Nicole McCabe is an alto saxophonist, composer, music educator, and bandleader located in Los Angeles California. Nicole got her start as a saxophonist in Portland and completed her undergraduate degree at Portland State University under the head of George Colligan. She began integrating herself into live performance and Portland’s kinetic jazz community well before she graduated. Since then, she has shared stages and festival bills with the likes of Nicole Glover, Carmen Lundy, Steve Wilson, Randy Porter, Chuck Israels, Patrice Rushen, Terri Lyne Carrington, George Colligan, Louis Cole, Peter Erskine and Kandace Springs.

She got her masters degree at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. Nicole began leading her own quartet in 2018 recording two albums under her name. She is the recent recipient of the 2022 Jeff Clayton Memorial New Note Award and International soloist winner at the 2021 Keep an Eye Jazz Competition. Nicole values understanding the tradition and working hard on the foundation to then create something that feels relevant to Nicole’s point of view and way of life. She is passionate about community, inclusion, and human connection.

Nicole is now pursuing a Master's in Jazz at USC's Thornton School of Music.

https://nicolemccabejazz.com