Lucy Clifford Quartet

Groove-driven and lyrical – Her music balances strong rhythmic foundations with melodic clarity, letting bass lines sing while anchoring the ensemble.

Contemporary jazz with broad influences – Drawing from jazz improvisation alongside soul, Latin, pop and world music elements.

Collaborative and spacious – Emphasis on interaction, texture and space, creating music that feels open, responsive and conversational.

Emotionally grounded storytelling – Compositions are personal and reflective, often exploring connection, place and shared experience through sound.

Lucy Clifford is an Australian-born bassist, composer and bandleader based in Sydney. She grew up on the South Coast of New South Wales and began her formal jazz training at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance. Seeking to broaden her musical horizons, she moved to the United States to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she studied under respected bass educators and immersed herself in an international musical community. After graduating, Clifford spent several years living and performing in the U.S., including time in New York City, collaborating with a wide range of artists across jazz, Latin, world and popular music genres.

Clifford has performed and recorded with internationally acclaimed musicians, including Grammy-winning artists such as Nella and ensembles led by Javier Limón and Mariza, as well as reggae and soul performers like Mighty Mystic. Back in Australia, she has contributed to the national music scene through performances with icons like Kate Ceberano on her 2022 Sweet Inspiration tour, and worked with artists such as Urthboy and Emily Wurramara. 

Her work as a composer blends jazz improvisation with lyrical, groove-driven arrangements. In 2022 she was awarded the Jann Rutherford Memorial Award, which supports outstanding female jazz musicians in Australia and helped advance her career as a bandleader and composer. 

Lucy is also a passionate music educator. She holds a Master’s in Teaching, has taught at institutions including Berklee’s Groove School, and founded Sisters of Sound, a music education collective dedicated to empowering women and non-binary musicians. 

Her recorded work includes releases such as the EP Meeting Place and her debut full-length album Between Spaces of Knowing, which explore space, connection and collaborative expression through jazz and improvised music. 

“The trio explores Lucy’s compositions, which weave between both energy and repose, lyrical soundscapes colliding with dynamic grooves that are sure to occupy your mind.” — Bass Musician Magazine 

“[Between Spaces Of Knowing] bursts with both collaborative energy and repose, dynamic grooves, and a melding of styles that translates into an exhilarating experience.” — ABC Jazz

“Her compositions are often gorgeous in their subtle shadings and multi-hued layers, melding jazz and improvised music with a kaleidoscope of influences.” — 2MBS Fine Music