GRAHAM JESSE
Graham Jesse’s career as a prolific performer, composer, arranger, producer, and major contributor
to Australian music, spans more than 30 years. For 18 years, Graham played, and was often a featured soloist,
in TV’s Channel 9 Midday Show studio orchestra. As one of Channel 9’s Staff Arrangers during this period,
he also wrote numerous arrangements and orchestrations for a wide range of notable performers.
Known as one of Australia’s trusted A-list session musicians, Graham continues to work in diverse
settings, from concert halls to jazz clubs, recording studios and live television, often backing
international artists.
The Sydney Musician’s Union voted Graham Most Outstanding Studio Woodwind Player and his composition,
Shoalhaven Sunrise, (recorded by the Sydney All Star Big Band), received a 2006
APRA Nomination for the Most Performed Australian Jazz Work.
Bonnie was introduced to Graham in 2001 when he was chosen to play alto sax on her debut album
Lucky So & So. They have continuously collaborated since, appearing together on numerous jazz festival
and club stages interstate and internationally. In 2012, Graham and Bonnie travelled to Japan
and Mongolia for Festival and Jazz Club appearances; they have co-written music and co-produced
Bonnie’s well-lauded 2010 album release, SHIMMER. Graham is also featured on Bonnie’s 2025 album RISE.
ASHLEY TURNER
Ashley received his Bachelor of Music from the City College of New York where he studied in depth with jazz
bass legend Ron Carter and it is his technical and harmonic concepts that Ashley uses as a primary foundation
for his own teaching and playing.
He has been awarded two Australia Council of The Arts grants, the first for study in New York with
Todd Coolman PhD and the second for the production of his own CD “Beautiful Open Spaces”
Ashley cites his extended musical relationships with a core group of amazing musicians while living in
New York as most influential to his development. These include guitarist Sheryl Bailey, drummers Steve Little
(Duke Ellington), Ian Froman (Rick Margitza), Jeff Brillinger (Stan Getz, Chet Baker), Eliot Zigmund
(Bill Evans Trio) and Alison Miller (Lonnie Smith, Ani diFranco)
Currently based in Sydney he has worked with most of Sydney’s well known jazz musicians and in the last
two years has recorded and/or performed live with Australian musicians Andrew Dickeson, Nick Hempton,
Carl Dewhurst, Wayne Kelly, Adrian Mears, Andrew Speight and USA artists Todd Hunter, Champion Fulton,
Eric Alexander, Bruce Forman, Sheryl Bailey and Veronica Swift.
NIC CECIRE
Nic Cecire is an in-demand drummer and educator based in Sydney. Nic’s work in pop and rock includes
playing with headlining artists such as Wendy Mathews, Jenny Morris, Doug Parkinson, Steve Clisby,
Boy George/Culture Club, Glenn Shorrock, Grace Knight and many more.
He has also worked with jazz vocalists Tina Harrod, Darren Percival, Kristin Berardi, Lily Dior, Trish Delaney
Brown, as well as jazz artists including the the catholics, The Coolerators, Bill Risby, Jeremy Sawkins, Mike Nock,
Greasy Chicken Orchestra, Sonic Mayhem Orchestra, to name a few. Nic has performed on a number of
recordings, movie and TV soundtracks and has performed and recorded with the award-winning children’s
music group Lah Lah’s Big Live Band.
