Paul Grabowsky & Michelle Nicolle - Noir

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’.  

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Michelle Nicolle is celebrated as Australia’s finest female jazz singer, winner of multiple awards and appearing at festivals all over Australia and the world, from Tokyo to Siberia. She is admired for her ability to get right to the heart of a song, as well as being a brilliant in-the-moment improviser with a technique to match any instrumentalist. 

Recent highlights have included acclaimed performances of Wynton Marsalis’ All Rise with the Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, as well as arranging, composing and leading her own Michelle Nicolle Quartet. Her talents have been recognised with a Bell Award for jazz vocal album of the year, a Mo Award and a National Jazz Award. 

Paul Grabowsky is a creative with uncompromising integrity, one of Australia's most significant composers and celebrated recording artists. An internationally acclaimed performer, he has worked with jazz greats such as Art Farmer, Branford Marsalis, Joe Lovano and Johnny Griffin, and performed on many great stages worldwide including the Sydney Opera House, North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival and Tokyo Jazz Festival. As a recording artist he has received two AIR Awards, and eight ARIA awards. As a composer he has received six APRA Art Music Awards, and two Helpmann Awards.

REVIEW

The Weekend Australian, November 8, 2025
Eric Myers ★★★★★

“Even in the current era of unprecedented excellence in jazz albums, pianist Paul Grabowsky and vocalist Michelle Nicolle are something else. Arguably the two finest exponents in Australian jazz of their respective artistries, pianism and vocalising, Noir is like a meeting at the summit. 

Sometimes in rhapsodic introductions before Nicolle begins her brilliant vocals, and sometimes accompanying those vocals, Grabowsky..…….does not simply reproduce 
the harmonic changes we usually expect to hear; like all great jazz pianists, he creates new and imaginative chord structures which redefine the tune under exploration. 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 good."

Image credit: Giuseppe Dante Sapienza and Alice Healy

Approximate Duration: 1 hour – no interval

This performance is part of the Signature Works we're presenting in 2026. For details of other productions please visit our Signature Works web page.