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Dr Nick Abbey
Dr Nick Abbey
Lecturer
| Email: | n.abbey@ecu.edu.au |
|---|---|
| ORCID iD: | https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2359-2638 |
Nick is the Diploma of Music Course Coordinator and an Academic Lecturer (Jazz and Contemporary Bass) at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Background
Bassist/composer Dr Nick Abbey is an integral fixture of WA’s jazz and contemporary music scenes. Not only an eminently reliable sideman featured with the likes of Veronica Swift, Peter Bernstein, George Garzone, and Paul Grabowsky, Nick has extablished himself as a compelling artistic voice in his own right through his award-winning original music projects. Nick’s main creative outlet is his eponymous trio, which released ‘Phantoms’ (Newmarket Music) in 2019 and is working towards a new studio release with an expanded quintet lineup. Nick is also currently developing a self-produced audio-visual recording of original music for solo double bass, as well as a collaboration between jazz/hip-hop trio TRISK and a series of exciting vocalists and MCs.
For over a decade, Nick has demonstrated a sustained excellence in tertiary education, which was formally recognised through the 2021 ECU Vice Chancellor’s Sessional Staff Award. He joined WAAPA’s full-time staff in 2023, teaching across each of the music specialisations, from diploma to postgraduate level, and into a range of topics including performance, research, recording, and music business skills. In 2026, Nick took on coordination for the C82 Diploma of Music, a large, exciting, and multifaceted program.
Building from his divergent-thinking PhD, which explored holistic issues facing modern-day musicians, Nick’s key interest as an artist, educator, and researcher is to help improve social practices in the field by exploring strategies for adapting to the challenging, evolving context surrounding modern-day arts practice.
Professional associations:
- Newmarket Music
- International Society of Bassists
- Musicological Society of Australia
- APRA/AMCOS
- WAM
- Perth Jazz Society
- JazzWA
Awards and recognition:
- 2022 - APRA/AMCOS Professional Development Award shortlist
- 2021 - Edith Cowan University Vice Chancellor’s Sessional Staff Excellence Award
- 2020 - Freedman Jazz Fellowship shortlist
- 2015 - National Jazz Awards semi-finalist
- 2012-2014, 2019 - 4x WA Music Industry Jazz Song of the Year winner
Research areas and interests:
- Practice-led research
- Understanding and adapting to the evolving creative context of arts practice
- Composition and songwriting
- Best practice for learning and teaching musical skills
Qualifications
- TAE40116, Other WA registered training organisation, 2021.
- Doctor of Philosophy, Edith Cowan University, 2019.
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Western Australia, 2014.
- Bachelor in Music with First Class Honours, Edith Cowan University, 2012.
- Bachelor of Music Major in Jazz Performance, Edith Cowan University, 2008.
Research Outputs
Creative Arts Research Outputs
- Paget, J., Smith, S., Oehlers, J., O'Halloran, T., Abbey, N., Grigson, F., Tarr, C., Greig, J., Li, S., Cao, K., Allen, M., Torrance, V., Zhang, D., White, T., Ling, K., Tang, Z., McMahon, J., Huang, C., Lemoh, T., Wang, M., Tang, T., Rowntree, Z., Boud, S., Browning, E., Styles, M., Ding, S., Wang, J. (2024). Nanjing Collaborations: Sparks and Synergies. [select audio files]. Richard Gill Auditorium, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Creative Arts Research Outputs
- Paget, J., Abbey, N., Oehlers, J., Smith, S., Ding, S., Filipe, L., Li, S., Ye, T., Yang, T. (2023). East meets West: Cross-cultural imaginings. [scores, video files, audio files]. Nanjing University of the Arts.
- Paget, J., Abbey, N., Oehlers, J., White, T., Ding, W., Huang, C., Lancaster, G., Ling, S., Ling, K., Tang, Z., Wang, Y., Ye, D. (2023). Nanjing Epiphanies. [video files, sound files]. Nanjing University of the Arts: Recital Hall (9th), Popular Music Theatre (13th), Experimental Theatre (15th).
