Jazz tour, ‘How Love Begins’, comes to Australia and the Hinterland
ACCLAIMED New Yorkbased jazz singer Nicole Zuraitis will perform live in Maleny on October 13 as part of her Australian How Love Begins Tour, named after her recent Grammy Award-winning Best Vocal Jazz Album. Nicole’s sixth album, How Love Begins, co-produced with eight-time Grammy winner Christian McBride, features all original songs.
She will perform these live at the Maleny Community Centre in a major coup for Sunshine Coast hinterland audiences. The tour will also include performances in Cairns, Brisbane as well as Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.
Nicole has captivated audiences worldwide and has quickly emerged as one of the most sought-after artists of the moment. With a “heart as big as her remarkable voice” (Jazz Police), Nicole is also an ardent activist and dedicated environmentalist. Of How Love Begins, she says, “This album is dedicated to climate change activism, oceanic preservation and the conservancy of my beautiful backyard, the Long Island Sound.”
Winner of the prestigious 2021 American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal, Nicole has established herself as a staple on the New York jazz scene. She has made a significant mark on the global modern jazz landscape, appearing as a featured soloist with Savannah Philharmonic, Asheville Symphony, and other noted pops orchestras.
Additionally, she has played and sung with iconic singers such as Morgan James and Darren Criss. Nicole’s arrangement of Dolly Parton’s Jolene, co-written with renowned drummer and bandleader Dan Pugach, was nominated for a 2019 GRAMMY, springboarding her career and making her a household name in the modern-day jazz landscape.
In 2020, she was named in the top 40 under 40 for 2020 in Connecticut Magazine, and her weekly livestream during the Covid-19 crisis, “Virtual Piano Lounge,” was featured in Forbes Magazine. Nicole’s critically acclaimed 2018 release, Hive Mind (Dot Time Records), earned the title of ‘Best Jazz Album’ in the 2018 International Music and Entertainment Awards.
She was a finalist in the International Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition, and her original composition “The Coffee Song” won the New York City Coffee Music Project Songwriting Competition. Nicole has collaborated with an extensive list of luminaries.
The Nicole Zuraitis – How Love Begins performance in Maleny is presented by Maleny Arts Council.