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| Nicole Henry To Give New York City Jazz Fans A Special Embrace On the eve prior to the release of her fourth album, Embraceable, Nicole Henry will take the stage at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola accompanied by an outfit of world-renowned musicians. The August 22nd performance previews the new recording that will be released the following day by ArtistShare. Set to join Henry on stage are Grammy nominated guitarist Julian Lage, bassist Larry Grenadier (Brad Mehldau, Pat Metheny, Fly) and drummer Eric Harland (Joshua Redman, McCoy Tyner, Charles Lloyd), each of whom performed on Embraceable. Rounding out the ensemble of notables are pianist Aaron Goldberg (Wynton Marsalis, Betty Carter, Madeleine Peyroux) and saxophonist Dayna Stephens (Roy Hargrove, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder). "It's going to be amazing to debut at Dizzy's, especially fronting a band of such vibrant, talented, and supportive musicians, " stated Henry. "Of course, Julian, Larry, Eric & I recorded Embraceable together, and adding Aaron and Dayna will make this show an incredible treat for sure. I can't wait!" At a Big Apple show last month at Feinstein's, New York Times reviewer Stephen Holden wrote that "Ms. Henry's beauty added an extra dimension to the performance. Wearing a clinging silver-and-gold gown, smiling brightly, and tossing her head, she radiated the high-gloss glamour of a proud nightclub diva who didn't have to answer to anyone but herself. The obvious forerunner of Ms. Henry, who lives in Miami Beach but has cultivated a growing New York following, is the younger Natalie Cole, to whose style she adds a coating of brass." Only a uniquely gifted artist can take an iconic song by an iconic artist and make it entirely their own. That's exactly what Henry did with Bob Marley's "Waiting In Vain, " the first single being sent to smooth/contemporary jazz radio. Additionally, Embraceable is being serviced to straight-ahead jazz stations across the country. Embraceable is a classy, masterfully performed showcase for the marvelously gifted vocalist who demonstrates growth and a creative change of direction after coming into prominence while singing jazz standards from the Great American Songbook. On the forthcoming disc produced by Grammy nominee Matt Pierson (Kirk Whalum, Jane Monheit, Joshua Redman), Henry elected to record four original compositions, including one she co-authored, and eight other songs related to love and romance with the hope of making them into her own modern standards. Expanding her repertoire beyond jazz, Embraceable, which includes musical contributions from Kirk Whalum, John Stoddart, Oli Rockberger, Gil Goldstein, Jef Lee Johnson, Larry Campbell, Gerald Clayton, Shedrick Mitchell, Gregoire Maret, and Bashiri Johnson, promises to broaden Henry's legion of enchanted listeners. In addition to the New York Times, critics from Billboard, JazzTimes, All About Jazz, Jazz Improv NY, L.A. Jazz Scene, Miami Herald, Miami New Times, Goldmine, and many others have praised Henry's recordings and live shows. write your comments about the article :: © 2011 Jazz News :: home page |