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| Powerful Vocalist Nicolas Bearde Pays Tribute to Nat's 100th Birthday on "I Remember You: The Music of Nat King Cole" Recording artist NICOLAS BEARDE has established himself as a powerful presence on the contemporary vocal jazz scene over the past couple of decades. His silky baritone, wit and engaging rapport captures and draws in audiences at his live performances. I REMEMBER YOU: The Music of Nat King Cole is Bearde's newest CD and the sixth he's released on his own label, Right Groove Records. Bearde has long appreciated the music of Nat Cole, one of his earliest influences, and produced this album in celebration of Nat's 100th birthday. Though the ten songs on this project are associated with Cole, Bearde breathes new life into the tunes with his rich, warm voice and supple phrasing, imbuing each song with his own soulful and romantic interpretation. Being a big fan of tenor saxophonist ERIC ALEXANDER's phrasing and tone, Bearde brought him out from New York as a special guest for this project. Alexander is featured on "Funny (Not Much), " "Thou Swell, " and "That Sunday, That Summer." Bearde was part of McFerrin's ground-breaking a cappella group Voicestra. He was also a long time member of SoVoSò, a vocal improvisation group that has won numerous awards and honors, among them 1st place at the renowned CASA a cappella summit awards, and nominations for "Best Group" and "Best Album, " and Bearde as "Best Lead Vocalist." Besides his own solo and group performances, Bearde has had a fruitful acting career. He has performed in several plays, including "Master Harold"… and the Boys, as well as in film (Final Analysis with Richard Gere and Kim Basinger, True Crimes with Clint Eastwood) and television (Nash Bridges and Monk). Bearde is a master storyteller. There is a certain elegance to Bearde's singing that makes the songs on I REMEMBER YOU: The Music of Nat King Cole, with their updated, hip arrangements, as fresh and evocative as when they were originally performed. Featuring Nicolas Bearde vocals Josh Nelson piano (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) Peter Horvath piano (1, 5, ) Eric Alexander tenor sax (2, 3, 6) Alex Boneham bass (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) Dan Feiszli bass (1, 5) Dan Schnelle drums (2, 3, 6, 9) Lorca Hart drums (7, 8, 9) Jason Lewis drums (1, 5) Produced and Arranged by Josh Nelson (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) Produced and Arranged by Peter Horvath and Nicolas Bearde (1, 5) Tracks 1. I REMEMBER YOU 3:43 2. THAT SUNDAY, THAT SUMMER 4:43 3. FUNNY (NOT MUCH) 4:56 4. SWEET LORRAINE 4:31 5. L-O-V-E 4:16 6. THOU SWELL 3:29 7. THE RULES OF THE ROAD 3:58 8. STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT 4:22 9. TENDERLY 4:18 10. I WISH YOU LOVE 3:24 write your comments about the article :: © 2019 Jazz News :: home page |