Nichaud Fitzgibbon

Victoria, Australia

Nichaud started performing with her brother Mark in the early '80s and worked at all the regular jazz venues and festivals around town. Vince Jones gave Nichaud her first television appearance when he invited her to be his special guest on The Don Burrow's Jazz Series in 1983 for ABC television. Apart from performing around town at regular gigs she also started a full time job working at Brashs record store, which she eventually managed for a couple of years and then decided to move to London in 1986. She stayed for three years and performed at various clubs and festivals plus a stint with Australian rock band The Models when she joined Wendy Matthews as a backing singer for their London gigs. Another highlight was an impromptu performance with legendary tenor saxophonist Pharaoh Sanders at Ronnie Scott's jazz club. After returning to Melbourne in 1988 and working with various bands she formed YOYO an original funk band with trumpeter Gavin Cornish and her brother Andrew, the drummer in the family. YOYO was an explosive high energy funk and groove band in Melbourne in the '90s. Definitely ahead of their time. The YOYO Thursday night residency became an institution at The Esplanade Hotel in St. Kilda for three years. An invitation came to work with Rock Star James Reyne which gave Nichaud the opportunity to join his national tour as backing vocalist. She later worked extensively on television shows including The Big Gig series on the ABC and Tonight Live with Steve Vizard under the musical direction of Paul Grabowsky. Nichaud also appeared regularly on Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton and the ABC's Pulse Jazz Series which showcased Australia's finest jazz artists live in concert at Chapel off Chapel.

Also during the '90s Nichaud became a founding member of the sixteen piece bigband The MOOVIN and GROOVIN' ORCHESTRA led by arrangers Gavin Cornish and Ken Schroder and made several recordings. She hosted a Jazz radio show for Community Radio Station 3CR every Tuesday afternoon promoting fellow musicians and interviewing touring Jazz artists. She also worked with popular bands including R&B outfit The Swinging Sidewalks, The Gospel Soul Train, Ladysoul-60s soul revue and started the band So Nice with Jane Clifton.

Nichaud was given an amazing opportunity to work with The Australian Ballet Company in Stanton Welsh's production- Three Of Us when she sang Gershwin's Someone to Watch over me at The Victorian State Theatre. Not many singers get to work with The Ballet! She also performed Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy with James Morrison, Venetta Fields and Shelley Scown for 'The Australia Remembers Concert' which was televised nation wide live from The Palais Theatre St Kilda and was congratulated by then Prime Minister Mr Paul Keating.

Barry Humphries commissioned her to sing three Gershwin compositions - Feeling Sentimental, Sweet and Low Down and I Was Doing Alright for his collection of Rare Songs Vol 2. Released in 2000.
The Victorian Arts Centre invited Nichaud to perform as part of a special tribute - The Great Jazz Singers Concert. Performing songs made famous by Ella Fitzgerald with arrangements by Graeme Lyall featuring a 10 piece ensemble playing to 12,000 jazz fans at the Myer Music Bowl. Nichaud has also performed several special jazz concerts over the years with legendary international jazz pianist Dr Allan Zavod.

In 2001 Nichaud released her debut Jazz CD AFTER HOURS which received rave reviews showcasing her talent from swing to bossa featuring arrangements by Ken Schroder with performances by some of Melbourne's jazz elite including award winning saxophonist Jamie Oehler's and his Blowfish horn section.

During the last few years Nichaud has been involved in a variety of projects. Known for her love of Brazilian music she was especially commissioned by Abracadabra Films to sing Manha de Carnaval (Black Orpheus) in Portuguese, accompanied by guitarist Doug DeVries, for a documentary filmed in East Timor called Birth of a Nation - Rosa's Story. She sang Dearly Beloved for the soundtrack of the Australian film Trojan Warrior produced by Triple 3 Films. As well as performing in mini musicals directed by Toni Bartuccio for Show Stoppers at Crown Casino. She has been a regular performer for The Victorian Arts Centre's Morning Melodies series at The Melbourne Concert Hall with tributes to Peggy Lee, Doris Day and Smacka Fitzgibbon. The Peggy Lee tributes were also performed for The Melbourne International Jazz Festival and for The Melbourne International Arts Festival at The Famous Spiegeltent (the world's most prestigious cabaret venue).

