New News 
Nicolas Featured on DC radio www.jazzradiodc.com
Featured artist on www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/profile/NicolasBearde
Upcoming Events
09.03.10 Jazz in Mint Plaza
09.09.10 Jazz & Blues in Alameda
09.17.10 Piedmont Piano Jazz Nite
09.23.10 Santa Rosa Jazz series
...more

 
 
 
 
May 2010 is a very busy month for Nicolas Bearde.  He is touring in Belarus, Moscow, and several cities in Siberia.  At the same time he is being featured  on the Home page and his music being put into rotation on  the Nations' Jazz station in Washington, DC www.jazzradiodc.com.
 
During the week of May 10-16th, Nicolas will be the FEATURED artist on the Jazz Network, www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com, the most celebrated jazz networking site that honors the legends, features new artists, promotes music education and live jazz worldwide.
 
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On October 12th, 2009 Nicolas accompanied by his stellar pianist, John R. Burr, along with his special guest, Oleg Kireyev on saxophone, brought the house down at Yoshi's, Oaklands' famed Jazz House, with his interpretation of John Coltrane's  "Naima". 
 
For your listening pleasure, click on:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj_t-aaNzMI
 
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I have  just spent three days in Savannah Georgia performing and communing at the International Love and Money Summit with these unique, amazing creative talents! Join me at THE FASHION LAB, and help me change lives of creative talented kids.
 
 The FASHION LAB is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for hands-on experience and real-world exposure to the fashion and retail industry for high school students from underprivileged and/or at-risk backgrounds. Through workshops, seminars and on-site visits to the fashion workplace and marketplace, the program enhances and enriches the students’ creative talents, while allowing them to explore potential career interests in the field under the guidance of industry leaders and seasoned professionals. Established in early 2007 in New Orleans, The Fashion Lab proved to be a success on several levels. For young people whose lives were brutally disrupted by Hurricane Katrina, it was a highly motivating vehicle through which they were able to develop the self-esteem that comes through accomplishment and develop marketable design talents. For the City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana, the post-Katrina cultural economy received a boost through the promotion of its emerging Fashion Industry in which the participants may well play a mutually rewarding part in the future as premier designers or retailers. The Fashion Lab seeks to provide a catalyst for changing lives and building futures by allowing the students to explore career-level interests in the field that may redirect their lives toward positive goals and measurable. 

Contact - www.thefashionlab.org and hiram@thefashionlab.org

September 8, 2009

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Though I have been primarily drawn to jazz these past few years, my passion for rhythm and blues never wanes. One of my compositions called: "Summer Sunday" from the album "All About Love" is an example of that passion. A short while ago, my youngest daughter playfully encouraged me to revise it with a techno and dance beat,  which I did, and to my surprise and delight, it became an instant hit with her generation ( the more "seasoned" of us like it too!)  It was submitted  to IDOL Underground, (an off-shoot of American Idol), where it rapidly climbed to the top of their charts.  For all the dance and techno lovers out there, it's called "Summer Sunday - Breathless remix" and is now available for download on CD Baby,  iTunes, and many other download services.
  
 
August 10, 2009
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June found me once more in Moscow for several performance opportunities, including the Moscow Jazz Festival (USADBA) and the Union of Composers Club. Branford Marsalis headlined the festival and I had the distinct pleasure of a brief conversation with this legend at the hotel during breakfast. There are several things I’ve always been curious about regarding his approach to music and his musical history. So it was a real pleasure to share a few anecdotes with this “jazz giant”. It has given me even more appreciation for his musical vision and work ethic.
 
At the end of the month I had the great honor of returning to teach (and learn) at Jazz Camp West in La Honda, California. If you haven’t experienced this wonderful educational opportunity-a total immersion in all things musical for eight wonderful days-I encourage you to look into it. Better yet just do it. It’s the most wonderful thing you can do for your soul and whatever artistic cravings you may harbor in your heart of hearts. You will leave a renewed, happy and soul-enriched person; I guarantee it.
 

On my return from Jazz Camp I completed filming an interesting role in my second feature film project of the year. This time around I was cast as a mobster in what I think will be a wonderfully unique film called “Stitch In Time” written and directed by Jigeesh Magar. I’m not sure when this one will be released but I’m looking forward to seeing his vision on the big screen.
 
