Michelle Nicolle - The Bach Project (2023)

Melbourne based vocalist Michelle Nicolle’s new release The Bach Project richly embraces the music of J.S. Bach in their unique chamber jazz style. The album interrogates the art of interpretation, improvisation and reimagines these masterworks. The quartet’s arrangements showcase the mastery of J.S. Bach’s compositions and add a new flavour to the improvisational elements found (and sometimes lost) in these great works. Features her long standing quartet of guitarist Geoff Hughes, bassist Tom Lee and drummer Ronny Ferella.
“Michelle is a singer born to charm, enlighten and seduce through music.” Kurt Elling
With The Bach Project, Nicolle has attempted to blur the lines and disregard any stylistic rulebooks, instead digging deep into the beauty, richness and often grit of Bach’s music. In The Bach Project, time travel is made possible: Bach’s Fugue in G Minor is intertwined with the jazz great Thelonius Monk’s masterpiece Round Midnight. March in D major is given a treatment in the style of early Ornette Coleman. Bassist Tom Lee collaborates on the arrangement with Nicolle to bring together the Horace Silver ballad Lonely Woman and Sarabande from Partita No.1. Guitarist Geoff Hughes takes the band through its paces with a truly unique take on Bist Di Bei Mir.
Other tracks feature a more direct reading of Bach’s music: Komm, süsser Tod (Come, sweet death. Come, blessed rest) the band maintain the heavy sentiment of the piece with Michelle singing in both English and German, finishing the piece in a classical vocal style in a duet between bass and vocals.
The Bach Project is a continuation of the band’s Composer Series, which they’ve been undertaking for a number of years. Previous composers include Henry Mancini, Mancini (2012), Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn, A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing, 2017.
The Bach Project was initiated by the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium, inviting the MNQ to perform for the 2014 Bach Festival. As well as a great composer J.S. Bach was also one of the great improvisers of his time, a perfect fit for their approach. The quartet’s arrangements showcase the mastery of J.S. Bach’s compositions and add a new flavour to the improvisational elements found (and sometimes lost) in these great works.
Michelle Nicolle is celebrated as one of Australia's finest female jazz singers. Nicolle started her musical career at the age of eight, studying the violin in the famous wine region, Barossa Valley. Now based in Melbourne, she also works as an arranger and band leader. Her accolades include: Bell Award (2017), Mo Award 2001, 2003 & 2004, National Jazz Award (1998) winner and ARIA Award Nominee 2001, 2004, 2009. The Michelle Nicolle Quartet, a highly regarded ensemble of jazz improvisers, are well known for their diversity of repertoire. With eight albums and many Australian and international tours under their collective belt, they are celebrating their 24th year.