Raw Sylke

Raw Sylke is a Melbourne based Trio, featuring Ani Clyde - Vocals, Trevor Daniel - Semi Acoustic guitar, and Nicole Thorne - Hammond B3 organ.

*Please note the band has undergone some recent line-up changes and therefore the recordings in the EPK do not reflect the current sound, but Ani's and Trevor musical approach is beautifully refelcted in them. You can google Nicole Thorne under "B3 Madness" to hear some of her original compositions.

We perform in the Yarra Valley, inner suburan Melbourne, country Victoria and Jazz festivals here and interstate. We play Jazz, Blues, Latin and Swing....mixing old standards, timeless ballards and contemporary pieces, with our own unique approach. We also write and perform original compositions.

Our elegant, uncluttered style is our stand-out signature. It allows Ani's amazing vocals the space for "spell-binding timing, delivery and exquisite expression".

The brilliant soaring sounds of Nicole's B3 and her impeccable playing underpins a melodic and sensual balance to Trevor's sensitive and creatively rhythmic guitar grooves.

The counterpoint and the dynamic synergy of these wonderful instruments, together with Ani's sophisticated and classy vocals, gives every audience an intimate and unforgettable musical experience.

The band has recently been invited to perform at the Kansai Music Conference in Japan.

Ani Clyde is one of Australia's finest vocalists. Discovered by Harry. M. Miller when she was perfroming at the Outpost Inn, he offered her a role in "Hair" without an audition. Her parents denied her the opportunity, she was a little young at fifteen. A few years later she was offered a chance to be part of a worldwide tour with Australian artist Cash Backman, she was at the time, recently married and expecting her first child.
At a concert in front of 40,000 people in Melbourne at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl, Ani perfromed her bluesy, a cappella version of "Amazing Grace", the reaction from the audience was noticed by another well known band on the same bill. A week later the above mentioned band released their own similiar version. It went to number 1 within a few weeks. That's show Biz.

Nicole Thorne, is proudly, one of the few females in Australia to have taken on the mighty sound and presence of the Hammond B3 jazz organ.

Nicole has beautifully mastered this instrument and her passion for music is evidenced in her evocative and sensitive approach. She now brings this thrilling sound and her considerable talent and experience to Raw Sylke.

Nicole has played the organ since the age of twelve, then later moved to the piano. She studied jazz piano with Helen Jowsey who later introduced her to the VCA, (Victorian College Of the Arts) where she then had lessons with one of Australia's foremost pianists, Bob Sedegreen.

In 2005, Nic decided to return to her roots and the B3. She has played with an amazing array of well know musicians, notably Toby Mak, Vestra Roxas, Mal Sedegreen, Gil Askey, Belinda Moody, Jeff Kluke, Ragiv Jaywaweera, Edward York, Marshall Clarke, Tamara Murphy..... Jim Glasson.

Her most memorable time was sitting at Tim Neal's B3, with the late Jimmy Smith after his last perfromance in Melbourne.

Trevor Quigley, studied Classical guitar from the age of seventeen, but enjoys and plays most musical styles. In the late 8o's he attained his Music Degree from Latrobe University.

Over the years Trevor has developed a very specific approach to his guitar playing. It is based around his love of rhythm and counterpoint. This understated and gentle approach gives his playing a creative, sublte and rare eloquence.

He has perfromed over the years as a solo guitarist and in a number of bands but hs found his musical fulfillment in Raw Sylke. His collaboration with Ani has allowed his amazing gift as a selfless and generous accompanist to develop so beautifully.

One of Trevor's career highlights is having composed and performed an overture and incidential music for a production of Jean-Paul Satre's play, "No Exit".