Also, “All About Evil”, the first horror film I’ve ever worked on, will be released soon. The film stars Thomas Dekker and the amazing Natasha Lyonne. You won’t forget these two in this fun and slightly “bent” take on the horror genre. Writer/director Joshua Granell has submitted the film to several prominent film festivals and from what I hear the buzz has been “crack-a-lacking!” as the cool folks say. I will definitely let you know when it hits the theatres.
 

 

As you may know I am on a 3 week tour of Russia and Siberia, and I just had to share my experience. This has been quite an adventure!!!

I had no idea what to expect, thinking that most of Russia was still far behind the western world, but I was in for a big surprise. Moscow looked very similar to Paris or Barcelona, with its wide boulevards, Cartier and Gucchi stores, fabulous shopping malls (even one right in the middle of Red Square), and tons of BMWs and SUVs everywhere. The Kremlin was very impressive, as were the parks that surrounded it. The traffic, however, was the worst of any that I have experienced worldwide....
 
Found an awesome Japanese restaurant the first night I arrived, and the food at the Composers Club, where I performed was on par with any upscale restaurant in SF or NY. The Russian crowds were generally very reserved, however... once I encouraged audience participation and gave them some "Down Home" Blues, they really started rocking. The band, headed by famed Russian saxophonist, Oleg Kireyuv, was outstanding, and Anna, an up and coming female jazz saxophonist, joined me on the stage for one of the Blues numbers.  She was terrific.
 
Thought you might enjoy some notes from the early part of the tour, where I was still getting used to a very new performance environment - and some really cold weather.
 
February 10, 2009 ( Astrakhan... Russia )
 
"We received the most warm welcome from everyone in Astrakhan and the concert received standing ovations. I spent almost an hour signing autographs, getting warm hugs and kisses and probably a few phone numbers (but I can't tell in this language.) It was a very satisfiying evening. 

I'm heading out to Siberia in a short while, I'll bet it's colder where I'm going to be..."

February 14, 2009 (Day 3 in Novosibirsk...Siberia - temp. 30 below)

"Performed last night in the upscale and very hip Vagrant Dog club-
named apparently for a famous early twentieth century artists hangout 
in St. Petersburg founded by Leo Tolstoy. The owner and staff were 
tremendously kind and generous and the food on par with the likes of 
Wood Tavern and such in Oakland/San Francisco. Amazing!

The performance went well despite a few adjustments that had to be 
made in the programming that I had in mind; but then, that's jazz... 
The sound tech Vasily was a big, hulking figure of a man with a deft 
touch on the mixing board and a knowledge of EQ and balance that I've 
too often found lacking in other venues. An interesting aside-
Mickael, the front-of-house man in Astrakhan was also a massive guy, 
he too did an excellent job. He went to great pains to let me know 
that he was a friend and admirer of David Clayton Thomas.

The performing space, though small, had a great feel to it-intimate 
and with a stage height that allowed the audience to see me 
completely from any angle and more importantly for me, allowed me to 
pretty much look everyone in the eye as I performed. I entered the 
stage to a sea of somewhat stern faces (it's a Russian thing I'm told-
one should have a reason to smile) but warm applause.  Despite a few 
"bumps" in the performance (road), we left the stage at the end of 
the first set to cheers and raucous applause.... and they were all 
smiling by then.

The second set only got better-the band now relaxed and pretty much 
ready for anything that I might throw their way. I got the audience 
clapping and singing along with a lot of the music, though some of 
the men tried to resist. But even they got into the act about half-
way through the set. Though I thought most of the crowd would barely 
understand any of my patter, it turned out that quite a few of them 
spoke English well enough to get some of the jokes and innuendo that 
I was sending out (always be careful what you say!!!)

During a version of Gerschwin's "Summertime" that we had thrown 
together during rehearsal, I invited a young lady that I had heard 
singing from the back of the room during the show to jam with me. 
Victoria was a very pleasant surprise. She was a very strong singer 
possessing quite a musical vocabulary and freedom in her technique-
throwing scat phrases and sensuous growls at a me while being quite 
nimble in response to my vocal challenges to her. What a pleasant 
surprise!

