Simone Waddell | World-Class Jazz Vocalist, Performer & Songwriter
Simone Waddell is a world-class jazz vocalist and commanding live performer whose voice captivates audiences from intimate rooms to major festival stages. Blending contemporary jazz, soul, groove, gospel and heartfelt storytelling, Simone delivers performances that are emotionally resonant, musically sophisticated, and deeply human - leaving audiences moved, inspired, and fully engaged from the first note to the last.
What audiences can expect from a Simone Waddell live show is unmistakable: exceptional vocal clarity, emotional depth, masterful phrasing, and an artist who connects directly with the heart of every lyric. Whether interpreting a jazz standard, reimagining an iconic song, or presenting her own original music, Simone’s voice is warm, expressive, and unmistakably her own - capable of intimate vulnerability and powerful dynamic range with equal authority.
Her performances are not simply concerts - they are experiences. Each show is shaped with intention, musicality, and presence, drawing listeners into a shared journey that honours jazz tradition while presenting a contemporary, deeply personal voice.
“Simone’s voice is fresh and impassioned and simply a joy to listen to.”
- Erik Zobler, Grammy Award-winning producer & engineer
⸻
Why Simone Is Different — The Voice & the Artistry
A voice that is immediately recognisable
Simone’s vocal instrument is rich in tone, emotionally transparent, and exquisitely controlled. Audiences and critics alike describe her voice as “world class,” “drenched with soul and feeling,” and “utterly amazing.” Her phrasing, breath control, and interpretive nuance allow each song to unfold with honesty and depth.
Genre-spanning mastery
While firmly rooted in jazz, Simone seamlessly weaves soul, gospel, R&B, pop, funk and groove into her performances. Her classical piano and vocal training, combined with decades of professional experience, allow her to move across genres with authenticity rather than affectation.
Storytelling from lived experience
A defining hallmark of Simone’s performances is emotional truth. She sings from the inside out - engaging audiences not only through vocal excellence, but through storytelling that feels real, grounded, and deeply human.
“In this crowded, noisy world of allegedly ‘unique’ singers, Simone distinguishes herself as an extraordinarily pure singer-songwriter and performer.”
- George Massenburg, Grammy Award-winning engineer
⸻
Live Performance Highlights
Simone’s live career reflects both range and stature. She has performed extensively throughout Australia and internationally, appearing in Japan, China, Europe, the United States, and across Asia and Australia.
Her performance history includes major jazz venues, festivals, theatres, and cultural events such as Paris Cat Jazz Club (Melbourne), Manly Jazz Festival, Devonport Jazz Festival Concert Series, Bastille Festival, The Basement (Sydney), Bennett’s Lane Jazz Club (Melbourne), and leading jazz clubs throughout Japan.
Simone has also performed regularly at Parliament House for state and national government leaders and has been the opening act, as well as toured and played in the band for international pop icon Taylor Dayne.
A significant recent highlight includes performing Great Ladies of Jazz aboard the Bravo Cruise of Performing Arts, touring Nouméa and New Caledonia - an international arts cruise showcasing leading performers across music and theatre. This project further solidified Simone’s reputation as a compelling international live artist.
She is widely known for performing and collaborating with Australia’s finest musicians, many of whom repeatedly choose to work with her because of her musical integrity, vocal authority, and deep collaborative spirit. Her collaborators include James Morrison, Paul Grabowsky, Tommy Emmanuel, Rai Thistlethwayte, and many other leading Australian and international jazz artists.
Simone was also the opening act for Australian jazz legend Vince Jones during Australian Music Week - a respected marker of peer recognition within Australia’s jazz lineage.
⸻
Great Ladies of Jazz — Signature Live Show
One of Simone’s most acclaimed live productions is Great Ladies of Jazz, a powerful and elegant concert experience celebrating iconic female jazz artists and the legacy they have created. Blending storytelling, musical excellence, and emotional depth, the show has been performed in theatres, festivals, and cultural venues across Australia and internationally.
Great Ladies of Jazz showcases Simone’s interpretive strength, stage presence, and deep reverence for jazz history - while bringing a contemporary voice and perspective to the repertoire. The show has become a signature offering, highly regarded by presenters, audiences, and fellow musicians alike.
