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 Thursday, 18 March 2010 |
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Rising Star - Nicole Henry at the Dakota December 1st & 2nd |
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Written by Ronaldo Oregano
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Friday, 25 November 2005 |
"A potent voice poised on the cusp of
bigger things…"
- Billboard
Singer Nicole Henry makes her Minnepaollis debut at the Dakota Jazz
Club on December 1st and 2nd at 7 PM. Named 2004's "Best New Artist" by
HMV/Japan Jazz Awards, Nicole Henry delivers a beautiful and
distinctive voice, mesmerizing audiences and leaving them wanting more.
Her recent #1-selling CD release, Teach Me Tonight is a collaboration
with the Eddie Higgins Trio, and adds to her recorded repertoire of
great jazz standards and classic songs presented in a fresh, personal
way. The Nearness of You, her debut CD released on Banister Records in
2004 for the U.S. and Japan, ranked #2, second only to Norah Jones, on
HMV's Jazz Vocal Sales Charts in Japan, and remained in the TOP 10 for
over three months.
With a gentle, powerful voice that aims for the emotional center,
Nicole Henry has amassed international acclaim traveling the world
bringing her beautiful voice and 'joie de vivre' to thousands of lucky
listeners. Nicole has performed at jazz festivals and at such renowned
venues as the Rainbow Room with the Cab Calloway Orchestra, the Lincoln
Center with the Juilliard Jazz Octet and Times Square's Virgin
Megastore; for senators and congressional representatives at the
Democratic National Convention and the Congressional Black Caucus; at
numerous private engagements and fundraisers for charitable causes such
as AIDS Alliance, Black AIDS Organization and Youth Education &
Development; and for school children as a guest speaker and performer.
She's been interviewed and highly reviewed by such media as Billboard,
Cadence Magazine, Swing Journal, Prairie Home Companion,
jazzreview.com, Sirius Satellite Radio, DownBeat, All About Jazz, Jazz
Times, Goldmine Magazine, XM Satellite Radio, L.A. Jazz Scene and more.
And she has shared the stage with music legends such as Isaac Hayes,
Jennifer Holliday, Joan Osborne, Roberta Flack and Tom Scott to name a
few. As Swing Journal stated, "...Nicole sings with such power and
emotion. She has a big future ahead of her."
A full, academic scholarship recipient and graduate from the University
of Miami, Nicole became a full-time entertainer in 2000. Definitely one
of Miami's most sought-after song stylists, her buzz continues to gain
momentum throughout the country, and she is called on from all over the
world. An honest, beautiful, soulful voice, Nicole performs jazz
standards, ballads, inspirational music, and popular music.
Nicole's professional music career started with dance music recordings
with DJ Noel W. Sanger that placed her on Billboard's Dance Music
Charts for eight weeks in 1998. Various recordings are still heard
today on European television and on 10 international dance music
compilations, including Lazy Dog, Tracy Young, and Ministry of Sound.
"Henry's voice is a revelation," says DJ Times, echoing the feelings of
many who have witnessed Nicole's 'uplifting' and 'spiritual' live
shows. Dance Music Authority declares, "The lady deserves the
spotlight."
Committing to a full-time entertainment career in 2000, this
singer/songwriter began producing her original material and took the
opportunity to tour the U.S. as a background vocalist with RCA band,
Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise. As the only female vocalist,
Nicole's powerful voice was heard in national halls including House of
Blues, Fillmore Hall, Red Rocks, and CBS's The Late, Late Show with
Craig Kilborne.
It was in 2001 that Nicole settled back in Miami to begin new projects.
By late 2001, Nicole was performing anywhere from 5-8 times a week!!
Then in 2002, she discovered jazz… by 2003 she was performing concerts
to over 5000 people for south Florida's smooth jazz Clear Channel
station LOVE 94 (93.9 FM), sharing stages with Tower of Power and Bad
to the Bone; performing at the American Airlines Arena singing the
National Anthem for the NBA as well as accompanying GRAMMY-Award
winning artists during the 4th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. Quickly
Nicole earned the awards from the Miami New Times as Miami's "Best
Local Solo Musician" and "Best Local Jazz Artist."
During the International Association for Jazz Education Conference in
NYC January 2004, she performed with legendary pianist, composer and
author Kenny Werner; she shot TV spots for BET's Jazz Channel and she
was interviewed live on XM Satellite Radio 168 (XM has added 5 of her
jazz songs to 5 of their station's library). Then in June 2004, she
released "The Nearness of You" nationally, which takes us to where we
are today, two chart-topping albums later…
Nicole often volunteers her time to speak to students of all ages to
inspire them, to teach them to express themselves, to follow their
dreams and discipline themselves to achieve goals in life. She has also
performed at fundraisers and raised monies through her CD sales to
benefit youth programs, arts and music education in public schools, and
national AIDS organizations.
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