Award-winning jazz singer Nishla Smith brings her trio to JMI for a show celebrating the unmatched art of song. Joined by some of Brisbane’s foremost musicians, Nishla will present a selection of the 20th century’s best-loved standards, threaded through with her “darkly gorgeous” originals (Downbeat USA).
Nishla is an artist driven by a desire to tell stories. Her unique musical sensibility drives a prolific array of musical projects. She’s recently made work for Opera North, London Jazz Festival and Manchester Collective. Her debut album, ‘Friends With Monsters’, was released on Whirlwind Recordings to critical acclaim.
Nishla is a Peter Whittingham Jazz Award Winner, International Songwriting Competition Award Winner and an alumni of London Jazz Festival’s flagship Take Five programme. She played the titular bird in Atri Banerjee’s acclaimed production of ‘Kes’, for which she won a UK Theatre Award, and has recently finished a run as ‘The Jazz Singer’, a role she originated in Emma Baggott’s Spring 2024 adaptation of ‘A Taste of Honey’ at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.
“Her voice is exquisite, a symbol of unreachable beauty.” THE GUARDIAN
“While Smith’s singing is an entrancing beauty all its own, the true trump cards are her lyrics and melodies.” DOWNBEAT USA
“Nishla’s original ballads sound like standards. Maudlin moments shoulder ecstatic reveries.” London Jazz News
Photography credit Craig Fleming
Gig Details:
Friday 6th June 2025
10 Exhibition St, Bowen Hills
Doors from 7:30PM
Music starts on the downbeat of 8PM
$20 ENTRY +BF & GST
Head to our Humanitix to purchase limited seated tickets
How do I purchase a ticket?
Tickets are being sold through Humanitix. Purchase limited seated tickets here. Due to JMI Live being an intimate space, we have a maximum number of guests allowed in the venue. We highly recommend it is best to get in early before tickets sell out.
What is JMI Live?
JMI Live presents live jazz in Brisbane every Thursday night from 8pm and a jam session after each gig. JMI Live is renowned for its intimate setting, providing the best opportunity to listen to live jazz in Brisbane. Just like a jazz club in New York, this venue is the ideal location for great jazz music, acoustics and atmosphere.
Location
JMI Live is located at 10 Exhibition Street, Bowen Hills.
Live streaming
All JMI Live concerts are live streamed to JMI’s YouTube account. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to access our free live streams.
Ticket Refund Policy
If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms and are unable to attend after having purchased a ticket, please contact the JMI office (07 3216 1110 or email play@jazz.qld.edu.au) as soon as possible during business hours (10AM-4PM) to let us know you won’t be able to attend. A full refund will be given if we are contacted prior to a performance. Refunds will not be processed if we are contacted after the gig.