⸻
Discography & Creative Impact
Simone’s recorded work mirrors the depth and sophistication of her live performances.
Her fifth studio album, The Art of Collaboration (2022), is a landmark Australian jazz project featuring 60 of Australia’s finest jazz musicians. The album became the #1 highest-selling Australian jazz album of 2022 and was entered into four categories at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
Recorded across sixteen professional studios in Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, the album was mixed and mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineers Erik Zobler, George Massenburg, and Paul Blakemore.
Simone collaborated with the country’s top jazz musicians to reimagine five iconic Australian songs - Beds Are Burning, Burn For You, Fall At Your Feet, The Horses, and Mystify - alongside her own original compositions. The album features artists such as Tommy Emmanuel, James Morrison, Paul Grabowsky, Rai Thistlethwayte, Pat Powell, and many others.
“As soon as I heard this piece, the greatest compliment I can give a song is that I immediately wanted to play on it. It creates a mood instantly.”
- James Morrison, Australian jazz icon
Her 2024 single Calling You, recorded with Damien Cooper and James Napier, further highlights Simone’s refined vocal intimacy and emotional nuance.
⸻
Upcoming Recording — Unforgettable
Simone is currently working on her 6th studio album, Unforgettable, a contemporary jazz project drawn from the American Songbook and recorded in collaboration with Paul Grabowsky, widely regarded as Australia’s foremost jazz pianist.
This forthcoming release represents a new chapter in Simone’s artistic journey - refined, intimate, and deeply expressive - further cementing her standing as a mature, world-class jazz interpreter and collaborator.
⸻
“Born to Win” — Cultural Impact
Simone’s original song “Born to Win” received high rotation on Australian radio and was selected as the theme song for Miss World Australia, as well as for Heal For Life, a nationally recognised healing program for adults and teenagers recovering from trauma.
The song has become synonymous with resilience, empowerment, and hope - qualities that deeply reflect Simone’s personal story and artistic ethos.
⸻
Training, Depth & Musical Authority
Simone was the first Australian to receive a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. She later completed a Master of Music (Performance) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and was mentored by the late Australian jazz icon Kerrie Biddell, whose artistry profoundly shaped Simone’s musical philosophy.
Her classical grounding, academic training, and decades of professional performance give her exceptional command of phrasing, harmony, rhythm, and storytelling.
⸻
Transformational Retreats & Creative Leadership
Beyond the stage, Simone is internationally respected for her transformational retreats and vocal leadership programs. Through initiatives such as You Have A Voice, Song of Your Life Retreat, and You Have A Voice Summit, she facilitates immersive experiences that blend vocal mastery, creativity, emotional healing, and personal empowerment.
These retreats are widely regarded as life-changing, attracting participants from around the world and further distinguishing Simone as both an artist and a guide.
⸻
Why Audiences Return
What truly sets Simone Waddell apart is not just vocal mastery, but presence - an ability to connect, uplift, and create moments of genuine resonance. Her performances are technically assured, emotionally transparent, and deeply personal.
Audiences frequently describe her live shows as transformative experiences - performances that linger long after the final note fades.
⸻
Additional Critical Acclaim & Artist Testimonials
“This amazing album, Simone Waddell’s fifth, has so much going for it it’s difficult to know where to start… Australian music has rarely seen such a prodigious assembly of talent on one superb album.”
— Eric Myers, The Australian
“What created the magic was you wanting us to sing — elders, young voices, traditional language. That is just the bomb.”
— Aunty Marlene Cummins, on Beds Are Burning
“Simone brings a modern approach to contemporary jazz while remaining true to the art form.”
— Erik Zobler, Grammy Award-winning producer
“Simone is an extraordinarily pure singer-songwriter and performer — evocative, passionate, and deeply sensitive as a collaborator.”
— George Massenburg, Grammy Award-winning engineer
“I have worked with many awe-inspiring vocalists, and Simone Waddell is amongst the very best.”
— Martha Baartz, Australian saxophonist
⸻
In Summary — Simone Live
When Simone Waddell takes the stage, expect vocal mastery, emotional truth, musical sophistication, and a performance that stays with you.
She is not just a performer - she is a contemporary jazz storyteller whose music resonates deeply, uplifts the spirit, and creates unforgettable live experiences.