The audience were held captive for the recent launch of Nichaud's second CD "DEEP IN THE NIGHT" at The Famous Spiegeltent. It was a superb night of music by this charismatic performer for The Melbourne International Arts Festival 2005. Mark Murphy, the legendary American jazz vocalist produced the cd in April 2005. It is an eclectic mix of jazz standards with arrangements by Mark Fitzgibbon featuring beautiful ballads, cool grooves and gorgeous bossa nova. Deep in The Night, is distributed through Newmarket Music it is definitely a must. Music Guru, Billy Pinell voted it in his top 10 releases of 2005.

Nichaud recorded several songs with multi-instrumentalist/singer Gerry Hale for his CD "VIVANDO" which is a melting pot of Country, jazz and swing with great harmonies. It features many great Melbourne musicians and singers celebrating the fun songs of Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks.

She continues to perform Carols by the Bay every Christmas and has done since 1997 she has joined many great Australian Rock and R&B artists including Ross Wilson, Joe Camilleri and Wilbur Wilde on a song or two.

Popular mainstream jazz outfit The Syncopators invited Nichaud to sing Jonny Mercer's If You Were Mine, a song immortalized by Billie Holiday. Peter Gaudion thought Nichaud, the perfect vocalist to be on their CD "In Sync" which was recorded in October 2006. She also sings Miss Brown to You and Someday, Somewhere on their latest CD "Saturday Night Function" recorded in 2009.

A special collaboration saw Nichaud perform with world renowned American classical pianist,
Dr Donna Coleman with leading guitarist Geoff Hughes and a night of songs by American Classical composer, Charles Ives. An amazing night of music!!!

Nichaud also worked with Josh G Abrahams and recorded a song for the soundtrack ONE LAST RIDE, a film by famous Tawainese director, Ang Lee released in 2006.

She has more recently performed with the fabulous gypsy swing band - BLUEDRAG under the leadership of two talented Australian composers, violinist/arranger Nigel MacLean and guitarist/singer/songwriter Martin Elepans. The gigs showcased material from their latest CD I’ll See You There and Nichaud was delighted to be an extra special guest amongst a bevy of divas.

MOOD SWING is Nichaud's latest recording project. It is a compliation of Australian compositions and features her unique sound and creative direction on songs written by some of Australia's finest Pop artists. It has met with lots of enthusiasm and has some great arrangements by Mark Fitzgibbon and Lachlain Davidson.

Nichaud's latest career highlights include a Tribute to The American Songbook with The Syncopaters for Morning Melodies 2010 at The State Theatre. She was also specially invited to appear for the closing of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival June 2011 - A Tribute to Australian Swing with James Morrison and guests which received rave reiews. ****

Nichaud Fitzgibbon is recognised as Australia's premier jazz stylist her natural charisma and fiesty elegance brings sophistication to performances offering a repertoire of popular jazz standards from the Great American songbook.Her sound is sultry and warm and leaves you wanting more from swing that grooves to bossa and blues. She performs regularly with her band at various Melbourne venues and festivals around the country and is in demand for corporate events and major concerts she works with a variety of line-ups from duo to bigband.

Selection of Jazz shows & Concerts available -
The Nichaud Fitzgibbon Quintet - (piano, bass, guitar, drums can extend with trumpet and sax)
The Great American Songbook - Gershwin, Berlin, Porter, Rodgers & Hart Tribute
The Peggy Lee Tribute (8 piece)
The Great American Songbook with The Syncopators (8 piece)
The Smacka Fitzgibbon Tribute Concert (8 piece)
So Nice - A Celebration of Sergio Mendez and The Sounds of '60s Latin POP (8 piece)
The Blonde Bomshells Tribute - Doris, Peggy and Marilyn
Viva La Diva Tribute a selection of songs by the world's favourite singers.