Bio

Nominated for "Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year", guitarist/composer Nic Vardanega is a voice on the international jazz scene. Currently based in New York City, he has played alongside many of Australia's leading musicians including pianist Mike Nock and with many first call New York City musicians.

After completing a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2012, Nic worked extensively as a sideman and bandleader in Australia. He has appeared at many of the country's leading festivals including the Manly Jazz Festival, Noosa Jazz Festival and Darling Harbour Jazz Festival.

In December 2014, Nic released his debut album as a leader titled Inverno - a collection of original music inspired by his Italian heritage with his Sydney quartet. The album was well received with a review in The Weekend Australian and a nomination in the prestigious Bells Australian Jazz Awards for 2015.

Nic has also been a longtime sideman and collaborator with pianist/composer Francesca Prihasti. In addition to performances worldwide, he has appeared on three of her studio releases, Night Trip (2015), Evolving (2016) and Adriana (2019).

After relocating to New York City in August 2016, Nic completed a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies at New York University. His second recording as a leader, Point in Time, comprised a snapshot of his first few years living in the U.S. and was released in 2019 featuring Grammy nominated American trumpeter Michael Rodriguez.

"Vardanega's solos are inventive and they maintain a consistent narrative that preserves the motif in a quietly eloquent way."

John McBeath - The Weekend Australian