Nicki Parrott (pronounced pa-ROTT) is a jazz vocalist and bass player from Australia.

Background

Parrott took piano lessons when she was four years old, then learned flute. When she was fifteen, she started playing double bass, and after graduating from high school she studied at the

New South Wales Conservatorium of Music The Sydney Conservatorium of Music (formerly the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music and known by the moniker "The Con") is a heritage-listed music school in Macquarie Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the ol ...

in Sydney, Australia. While in school, she performed with Australian musicians Dale Barlow and Mike Nock and with American musicians

Chuck Findley Charles B. Findley (born December 13, 1947 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania) is an American trumpet player known for his diverse work as a session musician. He also plays other brass instruments such as flugelhorn and trombone. His technical abilities ...

and

Bobby Shew Bobby Shew (born March 4, 1941) is an American jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player. Biography He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. After leaving college in 1960, Shew was drafted into the U.S. Army and played trumpet and toured ...

Career

She moved to New York City in 1994 and continued her education on bass with

Rufus Reid Rufus Reid (born February 10, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American jazz bassist, educator, and composer. Biography Reid was raised in Sacramento, California, where he played the trumpet through junior high and high school. Upon graduation ...

. Her teachers also included Ray Brown and

John Clayton John Clayton may refer to: Arts and entertainment Writing * John Clayton (architect) (died 1861), English architect and writer * John Bell Clayton (c. 1907–1955), American writer * John Clayton (sportswriter) (1954–2022), American sportswriter ...

. For several years she played bass guitar and sang backing vocals for an R&B band in Manhattan. She started a trio with John Tropea and David Spinozza. In 2000, she became the bassist for

Les Paul Lester William Polsfuss (June 9, 1915 – August 12, 2009), known as Les Paul, was an American jazz, country, and blues guitarist, songwriter, luthier, and inventor. He was one of the pioneers of the solid-body electric guitar, and his prototype ...

in his trio's weekly performances at a club in Manhattan. She appeared in two documentaries about Paul: ''Chasing Sound'' and ''Thank You, Les''. Parrott recorded her first album, ''Awabakal Suite'' (2001), with her sister, Lisa Parrott. She had roles on Broadway in the musicals '' Jekyll & Hyde'' and '' You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown''. Her first solo album, ''Moon River'', was released in 2008 and consisted of jazz standards. She has recorded tribute albums to Burt Bacharach, Nat King Cole, Doris Day, Blossom Dearie, Peggy Lee, and the Carpenters.

Awards and honors

* Best Vocal Album, ''Swing Journal'', ''Moon River'', 2007; ''Fly Me to the Moon'', 2008 * Golden Disc Award, ''Swing Journal'', ''Black Coffee'', 2010

Discography

As leader

* ''Awabakal Suite'' with Lisa Parrott (Monkey Pants, 2004) * ''Moon River'' ( Venus, 2007) * ''People Will Say We're in Love'' with Rossano Sportiello ( Arbors, 2007) * ''Do It Again'' with Rossano Sportiello (Arbors, 2009) * ''Fly Me to the Moon'' (Venus, 2009) * ''Black Coffee'' (Venus, 2010) * ''Can't Take My Eyes Off You'' (Venus, 2011) * ''Like a Lover'' with Ken Peplowski (Venus, 2011) * ''Sakura Sakura'' (Venus, 2012) * ''Summertime'' (Venus, 2012) * ''Autumn Leaves'' (Venus, 2012) * ''Winter Wonderland'' (Venus, 2012) * ''Live at the Jazz Corner'' with Rossano Sportiello, Eddie Metz (Arbors, 2012) * ''The Last Time I Saw Paris'' (Venus, 2013) * ''The Look of Love'' (Venus, 2014) * ''Angel Eyes'' (Venus, 2014) * ''It's a Good Day'' with Rossano Sportiello, Eddie Metz (Arbors, 2014) * ''Sentimental Journey'' (Venus, 2015) * ''Two Songbirds of a Feather'' with Rebecca Kilgore (Arbors, 2015) * ''From Joplin to Jobim'' with Engelbert Wrobel, Paolo Alderighi, Stephanie Trick (Wrobel, 2016) * ''Yesterday Once More: The Carpenters Song Book'' (Venus, 2016) * ''Strictly Confidential'' with Rossano Sportiello, Eddie Metz (Arbors, 2016) * ''Dear Blossom'' (Arbors, 2017) * ''Unforgettable'' (Venus, 2017) * ''Mambo to Tango'' (Wrobel, 2018) * ''Close to You'' (Venus, 2018) * ''Stompin' at the Savoy: A Tribute To Ella & Louis'' with

