Phillip Maurice Treloar (born 7 December 1946, Sydney) is an Australian jazz drummer, percussionist and composer. In an extensive career devoted to creative pursuit Treloar has addressed himself to the problems of relationship found at the intersection of notated music-composition and improvisation. In 1987 Treloar coined the term, Collective Autonomy, to signify his endeavor in this field of work. Fundamental in this has been composition- and performance-development projects, with these at times involving electronic media. Collaborations have, and continue to be, crucial.
Phil Treloar was born in Sydney on 7 December 1946. He commenced his musical career in the late 1960s, playing drums with various groups at local Sydney venues and in the early 1970s was very active in the Australian jazz scene, playing with musicians such as Alan Lee, with Roger Frampton and Barry Guy, Erroll Buddle, Judy Bailey, and Bernie McGann, then worked with Frampton again in the Intersection group in 1984, which toured Asia. During the first half of the 1970s he was also a member of the Jazz Co-Op, along with Roger Frampton (piano and saxes), Howie Smith (saxes), and Jack Thorncraft (bass). The Jazz Co-op was one of the most influential jazz units in Sydney during the 70s, and worked at major venues such as The Sydney Opera House, Sydney Town Hall and played to packed houses at over 30 engagements at Sydney's premier jazz club at that time, The Basement. In 1980 Treloar performed with the Bruce Cale Quartet with Bruce Cale (bass) Roger Frampton (piano and saxes) and Dale Barlow (saxes). Two live concerts by this group have been recorded, The Bruce Cale Quartet Live (Adelaide concert) and On Fire – The Sydney Concert.
Under the guidance of Dr. Graham Hair he received the B.Mus. degree, composition major, from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, 1988. He has also studied in New York, USA, with renowned jazz drummer, Billy Hart, 1980; in Delhi, India, at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya with the Khayal vocalist, Madhup Mudgalaya, 1984; and in Colombo, Sri Lanka, at the Institute of Aesthetic Studies, with Piasara Silpadipathi, 1984.