Bobbi Nikles
Biography/ Projects
pastel/Kathy Hirsh www.kathyhirsh.com
Port Townsend based fiddler, Bobbi Nikles has performed in a wide array of bands: oldtime, Irish, Jazz combos, and contradance bands.” Her luscious fiddling and driving rhythm add fuel to every project she's with: Wake the Dead, Melanie O'Reilly Aishling, Black Brothers Band and many more. She has been a contributor to Strings magazine with articles on bowing technique and instrument evaluation. She was the founder and 12 year director of the acclaimed day camp for young fiddlers, Fiddlekids in Berkeley, CA. Bobbi is a sought after teacher at camps, workshops and in her private studio. She has taught at the YEA Music! Program at Port Townsend Salish Coast School and at Centrum’s Festival of American Fiddletunes. Her creative and nurturing style naturally incorporate her depth of knowledge and her experience as a teacher for over 30 years. She has appeared several times on Phil Andrus’s KPTZ’s programs “Tossed Salad” and “Cats in our Laps,” a program for which she performs the closing theme music.
An important affiliation in Bobbi's rich musical constellation is her love for Irish andCeltic music, including a long association with Ireland's foremost family of song: The Black Brothers Band. With the Black Brothers, Bobbi has performed at numerous national festivals including the North Texas Irish Festival, the Milwaukee IrishFest and the Nebraska Irish Festival, as well as at Bay Area conerts at venues such as the Freight and Salvage, Throckmorton Theatre and San Jose Theatre on the Square. She also performed for may years with Wake the Dead, the popular Celtic Dead band--with appearances at The Fillmore and Slim's.
Fire In The Air
Black Brothers Band
Fiddlekids is a unique, fun-filled summer day camp devoted to traditional fiddle music. And it is well into its third decade!!! Bobbi dreamed up this camp and started it in 1998 when there was nothing like it! She continued to direct it for another 15 years, eventually handing it off to the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse where it continues as an excellent and highly successful program. Bobbi continues to provide important input and guidance.
Fiddlekids
Bobbi Nikles Band
Bobbi Nikles Band brings music to your event in your favorite configuration: solo, duo, trio or full band. Choose classical, Irish, American oldtime, swing jazz or hot Django Gypsy jazz.
Bobbi plays for many a wedding, party and this year added the playing of the hauntingly beautiful Kol Nidrei-performed at Jewish high holidays. In addition, Bobbi plays in the musical theatre "pit" orchestra for "Always Patsy", a great little country music project.
Bobbi is easy to work with and can collaborate with you for all the special details of your event!
Here's a piece on a bit of my family and musical history you might enjoy: http://riggy.com/jews-in-irish-music-bobbi-nikles/
Fire in the Air is Bobbi's long-awaited debut album! The core sound is fiddle and guitar, with various tracks enriched with the harmonic and contrapuntal sounds of mandolin, celtic harp, bass, viola, vielle, and viola da gamba.
Irish jigs, reels and airs are woven into an emotional journey with two of Bobbi's luscious originals, a recently composed Swedish tune, and a ripsnorting toe-tapping polka set. You will find the magical sound of twin fiddles and enjoy the invntive pairing of an Irish reel, American Old-time tune, and Pennies from Heaven.
Fire in the Air is available at CDBaby, iTunes and Pandora. Read a review of Fire in the Air.
logo design by Marlene Walters, graphic design
Photo by Bonnie Obremski
Douce Ambiance
Douce Ambiance plays a lively blend of captivating gypsy, swing and jazz tunes fueled by the driving rhythm of fiddle, clarinet, guitar, ukulele and doublebass.
With Bobbi on fiddle, Chris White on clarinet & vocals, David Silberberg on guitar & vocals, and Dave Fisher on upright bass, this combo has a great sound!
Here's video we completed for Creativity Explored featuring our recorded music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU7W3-YaIew
Available for a variety of events!
Teaching
Bobbi is a sought after teacher, attracting fiddle students of all ages and levels. She teaches privately at her home studio as well as conducting workshops and classes at music camps. From "So You Have Always Wanted to Play the Fiddle" workshops, to learning to jam and the "how-tos" of playing for a dance or performing on-stage,
Bobbi has taught countless students over the years in genres including classical, Irish, Old-time Appalachian, contra-dance, and swing jazz. She is also available for video lessons-they work great--give it a try!