We finished up the set with a rousing audience sing along on "I'd 
Rather Drink Muddy Water". I thought it best to teach them the phrase 
before I began the piece which caused them to sing the phrase all 
through the song. It was so cool! By the time I got to the end of the 
song the house was rocking! To my joy, we received a tremendous 
ovation and came back out for an encore of more blues.

Tonight I'm with the same group at another local spot, the NiKuda 
club belonging to my piano player Alexey Piston. Who knows what will 
happen but it's been fun so far."

On my way to Irkutsk, Siberia - then back to Belgorad for my final performance in Russia. Will be back in touch with more of my adventure as I head to Paris and back to California, at the end of the month. How are things back in the WORLD, not hearing much about home way out here??
 
In Song,
Nicolas
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JaiJai, the founder of the Jazz Network, a website solely dedicated to Jazz artists, discovered Nicolas' music through another jazz vocalist, and recommended him to a promoter that books artists in Russia and other countries around the world.

Although, February is the dead of winter in Russia and Siberia, ( Nic knows he will be chilly......!), he has taken this opportunity to perform with the famous Russian saxophonist, Oleg Kireyev and his quartet, during a 10 day tour of some of the country's famous jazz clubs and philharmonic halls.

If everyone encourages him to send emails from the road, we might get some interesting stories?

nicolas@nicolasbearde.com

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Nicolas Bearde will bring his warmth, soul and personality to the famous " Brownstone" concert hall in Paterson, New Jersey this fall, with his memorable tribute to one of the great vocalists of the past few decades, Mr. Lou Rawls.


"GOT A RIGHT TO SING THE BLUES"

The Brownstone
351 W Broadway
Paterson, NJ 07522
800-831-9801
Sept. 29, 30, 31, Oct 1, 2 - lunch at 1130a, show begins at 130p

http://aceshows.com/artists.html

Price: $42.50

"Bearde captures the essence of the honoree and the zeitgeist of the musical era in which he flourished," says Chris Loudon of the Jazz Times. And... he effectively channels the younger Rawls' ability to blur the lines between jazz, soul and blues.

Along with his stellar group of New York musicians, Nicolas will be performing songs from all three of his albums, but most particularly his latest CD, "Live at Yoshi's - A Salute to Lou". "Audiences have listened and truly appreciated his performances, which he delivers with gusto and verve," says Field Produces, Bud Spangler.
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Nicolas Bearde salutes the music of Lou Rawls with the release of his new CD - "Live at Yoshi's - A Salute to Lou" on May 20th, 2008.

A charter member of Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra ensemble as well as the innovative Bay Area vocal sextet SoVoSo, Nicolas Bearde has long been recognized as an adept and fearless vocal improviser.
But... Bearde is a down-to-earth soul stylist as well. On his new CD, "Live at Yoshi's: A Salute to Lou," which is due for release on May 20 by his own Right Groove Records label, Bearde delivers a vibrant set of Lou Rawls-associated material before a full house at Oakland's premier jazz club.

"Live at Yoshi's: A Salute to Lou" contains Bearde's distinctive interpretations of five songs that were part of Lou Rawls Live! ("The Girl from Ipanema," "The Shadow of Your Smile," "World of Trouble," "Tobacco Road," "I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water") as well as other numbers closely associated with Rawls, including "Lady Love," "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing," "This Song Will Last Forever," and "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine."

The album's lead track is a non-Rawls tune with a special significance for Bearde: Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln's "Living Room." "Jazz vocalist Buddy Conner was the first person I heard do that song, back in the '80s," says the vocalist. "It's been in my repertoire ever since.

"Since Bill Withers is another favorite singer of mine, and his song " Can We Pretend" off my first CD, "Crossing the Line" garnered the most attention, I just had to include another of his songs on this album as well. Track 6, "Hello Like Before" seemed to fit the feeling of what I was trying to convey", says Bearde, "so I hope you like this one too."

On the new CD, Bearde is backed by four of his favorite instrumentalists: saxophonist Charles McNeal, pianist Glenn Pearson, bassist Nelson Braxton, and drummer Jason Lewis.

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"Voicestra" is nearing the end of our 2008 East Coast tour, and the group's performance, yesterday, March 4, 2008 at Carnegie Hall in New York City was the most amazing event.

