About.
Nick Lester plays alto, tenor, baritone and soprano saxophones and clarinet and has been performing professionally for over 30 years. He has completed a degree in improvisation at the VCA and a diploma of education at Melbourne Uni. Nick has performed over 3500 gigs with hundreds of ensembles around Melbourne, interstate and overseas and he is an accomplished reader and improviser.
Nick has played a diverse range of styles performing primarily with ensembles in the soul/funk/R&B, jazz, Latin and African scenes and he has backed many international touring artists. He is currently performing regularly with The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, Zedsix, Afrobiotics, John Flanagan, Fem Belling Quintet, Lamine Sonko and the African Intelligence, Hoodoo Mayhem, The Harvey Club, Bracket and Jam, Joe Creighton and working freelance with other acts.
Nick also has extensive experience in teaching, having taught saxophone, clarinet, flute, and drums to Secondary School students for over 2 decades, along with directing school bands and running VCE Music classes.
Nick played on the Aria nominated album “Do Anything Go Anywhere” and has made several TV appearances and performed with the Grammy awarded Gregory Porter (US), Bomba, Barney Rachabane (Sth Africa), Bobby Bright (Bobby and Laurie), Bobby Rydell (USA), Fast Eddie (Germany), The Thunderbirds, Joe Camelieri, Johnny Young, Tim Campbell, Mark Holden, Ronny Charles, Kate Cebrano, Normie Rowe, Hugh Masekala, James Thornbury (Canned Heat), Jeff Duff (Kush), Natty Dred (Wailers), Reggie Watts, Ross Hannaford, Gary Young (Daddy Cool), Chet Faker, Jon Stevens, Leo Sayer, Anthony Callea, Mahalia Barnes, Ross Wilson, Marcus Wyatt The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Strings, Emma Donovan, Sampa the Great, Thndo, Bunna Lawrie, Raceage, Bart Willoughby, Kellindo, Joe Creighton and many more.
Nick has recorded albums and performed with The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, Afrobiotics, Grand Wazoo, Max Merritt and the Meteors, Musiki Manjaro, Nina and the Playboy Jetset, Dirty York, Deepface, Funken Wagnells, Soul Glo, Thula Sana, Royal Swazi Spa, Ross Wilson, Chet Faker, Fem Belling Quintet, Hoodoo Mayhem, John Flanagan, David Marama, The Afrobiotics, Thndo, Zedsix and Lamine Sonko and the African Intelligence.