Creative Arts Research Outputs
- Wood, G., Vanderwal, B., Abbey, N., Kate, H. (2014). Hetty Kate with the Graham Wood Trio. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
- Berstein, P., O'Halloran, T., Susnjar, D., Abbey, N. (2014). Peter Berstein at the Perth International Jazz Festival. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
- Torrance, V., Tarr, C., Abbey, N., Jeans, S., Cohen, T. (2014). Victoria Newton at the Perth International Jazz Festival. Forrest Place Perth, WA.
Creative Arts Research Outputs
- Oehlers, J., Abbey, N., Vanderwal, B., Cohen, T., Robertson, B., Fischer, D., Keller, A., Magnusson, S. (2013). Alison Wedding with the Jamie Oehlers Quartet. Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne and Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
- Styles, M., Abbey, N., Perkins, M., Macdonald, G. (2013). Glyn MacDonald Group at the Ellington. Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
- Wood, G., Oehlers, J., Jeans, S., Abbey, N., Vanderwal, B. (2013). Remembrance - The Graham Wood Trio + 2 CD Launch. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
- Wood, G., Susnjar, D., Abbey, N. (2013). The Graham Wood Trio 2013. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
- Tarr, C., Holmes, R., Greive, C., Mackey, C., Abbey, N. (2013). Becc Sanderson. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
- Mackey, C., Vanderwal, B., Abbey, N. (2013). Luke Sweeting PJS Collaboratory. The Ellington Jazz Club, Perth.
- Thorne, D., James, S., Falle, B., Foster, C., Abbey, N., Malet, R. (2013). Det Nopsus. Daniel Thorne and Stuart James.
Creative Arts Research Outputs
- O'Halloran, T., Abbey, N., Tarr, C., Coffin, S. (2012). Sean Coffin. The Ellington Jazz Club.
Creative Arts Research Outputs
- Wood, G., Abbey, N., Vanderwal, B. (2011). The Graham Wood Trio 19/8/11. The Ellington Jazz Club.
- Luebbers, J., Falle, B., Abbey, N., Foster, C., Robinson, T., Dixon, D., G'froerer, C., Little, S., Collins, B., Nicholls, S., Fisendon, S. (2011). Johannes Luebbers Dectet CD Launch. The Ellington Jazz Club.
- Oehlers, J., Grabowsky, P., Greig, J., Mackey, C., Abbey, N., Evans, J. (2011). The Bitter Suite - Perth. Ellington Jazz Club.
- Wood, G., Abbey, N., Vanderwal, B. (2011). The Graham Wood Trio 28/10/11. The Ellington Jazz Club.
- Wood, G., Abbey, N., Vanderwal, B. (2011). The Graham Wood Trio 10/6/11. The Ellington Jazz Club.
- Wood, G., Vanderwal, B., Abbey, N. (2011). The Graham Wood Trio 13/5/11. The Ellington Jazz Club.
- Luebbers, J., Thompson, B., Nicholls, S., Little, S., G'froerer, C., Robinson, T., Foster, C., Abbey, N., Falle, B., Fisenden, S., Collins, B., Dixon, D. (2011). Performance with the Johannes Luebbers Dectet featuring Brett Thompson. Ellington Jazz Club.
- Wood, G., McNulty, C., Bollenback, P., Abbey, N., Vanderwal, B. (2011). Chris McNulty live at The Ellington Jazz Club. The Ellington Jazz Club.
- Styles, M., Macdonald, G., Perkins, M., Abbey, N. (2011). Beijing Ninegates International Jazz Festival. National Library Concert Hall, Beijing.
- Wood, G., Abbey, N., Vanderwal, B. (2011). The Graham Wood Trio 8/7/11. The Ellington Jazz Club.
- Wood, G., Abbey, N., Vanderwal, B. (2011). The Graham Wood Trio 30/9/11. The Ellington Jazz Club.
- Luebbers, J., James, S., Thomas, E., Nicholls, S., Little, S., Collins, B., G'froerer, C., Dixon, D., Robinson, T., Foster, C., Abbey, N., Falle, B., Malone, A., Jeans, S. (2011). JLD: The Exquisite Corpse of Beethoven. Kieran Kenderessy and Stuart James.