Yours truly and other "Stras" , (that is what we, the members of Bobby McFerrin's "Voicestra" call ourselves), performed to a sold out audience of New Yorkers, students of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and fans that have followed us around the country during our current East Coast tour. Y'all brought the house down last nite at Carnegie Hall.

One member of the audience was asked on stage to conduct the group in a "Circle Song", which is what Voicestra is so well known for, much to the joy of the crowd, and to us as well.

We ended the evening with all 13 of us sitting at the end of the stage and fielding questions from the audience, Bobby singing a few requests, and each member providing a mini bio of themselves.

We really appreciated the enthusiastic welcome from all attendees!

We are on to Bedford, Mass. - Denver, Colo and Houston, Texas. and hope to see many of you along the way.

Nicolas
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A HUGE thanks to all of you who attended the Yoshi's concert this past week, and thank you so much for bringing new friends.

WOW!!! - what a reception !!!

Everyone looked maaaavelous, and your level of enthusiasm and energy was beyond compare. You all make it so easy for me to do what I do.

I want to especially thank those of you who took the time to drop me a note -

Joanne said - "Smooth and Engaging"
Susan said - " Absolutely fabulous concert, you had the crowd in your hands"
Karen said - " Incredible show, very tight, fabulous"
Elia said- "Energizing and exciting"
Liz said - "You looked great, and your voice is over the top - you totally charmed your "audi"
Tom said- "Set list was impeccable, musicians were a pure joy to listen to, very, very impressive show. Wow, Wow and Wow!!"

NEW NEWS -

New CD called "On Lakeside Drive" was recorded at the Kaiser Center this past summer and is now exclusively available at my live performances. Selections include "Sugar", "Down Home Blues", "Compared to What", Girl from Ipanema", and more.

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I had a wonderful run of shows this summer, from Santa Rosa to the Kaiser rooftop in Oakland, from Santana Row in San Jose and now on to Yoshi's Jazz House in October.

We recorded the Kaiser Jazz series in August and now have a new CD called "On Lakeside Drive" available to purchase. Drop us a note at nicolas@nicolasbearde.com, and for $18 including postage, we will gladly mail you out your very owned signed copy.

I feel really blessed to have the opportunity to share my music with such diverse audiences. Thanks to all of who came out to support.... you are deeply appreciated.

A big thanks to my crew, Nelson Braxton - bass, Glen Pearson - keyboards, Charles McNeal - saxophone and Jason Lewis on drums - THEY rocked!

Speaking of support, we invite all of you out to Yoshi's on Tuesday, October 16th for our LIVE recording of that concert. It will be a very special event, and I hope to see you there.
Tickets are selling fast so don't procrastinate. www.yoshis.com.

Yours in music
Nicolas
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Another wonderful experience was had by all "Stras" (which is short for members of "Voicestra") on our recent jaunt to Europe. All members participated in vocal workshops at the Stimmen Festival in Basel, Switzerland that included 120 students from Switzerland and Germany of all ages, with very diverse musical backgrounds. It was also such a pleasure to see many of these students come to Munich, Stuttgart and Mainz to watch our performances. Europeons are certainly keepin' a finger on the pulse of Jazz.

Beginning this month, I am putting together musicians and arrangers to begin work on my next album. We hope that you will all become partners in this next project.

Don't miss the next Nic Nac News letter that will talk about the new music, a wonderful way to help young jazz musicians, and raise money for your worthy causes.

I love all my fans and friends and appreciate your ongoing support and friendship.

Stay tuned......

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The News/Updates page has just been added to my website, and I look forward to keeping in touch with my fans worldwide thru this format. I invite you to check in often for breaking news and upcoming events in your part of the world.

After sending out my recent Nic Nac News letter, it was such a pleasure to receive so many notes. I love hearing from you, so I invite you to leave comments, feedback or just drop me an email at nicolas@nicolasbearde.com, and I promise to respond to all.

I will be travelling in Europe over the next couple of weeks, as a member of Bobby McFerrin's renowned a cappella group, "Voicestra", and while on tour will be working on the material for my upcoming album. I plan to begin recording in the Fall, and will invite all of you to help get this new and exciting music out into the world.

Once I get a little more into the music, I will be looking to name the album,(thoughts from fans will be welcome), and with some luck, I will be able to have a few special guests on some of the tracks.

Stay tuned.....

Nicolas