THE MN QUARTET

The Michelle Nicolle Quartet has been playing together for 24 years.

Together for twenty-four years, Michelle and her quartet are a rarity in today’s jazz groups. An ensemble with a totally contemporary and forward-thinking approach, but at the same time steeped in the tradition of jazz, storytelling, and the magic of the live performance.

MNQ career highlights include:

South Korea, Finland, and Czech Republic Tour 2015

July 2012 Asia Pacific Festival (Russia)

September 2009 performances at the prestigious Tokyo Jazz Festival and in 2005 North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland)

Other international gigs and tours to date include 2007 New Zealand, Turkey, Estonia, Finland, and Singapore, and in 2004 a month-long tour throughout Asia; Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Thailand.

In August 2003 and 2006, the MNQ toured all states & corners of Australia.

Michelle performed 3 concerts in London in October 2016 and JEN Conference, New Orleans (USA) 2017, and the Seattle JazzVox Series 2017.

Festival Performances include:

North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland), Penang Island Jazz Festival, Jakjazz (Indonesia), Jazzkaar International Jazz Festival (Estonia), April Jazz International (Finland),), Jarasum International (Korea), Java Jazz Festival (Indonesia), Christchurch International Jazz Festival (NZ), Thailand International Festival of Music & Dance, Wellington International (NZ), New Caledonia, Wangaratta International, Melbourne International, Queensland Biennale, Four Winds Festival, Barossa Valley Vintage Festival, Fremantle Jazz, Eltham Jazz Festival, Stonnington Jazz, Prague Jazz Festival 2015 (Cz Republic), London 2016 and JEN Conference, New Orleans 2017. and venues around Australia, Italy, Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore & Turkey, and UK: Foundry 616, 505, Live at The Village, Starfish Club, Wine Banc, The Basement (Sydney and the Blue Mountains), The Governor Hindmarsh (Adelaide) Perth Jazz Society, Brisbane Jazz Club, The Fontanonestate, (Rome), The Emporium (Kuala Lumpur), Once in a Blue Moon (Seoul), CHUNNYUN Jazz Club (Seoul), Shannon's (Taipei), Arts House, Southbridge Jazz Club (Singapore), Babylon Jazz Club (Istanbul), Ankara Swissotel (Ankara), The Schlot, (Berlin), Jazz Dock and Reduta Jazz Club (Prague), Koko (Helsinki), Spice Of Life, Bulls Head (London), Bedford Arms (UK), JazzVox (Seattle, USA).

The Michelle Nicolle Quarter has released 9 recordings together, with the latest “The Bach Project”  just released on Earshift Music.

THE MN QUARTET

  • RONNY FERELLA - DRUMS

    Ferella’s own band IshIsh, for which he composes most of the material, has made quite an impact on the Australian scene – releasing four CDs. In July 2001 IshIsh performed at the prestigious Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy, and Pori Festival (Finland).

    Ferella leads other original improvised-based bands including Peon (a 2 drummer/electronic project) and Mandala and in 2009 launched a CD label and website, Downstream Music, which promotes improvised music made in Melbourne. In 1997 he was a finalist in National Jazz Award Drum Competition. Ronny co-founded and directed Half Bent Festival – a musician-based organisation involved in presenting concerts and he teaches Small Ensemble Studies and Principle Study (drums) at Monash University, NMIT, and for The Song Room

  • TOM LEE - BASS

    Tom Lee completed the Bachelor of Music Performance at the VCA in 2002. While at the VCA he studied under bassists Geoff Kluke, and Ben Robertson as well as Assistant Principal bassist for the MSO, Andrew Moon. He has also studied at the School of Improvised Music, located in New York, under bassist Drew Gress.

    Tom has recorded with ensembles such as Vada, the Gian Slater Project, and Contrabanda. He has performed at numerous festivals including the WOMADELAIDE, Wangaratta International, & the Melbourne International Jazz Festival.



  • GEOFF HUGHES - GUITAR

    Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Geoff is a highly accomplished musician. His practical knowledge of harmony and time is rare and much sought after – honing his craft whilst living and working throughout Europe in the 1980s. During this time Geoff’s gigs included The North Holland Philharmonic, and supporting jazz greats Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, andHerb Ellis.

    Since moving to Australia he’s recorded a CD “The Drop” with Allan Browne and brought his unique sound to the bands of Joe Chindamo and Christine Sullivan. He often plays sessions with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and touring shows such as The Main Event. Geoff is a core member of the teaching staff at the Victorian College of the Arts, and in 2007 he completed his Master's in Music Performance at The University of Melbourne.