About Nick haywood
Over the past forty years Nick Haywood has become one of the most in demand bassists and educators on the Australian music scene. He has impressive performance and recording credits with both Australian and international artists. Nick has performed at major festivals and concerts in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Europe, China and the USA.
Nick has been a featured artist on over 100 albums and has been nominated for numerous ARIA awards, most recently in 2021. He is the 2012 recipient of the Australian Jazz “Bell Award” for Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album and the 2016 Australian Jazz “Bell Award” for Best Australian Small Ensemble. He is also the recipient of the 2012 APRA Art Music State Award, the award being for Excellence in Jazz. He has performed at many major jazz festivals, both in Australia and internationally.
Since the global pandemic Nick has been busy with creating different projects, including this exciting series of duo concerts at Tempo Rubato. Development of new creative projects is something that Nick has been passionate about for many years.
Nick was commissioned to present a series of concerts at the 2018 MONAFOMA festival in Hobart, featuring the music of Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra. The concerts featured Haden’s daughter, Petra Haden, alongside 11 of Australia’s finest improvising musicians. Nick was also an Artist in Residence at MONA for the festival.
Nick was invited to present 2 concerts at the 2019 Melbourne International Jazz Festival with Petra Haden. The theme of these concerts was “Songs from my Father” and featured songs written by and/or inspired by Petra’s father Charlie Haden. The ensemble was a new quintet featuring some of Australia’s finest players. The concerts received outstanding reviews with some critics calling it the highlight of the festival and a recording of the Festival performances was released by ABC Jazz in December 2020. This recording was short listed for an ARIA award for Best Jazz Album in 2021.
In June 2019 Nick also recorded a new, upcoming album with Haden alongside pianist Colin Hopkins and drummer Niko Schauble. This was released in September 2021.
In 2012 Nick was the recipient of the Australian Jazz “Bell” Award for Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album. He was also the recipient of the APRA Art Music State Award, which was awarded for excellence in Jazz. In 2016 he was the recipient of the Australian Jazz “Bell” Award for Best Australian Jazz Ensemble.
Nick was nominated for two ARIA awards at the 1999 ARIAs, these being Browne-Haywood-Stevens “Sudden in a Shaft of Sunlight” (Best Jazz Recording) and The Black Sorrows “Beat Club” (Best Adult Contemporary). He was also nominated for an ARIA award in 2021 for “Back to the Garden” – Nick Haywood Trio with Petra Haden.
Nick has performed at every major festival in Australia including Montsalvat Jazz Festival, Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues, East Coast Blues & Roots Festival (Byron Bay), York Jazz Festival (W.A.), Pinnacles Festival of Improvised Music (QLD), Manly Jazz Festival, Melbourne International Festival.
Nick has performed at festivals in China, Switzerland, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Hong Kong. He has also performed to enthusiastic audiences at several New York, Paris, Hong Kong and Beijing jazz clubs.
Nick has countless television, film score and advertising credits.
In May 2002 Nick recorded Don Banks’ “Nexus” and “Equations” for Jazz Quintet and symphony orchestra at ABC Southbank.
In September/October of 2002 Nick successfully toured Europe with the contemporary jazz ensemble Blow, receiving excellent responses and favourable reviews for all performances.
In 2003 Nick was invited to participate in an anniversary concert of John Sangster’s “Lord of the Rings” at the Malvern Town Hall, featuring many of the artists from the original recording.
In 2004 Nick was the recipient of the Alan C. Rose Memorial Project Grant, which enabled him to study in New York City with world-renowned bassists Gary Peacock and Rufus Reid.