Drawing inspiration comes from diverse jazz sources (Louis Armstrong, Harry Connick, Jr., Lauryn Hill, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Kurt Elling, Gretchen Parlato and more), she notes that “my tastes and interests regarding jazz have definitely become more modern as the years have progressed… I've lately been finding myself listening to contemporary piano music the most, even more than vocal music, including Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, Bill Carrothers and Bryan Nichols. It all encourages me to apply what I've heard to my own music.”   Dwight Hobbs (Twin Cities Daily Planet) noted, Nancy “has her own signature. It's a wizened, reflective air coloring a particularly inventive hand with melodic phrasing.” And even as her music evolves further away from mainstream trends, Nancy notes that “I still like to swing and I'm very conscious of the ‘beat’.... [now] I’m more interested in the more progressive sounds and how they might apply to my singing, and I'm also more actively interested in coming up with songs and arrangements that are an honest and personal expression.” 

That personal expression helped put her debut recording, In the Indigo (2009), on top ten lists and drew critical acclaim from local and national press.  It was time to move on.

 “I had been toying around with the idea [of moving to New York] in my head for a while and decided I'd spend the month of June [2010] there to get a feel for the city, to network, and perform a show,” she said.  “While I was there, I had some great chats with [former Minnesotans] Michael O'Brien, Kelly Rossum and other musicians who have made the move to NYC.  Talking with them and immersing myself in the scene for that month really confirmed the hunch I had that I'd love living there… I had the opportunity to study with some wonderful singers: Sheila Jordan, Karrin Allyson, Sachal Vasandani and Chris McNulty…Sheila Jordan, whom I adore, actually said to me, ‘You've got it, you just need to get out there and get heard.’ I was so honored and moved by that and I'm definitely taking her advice!”  

In addition to support from Twin Cities vocalist/producer Arne Fogel, now serving as her agent, Nancy worked hard at self-promotion in the Big Apple, attending open mics and sitting in as often as possible. Sitting in paid off—one of Nancy’s early admirers was Wycliffe Gordon, who invited her to join him at The Kitano last March. Ultimately she recorded a two tracks on Gordon's 2011 release (Hello Pops), which was celebrated last fall at Dizzy's. In the past year, she has also toured with Gordon in the Midwest, performed in Manhattan with pianist Jeremy Siskind, toured in Italy, and performed with Hilary Kole at Birdland. She'll be at Zinc Bar later this month (January 23rd) with Misha Piatigorsky, Danton Bolloer and Donald Edwards at Zinc Bar, and will return to Torino, Italy in March.

Wylcliffe Gordon

A past recipient of the ASCAP Vanguard Award, Wycliffe Gordon honed his chops with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. His many honors include five Jazz Journalists Association Awards in the past decade as Trombonist of the Year and the JJA’s 2000 Critics’ Choice Award for Best Trombone. A nominee for the 2003 Jazzpar Prize, Gordon is also a gifted composer, arranger and educator, currently serving on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music. He’s composed a number of commissioned works, most recently Apollo: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” for the 75th anniversary of the famed Apollo Theatre (premiered in May 2011) and  Beyond the Blackberry Patch, commissioned by the city of Columbus, Ohio. 

Gordon grew up in Waynesboro, GA, the son of a classical pianist/church organist. When his older brother took up the trombone, Gordon pleaded with his parents to do the same, beginning studies at age 12. His passion for jazz developed when his great aunt bequeathed the family her jazz record collection. He went on to study trombone at Florida A&M University, and boasts a resume that includes Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Tommy Flanagan, Shirley Horn, Joe Henderson, Eric Reed, Randy Sandke and Branford Marsalis. He’s toured and recorded with the Wynton Marsalis Quartet and Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and appears on 22 recordings as leader or co-leader. The youngest U.S. Statesman of Jazz, Gordon tours internationally as a music ambassador for the U.S. Department of State. Noted Ed Berger (Jazz Times), “Wycliffe Gordon is a breath of fresh air. He’ll play with anybody, bringing his commanding technique, sense of history and sheer exuberance to any musical setting.” 

At The Kitano, Gordon’s quartet will include pianist Aaron Diehl, bassist Yasushi Nakamura, and drummer Marion Felder. And of course, special guest, the singer from Clara City, MN, Nancy Harms. 

The Kitano is located at 66 Park Av at E. 38th Street in Manhattan. Shows at 8 and 10 pm; http://kitano.com. More on Nancy Harms and her upcoming schedule at www.nancyharms.com; Wycliffe Gordon’s website is www.wycliffegordon.com