The Syncopators

“EASILY ONE OF THE TOP JAZZ GROUPS IN AUSTRALIA TODAY”…… the late Graeme Bell AO; MBE

The award-winning group, with eighteen European concert tours, one LP and eighteen CDs under its belt, is recognised by critics and peers alike as amongst the very best in Australia. Society Syncopators, now called “The Syncopators” was founded by trombonist Chris Ludowyk in 1984 and has performed at most major Jazz and Performing Arts Festivals in Australia and some of the most prestigious International Jazz festivals. It has featured in two movies, on live TV concerts and entertained at countless corporate functions over its 41-year existence – a record for a currently performing Australian jazz group. The group has also represented Australia on many overseas ‘Cultural Relations’ tours for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Some overseas highlights include festival performances at the North Sea and Breda Jazz Festivals (Netherlands), Dresden (Germany), Lucerne and Ascona (Switzerland) International Jazz Festivals; nominated for the prestigious Bell Awards 2005 and 2007 and winners for the Bells “Best Australian Classic Jazz Recording of the Year” in 2009.

The personnel are:

Chris Ludowyk (Leader/Trom/Vocals)
Peter Gaudion (Tpt/Main Vocals)
Richard Miller (Clt/Sax/Vocals)
Jeff Arthur (Gtr/Bjo)
James Clark (Bass/Tuba)
Rod Gilbert (Dms/Main Vocals)
Guest Vocalist Yvette Johansson

Quote from jazz superstar James Morrison
“…this band is about that wonderful feeling you get when music is played for the sheer joy of it, the feeling you get when you just have to smile and move to the music. With a line-up of some of Australia’s best swinging players….you couldn’t ask for more”.
James Morrison, AO, 2009

Who are they?

Formed in 1984, Chris Ludowyk hand-picked the cream of Melbourne’s jazz talent to form the ‘Society Syncopators’, now known as ‘The Syncopators’. Within a few short years, the band arrived at the pinnacle of Australian jazz. With their versatility (the guitarist plays banjo, the bassist plays tuba, the clarinettist plays alto and tenor sax and the trombonist plays bass and piano), they cover a wide range of styles and material. The vocal harmonising talent of the front-line also lends itself to the performance of ‘popular jazz’ material a la ‘Mills Brothers’ and ‘Boswell Sisters’.

Although their repertoire stems from the roots of traditional jazz, they play everything from classic jazz through mainstream to pre-rock rhythm and blues. This guarantees a much broader audience and wider appeal than that of a ‘straight’ jazz group. Arguably, few other groups are perceived to possess the range of material and individual talent of this group.

The instrumentation also allows total flexibility for formats ranging from pin-drop concert to cabaret. At concerts, virtuoso solo spots highlight the talents of the individual artists.

The group has toured extensively, with nineteen very successful annual European tours between 1995 and 2019 adding to an already impressive list.

By excelling at the music they love and loving the music they excel at, they are recognised as one of the leading classic/mainstream jazz groups in Australia by critics and peers alike. Arguably they are regarded as the leaders in their field in the world. This, plus their superb musicianship, stage presence and keen sense of humour invariably draw standing ovations worldwide.