Nicole Duffelle Quartet _hot_ Page
Unlike many piano-led quartets where the pianist dominates, Duffelle treats her piano as primus inter pares (first among equals). She frequently drops out entirely, allowing Voss’s sax and Thorne’s bass to carry a duet for sixteen bars before crashing back in with a chord cluster that changes the entire emotional color of the piece.
#NicoleDuffelleQuartet #LiveJazz #JazzNight #ModernStandards #SwingAndSoul #SupportLiveMusic
If one must categorize them, they sit at the intersection of West Coast Cool and Modal Jazz , but with a 21st-century harmonic twist. Duffelle’s compositions often begin with a simple, melancholic melody—something you might hum in the shower—but they quickly descend into shifting time signatures (5/4, 7/8) that never feel academic. nicole duffelle quartet
However, not all reviews have been glowing. Some traditionalists argue that Voss’s saxophone tone is too harsh for the subtle harmonic structures Duffelle lays down. Others claim that Julian Cross’s drumming is "too busy" for the ballad work. Duffelle took this criticism in stride, telling JazzTimes , "If you aren't making some people uncomfortable, you aren't playing jazz."
They are not a nostalgia act. They are not a smooth jazz band playing background music for brunch. They are serious artists constructing serious architecture out of sound. Whether it is the angular post-bop of "The 2 AM Train" or the tear-jerking beauty of "Forgotten Portrait," this quartet is essential listening for anyone who believes that jazz is the music of surprise. Unlike many piano-led quartets where the pianist dominates,
Stream Nocturnes for a City on your favorite platform, check their website for tour dates, and prepare to have your understanding of the piano quartet format completely redefined.
The Vagabond Club, 39 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207630. Others claim that Julian Cross’s drumming is "too
Duffell’s move to Singapore was largely accidental; during a flight layover nearly 25 years ago, she was invited to perform at the Raffles Hotel’s Somerset Bar and never left. Since then, she has become a "queenpin" of the local music circuit, recognized for her technical mastery of the saxophone and her deep, soulful storytelling through music.
