Ronny Ferella
drummer/composer/improvisor
“This is Australian Jazz at its best. Highly recommended and essential listening!” Jazz Views
Over the last 25 plus years drummer, composer and educator Ronny Ferella has become an important figure in the Melbourne music community. Highly respected as a performer bandleader & educator he has also become an active organiser and champion of live music in community spaces.
Since moving to Melbourne from Adelaide in 1995 Ronny has regularly performed in the jazz, blues and experimental music scene with many of Australia’s leading performers. He is an in demand sideman and very experienced band leader and concert organiser. His performances take him all over the world but much of his activity is in his local community of Brunswick where he performs with his own groups and mentors up and coming young musicians.
Musically Ronny has an open approach to the idea of style and genre and embraces the whole scope of the ritual of music performance . His main pursuit is in the development of the ensemble as a unique voice and musical unit that operates within its own code but connected to deeper traditions. He has studied the music and history of many styles of music from around the world but is mostly known for his work in the jazz & improvised music field.
Some of the more notable ensembles Ronny is involved with are his own group IshIsh, which released four CDs and toured extensively around Australia as well as performing in Europe at the prestigious Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy and Pori Festival in Finland-
"Echoes of Gil Evans but with a sound and personality of its own, capable of great things." Mike Zwerin (Umbria jazz)
Currently Ronny is involved in a slew of musical projects which involve a broad cross section of musicians from the Melbourne jazz/improve and experimental scene. These groups include
The Invisibles
Many of Ronny’s projects have recorded output than can be found on Bandcamp at https://downstreamau.bandcamp.com/ or https://crossstreetrecords1.bandcamp.com/
In summary, they are one of the more original jazz voices you will hear anywhere and this live recording should be sought out and enjoyed by anyone with a taste for jazz, that simply speaking, doesn't piss about. Wanker free zone.
Craig N Pearce Drum Media Sydney
PERFORMANCE HISTORY
Since moving to Melbourne from Adelaide in 1995 Ronny has regularly performed in the jazz, blues and experimental music scene with many of Australia’s leading performers. He is an in demand sideman and very experienced band leader and concert organiser. His performances take him all over the world but much of his activity is in his local community of Brunswick where he performs with his own groups and mentors up and coming young musicians.
Some of the more notable ensembles Ronny is involved with are his own group IshIsh, which released four CDs and toured extensively around Australia as well as performing in Europe at the prestigious Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy and Pori Festival in Finland- The Michelle Nicolle Quartet, who last year were awarded the 2018 Bell Awards Best Vocal Jazz Album and over twenty years have released eight CDs and toured extensively Nationally and Internationally and I Hold The Lion’s Paw a multi-disciplinary and multi-generational improvising collective featuring some of Melbourne’s most respected improvising performers.
Ronny has been involved in the presenting of concerts since 1992 where he was on the committee for the South Australian Jazz Development Office. He was co-director of five Half Bent Festivals 2003-2007, a founding member of the Melbourne Jazz Fringe, Melbourne Jazz Co-op and on the advisory panel for Sound Travellers. He has also been involved in jazz forums presented by the Australia Council for the Arts. He is a committee member of the Moreland City Band which provides rehearsal and performance space and tutoring for over 14 bands and music organisations. His own CD label Downstream Music is a recognised as an important cog in the Melbourne improvised music wheel, offering opportunities for the distribution of fringe based music.
He is currently co-curator of music space The Brunswick green, another hub of non-mainstream musical activity.
Media reviews—
Reviews from performances and CD reviews from ensemble IshIsh which Ronny led and composed for -1998 ongoing
IshIsh are an Australian musical phenomenon. Their conception is at once unashamedly accessible and highly challenging, while each individual player is a true virtuoso. While transcendental looseness and abandon abounds, impeccably tight ensemble and intonation as available when this too is required. Precious few groups can do both these things and produce music so simultaneously fascinating and moving. It is music for the head, heart and feet…..
Mark Isaac, Music Forum
"Echoes of Gil Evans but with a sound and personality of it's own, capable of great things." Mike Zwerin (Umbria jazz)
There is nothing half hearted (IshIsh) about Melbourne Jazz ensemble IshIsh. They are the full frontal jazz business, taking to the form with physical abandon and intellectual intensity. Their rambunctious personality is informed by a line up that is pure class, with the collective of mischievous men sharing a virile, devil may care glint in the eye that borders on being challenging but ultimately reveals itself to be pure play.
In summary, they are one of the more original jazz voices you will hear anywhere and this live recording should be sought out and enjoyed by anyone with a taste for jazz, that simply speaking, doesn't piss about. Wanker free zone. Craig N Pearce Drum Media Sydney
"a solid outing of sonorous post-bop." Cadence Music (US)
"Collective improvisation and a perception of Jazz history distinguish IshIsh and it's music. This is an exciting, creative band of young musicians who know no boundaries"
Jim McLeod ABC FM
This is moving, challenging and powerful music that will resonate deeply with any jazz fan who has open ears and an open heart.
Canberra Times
This is music of great personality and, despite its lack of ostentation and showiness, masterly skill.
Financial Review
This is Australian Jazz at its best. Highly recommended and essential listening!
Jazz Views
Discography
Trip!
