Magnusson, Don Burrows, Geoff Hughes, Tony Floyd and Mike Nock. Collaborations with international jazz artists include: Kenny Werner (USA) Enrico Rava (Italy), Red Rodney (USA), John Abercrombie (USA), Paul McCandless (Origon) (USA), George Garzone (USA), Lula Galvao, (Brazil),  Roberta Valente, (Brazil),  Hermeto Pascoal (Brazil), Mirko Guerrini, (Italy), Debasis Chakroborty (India) and Qmars Piraglu (Iran)

Rob has released 8 CDs under his own name (mainly with his quartet: Tony Gould, Tony Floyd and Nick Haywood) including the release of a CD in August 2014, (supported by the Australia Arts Council) which he recorded in NY with legendary pianist Kenny Werner. In early 2015 – Rob will release 2 CDs: #1 featuring Mark Helias, Nasheet Waits, Paul Grabowsky, Paul Williamson and Jordan Murray. CD# 2 Ray Anderson with Eric McPherson, Paul Grabowsky, Paul Williamson and Jordan Murray.