NOIR
Paul Grabowsky & Michelle Nicolle (Mel)

Doors 6pm
Show 7pm

“Arguably the two finest exponents in Australian jazz of their respective artistries, pianism and vocalising, Noir is like a meeting at the summit. Think of the two masterly albums recorded by Bill Evans and Tony Bennett in the 1970s. Grabowsky and Nicolle are in that league. Noir is a statement for the ages. It’s that’s good.” ★★★★★ The Weekend Australian 2025

Michelle Nicolle and Paul Grabowsky have been aware of each other for a very long time. As Michelle says, she ‘grew up’ watching Paul on television and was aware of his work with the great Vince Jones and others; somewhat later Paul became aware of Michelle’s trajectory toward becoming, in his words, ‘one of the greatest jazz singers Australia has produced’.

A few years back they began a conversation around songs they were drawn to, and it was immediately clear that their tastes converged at the melancholy, the testimonial, the heartbreak ballads that speak of love’s sometimes bitter ironies. The Covid lockdowns certainly helped them to focus on this project, one that led to the recording of their ABC Jazz album ‘Noir’, a collection of standards and originals that reveal sentiment rather than sentimentality, great beauty in deepest shadow, empathy and calm.

As Paul puts it, ‘we have found a happy place in these sad songs, in which each shadow reveals new light’.

Professor Paul Grabowsky AO is a pianist composer, arranger and conductor with a career spanning nearly 50 years. He is considered one of Australia’s most significant musicians. He has recorded over 40 albums and has won 8 ARIA Awards, as well as numerous APRA awards, 2 Helpmann Awards and a Deadly Award. He is the founder of the Australian Art Orchestra which he led for 19 years. He directed the Queensland Music Festival in 2007 and Adelaide Festival of Arts in 2010 & 2012. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. He is currently ED of Monash University Performing Arts Centres.

Michelle Nicolle, hailed as Australia’s preeminent female jazz singer, is a living embodiment of artistry and elegance in the jazz world. An internationally touring artist for over 26 years she has performed throughout Europe and Asia with highlights including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Tokyo Jazz Festival, the Prague Jazz Festival and USA venues The Blue Building, (NYC), JazzVox (Seattle), Jazz Lounge Live (San Diego), Kulak’s Woodshed (LA), The Black Cat (San Francisco). She’s sang with Wynton Marsalis and the JLCO with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and also with Kurt Elling. A multi-award-winner, Michelle’s accolades include the prestigious Bell Award (2017), National Jazz Award winner (1998) and 3-time A.R.I.A Finalist and 2024 Music Victoria Award “Best Jazz Work” for The Bach Project cementing her as a national treasure with global appeal.

This performance runs for 60 minutes without an interval.