Inter Dimensionality Cross Street records 2024
The Invisibles
Recommended Settings Cross Street records 2024
Michelle Nicolle Quartet
10 Live at The Jazzlab ABC Jazz 2024
The Bach Project EarShift Records 2023
I Hold The Lion’s Paw
AVES independent 2023
Lost in Place independent 2022
3x3 independent 2022
Live in Rezza independent 2021
Abstract Playgrounds EarShift Records 2017
Ronny Ferella solo
Invisible Skin Ventor Recordings 2017
Infloresence Ensemble
Breath Downstream Music 2016
Wayfinders
Left Hand Path Downstream Music 2015
Omelette
On This day Downstream Music 2013
Cubist Blues Downstream Music 2015
Not this not that Downstream Music 2008
Streamers Downstream Music 2008
IshIsh
End Of A Line Downstream Music 2008
Waiting For it Newmarket Music 2003
What Should Be independent 2000
IshIsh Newmarket Music 1998
Peon
Inter Alia Fuse music 2012
Michelle Nicolle Quartet
A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing ABC Jazz 2017
Mancini independent 2012
The Lovliest Night ABC Jazz/Universal. Nov.2009
What Kind of Fool Newmarket Music 2005
The Crying Game ABC Jazz/Universal. Nov.2003
Keep your heart right Newmarket Music Nov.2002
After The Rain ABC Jazz/Universal 2000
Misterioso Newmarket Music Nov.1998
As a sideman/co leader
Yma Jamima’ The Natives Newmarket Music 2007
John Delaney Quartet independent 2007
Marc Hannaford Septet independent 2005
Spirals John Bell trio Newmarket Music 2001
Sacred Stones independent 2001
Thula Shana Thula Shana 1998
Streetbeaters The Hird Family (Stompaphone Records)
Train I'm On Andy Cowan 1998,
One of these days Andy Cowan 1999
Streamliners Streamliners 1996
Pieces Debut 1994 (cassette only)
Vo-Cool Newmarket Music 1994
TEACHING HISTORY
Since 1992 Ronny has been involved in a wide range of teaching environments, teaching all ages, from Foundation students to tertiary. He has taught drumset, percussion, jazz & improvisation (performance and history) and rhythm theory.
Alongside mainstream schools and Universities Ronny has worked with the organisation The Song Room (2011 ongoing) where he runs percussion and general music workshops with in disadvantaged primary schools, with at risk youth and new migrant primary age children (ESL schools).
Ronny is currently engaged at Melbourne University tutoring in small ensemble studies and lectures in improvisation. He is also employed by Musica Viva as a visitng artist, travelling nationally performing the show “Imagination Exploration” with the group I Hold The Lion’s Paw
Primary and Secondary School Teaching
1990-1995 (Adelaide) drumset & ensemble
Pultney Grammar Boy's School ,Woodlands Girls ,Port Lincoln Secondary School Visiting artist ensemble tuition/ drumset masterclass
1996-2001 (Melbourne) drumset and ensemble
Sacre Couer Girls School, St Catherine's Girls, Balwyn,Doncaster Secondary School
2001-2007
2005-2008 Princes' Hill Secondary School, Wesley College (Glen Waverly)
2006-Balwyn High school
2010-2014 sessional tutor for NYJA National Jazz Youth Academy
2007 ongoing The Song Room, conducting classroom drumming programmes for primary school students.
2018 ongoing Ringwood Secondary College drumset/percussion tutor
Workshop/Masterclasses
Marraytville High (Adelaide), Emmanuel College (Adelaide) Ballarat High School (Vic)
Princes Hill Secondary School (Vic), Port Hedland High School, WOPPA (WA) Westminster Secondary College (Adelaide) Young School Of Music (Young NSW) Salesian College Chadstone
Wangaratta Jazz festival, Half Bent Festival Artsplay girls in jazz, Warnambool drum drum.
Song Room 2007 ongoing
Delivering percussion based and general music activities with primary school students in classroom format. Working alongside classroom teachers.
Keon park P.S.- Broadmeadows P.S.- North Coburg P.S.- Thomastown P.S.-Glen Orden P.S.- Coburn P.S. Clayton P.S. St Albans P.S.
Western English Language Schools
St Albans-Weribbee
Teaching Units- Coburg North- Heidelberg- Baltara
Delivering percussion based programme for students at risk of disengaging from school.
As well as the above I have been a part of many Song Room performances for Refugee Week and worked with young people from the Karen Community in the Boite Karen Community Day.
Jazz and Improvisation specialist teaching Tertiary
2008 ongoing Melbourne Polytech Fairfield campus
2009 ongoing Monash University School of Music (Jazz dept)
2010 ongoing Melbourne University Jazz and Improvisation
Sessional tutor conducting small ensembles, tutoring in improvisation materials, individual drumset tuition and lecturing in jazz history/culture. (Melbourne Uni breadth subject).
2016-2017 Curated and produced a two day jazz/improvisation festival where I mentored students in all aspects involved in the production of the festival. As event managers, promoters, performers, tech crew etc.
Workshops/ Masterclasses* 1998 to current
Bangkok University (Thailand), Taipei Cultural Arts Centre (Taiwan)
Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide, Canberra School of Music, Brisbane Conservatorium
Gordon TAFE College, Melbourne University, Melb Poly Tech Fairfield,, Monash University VCA Norlunga TAFE (Adelaide)