MICHELLE NICOLLE & LARRY KOONSE

THE SILENT WISH

Purple Lead Music

Michelle Nicolle, vocals; Larry Koonse, guitar.

Michelle Nicolle is a celebrated Australian jazz vocalist and songwriter. She flew into Los Angeles to pair with extraordinary guitarist Larry Koonse and record this, her 11^th album release. This production marks her first American album release.

They open with a familiar standard song by E. A. Swan, “When Your Lover Has Gone.” Nicolle adds the opening verse effectively and snatches me to full attention. She and Koonse blend beautifully, like sea and sky. Nicolle shows off her stellar vocal range during a vocal improvisational scat, and Koonse is tender and creative during his sensitive accompaniment. Their arrangement was so good, I had to play this tune twice.

This duo is spectacular! Nicolle’s choice of repertoire is both entertaining and fresh. Even when she sings a notable standard jazz tune like “I’m Glad There is You,” the duo claims it as their own, refreshing songs we know and love in awesome ways. They join talents tightly, forming a lock-and-key relationship.

The duo introduces me to a song called “I Hope I Never.” It was unfamiliar to my ears. In her press package, this song was explained to be a big hit in Australia by a group called Split Enz in the 1980s. Nicolle and Koonse infuse it with jazzy sensibility.

Michelle Nicolle was raised in the Australian town of Barossa Valley, a famous wine producing region. She was obsessed with music as a child of eight and studied violin, played piano, and sang cornet in a marching band, plus she sang in school musicals. At the University of Adelaide, she performed in jazz groups. She soon won acclaim as a jazz singer, including the Music Victoria Award in 2024, the Bell Award in 2017, the Mo Awards in 2001, 2003, and 2004. Her current band has been together 26-years.

“I really love vocal and guitar duos like Ella and Joe Pass or Tuck & Patti. After making ten albums with my band, I really wanted to stretch out to be more adventurous. There’s nowhere to hide in a duo of voice and guitar. The first time I heard Larry play, I knew he was my cup of tea. His incredible musicianship and loveliness as a human creates the beautiful combination of exciting, surprising with cozy, real simpatico when we play together,” Nicolle sang her duo partner’s praises.

Larry Koonse is a Los Angeles treasure. He and his guitar have been featured on over 400 albums with many iconic artists. Larry has been strumming a guitar since age seven, when he was mentored by legendary guitar master Jimmy Wyle. At the young age of fifteen, Koonse recorded his first album with his father, guitarist Dave Koonse: “Father and Son Jazz Guitars.” After graduating from USC with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, he began his long and fruitful career as a jazz guitarist.

Their duet of “My One and Only Love” is superb. The vocalist’s phrasing and breath control is masterful and smooth. Another standard that was performed flawlessly and creatively was “All the Things You Are.” Nicolle is an excellent improvisor and scat sings with the ease of a horn player.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uamZHQvxuKA

Another wonderful jazz musician, bassist John Leftwich, is the producer and engineer for this exceptional album titled “The Silent Wish.” Every song performed by this duo becomes a new, exciting chapter in a well-read dramatic book. I could not stop turning the pages, pleasurably listening to these songs over and over again.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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