Niels Rosendahl Quintet

Saxophonist and composer/arranger Niels Rosendahl is a recent addition to the vibrant Perth music scene. Since moving to Perth in late 2021, Niels has been quickly absorbed by the local professional music community, playing the Reeds chair in Platinum Entertainment’s production of “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”, and joining the prestigious WA Jazz Project – WA’s premier jazz orchestra. In 2022, Niels became an endorsed artist with Forestone Japan.

This performance at The Ellington features Niels’ own all-star jazz quintet performing original, contemporary and standard jazz, funk and soul jazz music, some of which is also featured on his album, ‘No Time For Talkers’.

Band Personnel:

Niels Rosendahl: tenor saxophone

Matt Smith: trumpet

Grant Windsor: piano

Pete Jeavons: bass

Michael Pigneguy: drums

Originally hailing from Canberra, Australian saxophonist and arranger Niels Rosendahl has performed extensively in the USA, UK, Europe and Australia, and has shared the stage with Eddie Henderson, Chuck Findley, Dick Oatts, John Paul Young, Peter Kriss, Jessica Mauboy, Kate Ceberano, Paulini, John Riley, Rich DeRosa, Fiona Boyes, Grace Knight, and Rhonda Burchmore (to name a few).

Niels holds a Master of Music from the University of North Texas, where he held the lead tenor chair in the multiple-time Grammy-nominated UNT One O’Clock Lab Band®, and received two Downbeat Student Music awards for his contributions to UNT jazz ensembles. Upon his return to Australia in 2015, and following a brief stint in Sydney, Niels established himself in Melbourne as a staple in the local professional music scene, and from 2018-2021 was a full-time member of the Royal Australian Air Force Band. In late 2021, Niels and his family relocated to his wife’s home city of Perth to pursue new professional opportunities and be closer to family.

Known for his versatility as an improviser and soloist, ensemble section player and bandleader across multiple genres, Niels is equally at home in big band and small group jazz (WA Jazz Project, Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra, Sydney Jazz Orchestra, and Niels Rosendahl Quintet), commercial music environments (Aussie Pops Orchestra), symphonic bands and orchestras (RAAF Band; Canberra Symphony Orchestra), recording sessions and musical theatre (London’s West End, The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas; Avenue Q; Australia’s Melbourne season of The Bodyguard, 2017; and Priscilla Queen of the Desert – The Musical, Perth 2022).

In addition to a busy performance schedule, Niels is in demand as a composer and arranger, is a published composer with Brolga Music and the Australian Jazz Real Book, and is an arranger for the Royal Australian Air Force Band. Niels has served as a faculty member at the Australian Institute of Music and the Australian National University School of Music, and as a Graduate Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas College of Music. As a leader, Niels has released two independent jazz albums: Impossibly Simple (2007), and No Time for Talkers (2017).

As well as a Master of Music degree (2014, UNT), Niels also holds a Graduate Certificate in Management (2012) and a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours and the University Medal (2005) from the Australian National University.

More information on Niels can be found on Niels Rosendahl Quintet's website.