Nick Abbey - Phantoms (2019)

Well known for holding down the low end in many a Perth jazz group and for his contribution to the original music of TRISK and Abbey|Foster|Falle, upright/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. Nick was a finalist at the 2015 National Jazz Awards and his compositions have repeatedly drawn accolades, including three consecutive WAM Jazz Song of the Year wins in 2012 (Maelstrom), 2013 (Avina), and 2014 (Charon).

As a performer, Nick has regularly collaborated with Troy Roberts, Paul Grabowsky, Jamie Oehlers, and Tom O’Halloran, and has performed with international luminaries Peter Bernstein, Vivian Sessoms, George Garzone, John Scofield, Paul Bollenback, Alex Norris, Jim Pugh, and Howard Levy. Nick has previously appeared on TRISK Speedrun (2015), Abbey|FosterlFalle Brotherhood (2013), Fiona-Lawe Davies Imaginary Grace (2016), Ryan Daunt “Fragile Information” (2016), Ecila Ecila (2012), Det Nopsus Det Nopsus (2009), Glyn MacDonald Group Live (2011), ­:motion Presence (2009), ATM15 Big Band Reborn (2010) and Johannes Luebbers Dectet The Exquisite Corpse of Beethoven (2010) and Make Some Noise (2008). Nick is lecturer at the WA Academy of Performing Arts, and is in the final stages of his PhD, which explores the processes of the modern day Australian jazz bassist.

Nick's eponymous trio and TRISK are two sides of the same coin, both featuring longtime collaborators Chris Foster (piano) and Daniel Susnjar (drums). The former is a solo acoustic jazz project, while the latter is a collaborative ensemble with a contemporary edge, regularly featuring guest rappers, vocalists, and instrumentalists.

Specializing in Afro-Peruvian jazz, Daniel Susnjar is one of Australia’s leading voices in drumming, and has performed and recorded with music legends including Chick Corea, Terence Blanchard, Bobby McFerrin, Dave Grusin, and Steve Miller, to name a few. He has received several Bell Awards with his Daniel Susnjar Afro-Peruvian Jazz Group (2015 Best Australian Modern Jazz Album & Australian Jazz Song of the Year) and Speedball (2018 Jazz Song of the Year) as well as a swag of WAM awards, including Best Jazz Act (2016 and 2017), Best Drummer (2016) and Jazz Song of the Year (2015). Daniel holds a Doctoral degree from the University of Miami and is a lecturer at WAAPA.

Chris Foster is one of Perth’s most in-demand pianists. He has performed with internationally acclaimed artists including Terrell Stafford, Ronald Carter, Frank Foster, Ed Partyka, Ernest Ranglan, Ian Hendrickson-Smith and Dave Guy (Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings), and James Morrison. Chris balances performing and teaching commitments with writing and recording for his original bands, which range from acoustic jazz to hip-hop, where he is a significant contributor to WA legends Downsyde and Optamus, as well as Drapht and Coin Banks.