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By sixteen he had switched to
trombone and enjoyed a busy schedule of national and international tours
including America and Japan with both brass and concert marching bands.
The start of a jazz career with a
quintet of friends, who together relocated to Sydney to undertake the
jazz studies diploma at the Sydney Conservatorium. From his first day in
Sydney he filled a gap on the Sydney scene with his all-round talent as
instrumentalist and improviser performing with Australian heavy-weights
such as Bernie McGann, Dale Barlow, James Morrison, Jacky Orzasky, Paul
Grabowsky, Monica and the Moochers, as well as visiting artists such as
Bobby Shew & the late great Don Pullen.
Mears was distinguished with
awards in "best jazz composition 1989", "best trombonist" and received a
Moe Award "best jazz Quintet 1990" for his widely performed group "Free
Spirits".
Through the process of "learning
by doing" and tuition gained at the conservatorium by such teachers as
Mike Nock, Don Burrows and the late Roger Frampton he grasped the
fundamentals of melody and harmony.
During this period his exposure
to jazz greats such as Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Rollins, Miles,
J.J.Johnson, Dexter Gordon and Clifford Brown paved the way for a solid
footing in the jazz tradition. Although Mears is primarily self taught
on the trombone his search for his own sound led him to New York on
several occasions where he studied privately with the likes of Robin
Eubanks, Steve Turre, Conrad Herwig, Slide Hampton and Richie Beirach.
In 1992 he decided to "go for
it", moving to Munich, Germany where he soon attained fluency in German
and established himself in a variety of groups around Europe. Mears`s
multi-talents are often on call, not only as trombonist but also as
composer and didgeridoo player, with each role carrying a special
uniqueness that only Mears can produce. As a composer he has written
over 150 originals. The international sextet UGETSU featured many of his
compositions on the four recordings and with over 200 performances
around Europe, China and Australia. Others such as T.V Travel
Documentaries from Australia`s Mike Leyland, as well as chamber
orchestras, several classical brass ensembles and his own groups ranging
from trio to tentet.
His rhythmically advanced approach to the Aboriginal instrument, the
Didgeridoo, can be heard in his suite for Chamber Orchestra and jazz
trio, as well as on several recordings such as the odd-meter funk band
A-STRAIN or by his extensive work over the last 4 years with the Vienna
Art Orchestra.
It was shortly after Mears`s arrival in Germany he became head of the
Mannheim Conservatorium trombone department where has taught for ten
years. In demand as a jazz educator he also held teaching positions in
the Conservatoriums of Cologne and Berlin as well as for Peter
Herboltzheimer`s National Youth Big Band, BUJAZZO . He has also
conducted numerous trombone and band workshops throughout Germany,
Switzerland and Austria. He currently Professor at the Music
Academy in Basel, Switzerland teaching trombone and ear training for the
past 8 years.
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