Bass
Upright and electric bassist and composer Nick Abbey has become an integral fixture of the jazz and contemporary music scenes in WA since arriving from Melbourne in 2006.
As a performer, Nick has appeared with the likes of international luminaries George Garzone, John Scofield, Paul Bollenback, Alex Norris, Jim Pugh, Howard Levy, and Troy Roberts, as well as local legends Paul Grabowsky, Jamie Oehlers, James Morrison, and Graham Lyall. Aside from his main ensemble TRISK, Nick is also currently an active member of Abbey|Foster|Falle, Det Nopsus, Libby Hammer Quintet, Hammer 9, Johannes Luebbers Dectet, Paul Grabowsky’s Perth Sextet, and The Fix, amongst others.
Nick’s compositions have repeatedly drawn accolades, including the recently announced award of the WA Music Industry’s Jazz Song of the Year 2014 for a new TRISK tune entitled Charon. This is Nick’s third consecutive receipt of this accolade, with tracks from Abbey|Foster|Falle’s Brotherhood album previously taking it out in 2012 (Maelstrom) and 2013 (Avina).
Nick has toured nationally and internationally (including Singapore, China, France, and Italy), has featured on over a dozen recording projects, and has recently commenced Ph.D studies at the WA Academy of Performing Arts, focusing on rhythm and extended techniques of the upright bass.
Keep up to date with Nick at www.triskmusic.com!
Active as a professional musician for over 20 years, Pete graduated from the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (W.A.A.P.A.) in 1997 with a Bachelor of Music (Jazz) and is an in-demand bassist performing regularly in a wide range of styles on both Double Bass and Electric Bass Guitar.
Pete has performed extensively throughout Australia and also in India, China, the U.K, Italy, Singapore, Japan, the U.S.A and New Zealand and he has performed with many well known artists including Michel Legrand, Hank Marvin, Mark Murphy, Geoffrey Keezer, George Garzone, Leo Sayer, Carmen Lundy, Andy Sheppard, Gary Bartz, Walter Smith III, Karrin Allyson and James Morrison to name only a few.
Currently a member of the highly acclaimed Tom O’Halloran Trio, Pete is also bassist for the Perth ensemble “Memory of Elements” (MOE) which launched it’s debut album and toured Australia in 2011 including performances at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues. MOE recently released it’s second album “Now Noise” composed by the group’s pianist Tom O’Halloran. Pete is also a member of the gyspy jazz groups “Belleville” and “Sassafras” and he has been a member of many other perth-based jazz groups including “Michael Pigneguy Sextet” and “The Perth Jazz Orchestra”. Pete has also led/co-led a number of groups including “Thrust” (funk-jazz) “Salamander” (jazz & electronic music) “Frames of Minds” (modern jazz) and continues to lead jazz groups under his own name ranging in size from trio to quintet.
An avid composer, Pete has written numerous original works including commissions for the Nuevo Tango group ‘Guapo’, Southern Forests Arts and also JAZZWA (the 26th Parallel Suite – written for 20 piece ensemble) and he has won WAMi awards for jazz composition. Pete also writes for his own groups/projects including the Pete Jeavons Quintet.
Named the Perth Jazz Society’s most outstanding contributor in the year 2011 (and previously in 2000 too), Pete was also a finalist in the 2008 National Jazz Bass Awards. Despite maintaining a busy schedule as a freelance musician Pete has been a driving force in the not-for-profit arts organization “JAZZWA” for 17 years, in various roles including Project Manager, General Manager, and currently Treasurer. As a Project Manager for JAZZWA Pete has produced six volumes of the Jazzaziz Compilation CD for JAZZWA (which features original contemporary jazz from various Perth jazz groups) and organized countless performances, tours and jam sessions for JAZZWA. Pete also runs the annual JazzNOW! Jazzcamp for JAZZWA, designed to educate young jazz musicians.
Pete also teaches bass at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (W.A.A.P.A.), and is a presenter of the ‘Giant Steps’ contemporary jazz program on community radio station RTR-FM 92.1.
