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 with many of Australia's leading musicians including pianist Mike Nock and alongside 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.

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

Since relocating to New York City in 2016, Nic completed a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies at New York University after receiving a scholarship from the American Australian Association. His second recording as a leader, Point in Time, comprised a snapshot of his first years immersed in the New York City scene and was released in 2019 featuring Grammy nominated American trumpeter Michael Rodriguez. His most recent recording, New Beginning, was recorded in 2022 as a trio outing with the empathetic rhythm section of Ben Allison on bass and Allan Mednard on drums. Released in 2023, Vardanega dedicates this album to the advent of a post pandemic world and in welcoming the arrival of his first child.

"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


"Australian Nic Vardanega is a master player and Point in Time confirms he's a force to be reckoned with in the jazz-guitar world."

Preston Frazier - Something Else Reviews


"A personal touch on the strings that is impressive in its impressionisms."

George W. Harris - Jazz Weekly