Byron Stripling Byron Stripling is a jazz trumpeter who has been a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. Career He was born Lloyd Byron Stripling on August 20, 1961, in Atlanta, Georgia.He attended Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and the Interloc ...

(Venus, 2018) * ''New York to Paris'' (Arbors, 2019) * ''If You Could Read My Mind'' (Arbors, 2021) * ''Great 70's'' (Venus, 2021)

As guest

With David Krakauer * ''A New Hot One'' (Label Bleu, 2000) * ''The Twelve Tribes'' (Label Bleu, 2002) * ''Live in Krakow'' (Label Bleu, 2003) * ''Bubbemeises'' (Label Bleu, 2005) With

Chuck Redd Chuck Redd (born September 10, 1958) is an American jazz drummer and vibraphonist. Career Redd began touring and recording when he joined the Charlie Byrd Trio at the age of 21. He also joined The Great Guitars (Barney Kessel, Charlie Byrd, an ...

* ''For George, Cole, and Duke'' (Blue Heron, 2014) * ''Groove City'' (Dalphine, 2018) With others * Muriel Anderson, ''Wildcat'' (2005) * Johnny Frigo, ''

Johnny Frigo's DNA Exposed! ''Johnny Frigo's DNA Exposed!'' is an album by jazz violinist Johnny Frigo that was released by Arbors. Track listing #I Concentrate on You (4:53) #Poor Butterfly (4:51) #Cheek to Cheek (4:37) #What Is There to Say? (3:33) ...

'' (Arbors, 2001) * Skitch Henderson & Bucky Pizzarelli, Legends (Arbors, 2003) * Rebecca Kilgore, ''The Music of Jimmy Van Heusen'' (Jump, 2005) * Ken Peplowski, ''Sunrise'' (Arbors, 2018) * Randy Sandke - Unconventional Wisdom (Arbors, 2008) *

Antti Sarpila Antti Juhani Sarpila (born 11 June 1964) is a Finnish jazz clarinetist. He performed in a Benny Goodman-inspired style and studied under Bob Wilber. He was a part of the tribute to Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall in 1988 and played in six American ...

, ''We'd Like New York...In June!'' (Arbors, 2009) * Derek Smith, ''High Energy'' (Arbors, 2001) * Warren Vaché-John Allred Quintet, ''Jubilation'' (Arbors, 2008) * Johnny Varro, ''All That Jazz'' (Arbors, 2001) *

Deborah Weisz Deborah Weisz is an American jazz musician. She plays lead trombone for the Deborah Weisz Quintet/Trio. Early life Deborah Weisz was born in Chicago to Victor and Alice Mae. She grew up in Phoenix, where she began to play trombone at the age ...

, ''Grace'' (Va Wah, 2005) * John Wetton,

and His Trio, ''New York Minute'' (2015) * Rachel Z, ''First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'' (2003)

References

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parrott, Nicki 1970 births Australian jazz singers Australian jazz double-bassists Venus Records artists Living people 21st-century double-bassists Women double-bassists 20th-century double-bassists 20th-century Australian women singers 21st-century Australian women singers Arbors Records artists