Nicolas Bearde Quartet
Written by Kelly Crawford
Tuesday, 21 October 2008

On October 26, 2008 Nicolas performs at Don Quixote's

Smooth jazz doesn´t always have to provoke thoughts of being on hold with your insurance company. The Nicolas Bearde Quartet is as smooth and jazzy as it gets, but avoids having a career confined to an elevator with an infusion of R&B—the Impressions´ way. There couldn´t be a more fitting quartet for dinner and dancing. Bearde has a long resume of venues and shows, so his veteran knowledge will keep the night moving for the wine and chocolate couples. But the Rockstar and cigarette duos might want to look elsewhere.

http://www.gtweekly.com/20081021267942/blurbs/events/nicolas-bearde-quartet

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Nicolas Bearde 'Live At Yoshi's: A Salute To Lou'


There is a fine distinct line between doing a cover album and doing a tribute album. Aside from the main obvious difference being that a tribute album is dedicated to a particular subject as opposed to just redoing songs, a tribute album also illustrates the respect, honour and passion that an artist has for the subject on which they are attributing. Jazz/Soul singer Nicolas Bearde comes forth with his current album "Live at Yoshi's: A Salute to Lou" a live recording of an outstanding performance he did at the Yoshi's Jazz House in Oakland California in October 2007, where he pays tribute to the late Lou Rawls.
Nicolas Bearde no doubt does an excellent job singing classic Lou Rawls songs as well as other songs and his jazzy, soulful voice alone sets the tone and warm atmosphere for both his CD listeners and audience listeners alike who had the opportunity to see him perform at the Yoshi's Jazz bar. Nicolas begins his performance with tracks such as "Living Room," "The Girl From Ipanema" and "Lady Love." For those who have not seen Nicolas Bearde perform or might be curious as to how he performs live, this album by far illustrates his excellent performance. His sense of humour also provides a way to break the fourth wall with his audience both at the Yoshi Jazz House and his CD listeners. Nicolas Bearde continues his heart filled tribute with songs such as Billie Holiday's "God Bless The Child" and other Lou Rawls' songs such as "The Shadow Of Your Smile" and "I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water." Nicolas Bearde winds down his performance with a ´Lou medley´ where he sings a number of Lou's famous songs including "You're Gonna Miss My Lovin."
Like his previous albums Nicolas Bearde does not fail to show any form of perfection in his performance and delivers each song with as much soul and love that he can. His band which consist of Charles McNeal (saxophone), Jason Lewis (drums) Glenn Pearson (piano) and Nelson Braxton (bass) together provide a harmonic jazz ensemble that complements Nicolas Bearde´s voice. Hearing the audience's feedback alone is one example of this as they sing along and hoot when Nicolas Bearde performs a familiar song (particularly Lou Rawls' famous "You're Gonna Miss My Lovin.") His tribute to Lou Rawls is not just a personal tribute to a wonderful artist but also a reminder to listeners of what good soul and jazz music was and still is.

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I was not familiar with vocalist Nicolas Bearde prior to receiving a copy of new new CD, "Live at Yoshi's - A Salute to Lou". Bearde is a multi-talented gentleman. This live recording at Yoshi's, the fabled Oakland jazz club, has Nicolas backed by a terrific quartet of saxophonist Charles McNeal, pianist Glenn Pearson, bassist Nelson Braxton, and drummer Jason Lewis. The mood is set with the opening of the Roach/Abbey Lincoln song, " Living Room". He is a marvelous singer, reminiscent perhaps more of a Joe Williams than the deeper voiced Rawls, although like both, the blues is part of his performing foundation.

As good as the band is, this listener found saxophonist McNeal especially marvelous behind the vocals and his solos. And, like Rawls and Williams, Bearde shines on ballads like " The Shadow of Your Smile". The center of this disc is Oscar Brown's "World of Trouble" and "Lou's Medley", where Bearde revives Rawls' classics including "This Song will Last Forever", "Love is a Hurtin' Thing", "I want to be Happy", "Tobacco Road", and "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine". A vigorous rendition of the Eddie Miller penned blues, "I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water", concludes this excellent set.

Bearde brings warmth, soul and personality to these performances, which certainly provide a memorable tribute to one of the great vocalists of the past few decades.

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Bay Area singer Nicolas Bearde, an alumnus of Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra and the vocal sextet SoVoSo, sounds like a soul-drenched Mark Murphy with a dash of Sinatra swagger. In other words, there's little similarity between Bearde and butterscotch-smooth baritone Lou Rawls. But tribute albums, or at least the better among the persistently popular genre, are less about mimicry than they are about capturing the essence of the honoree and the zeitgeist of the musical era in which he flourished. On both counts, Bearde does admirably, if not entirely, well... Bearde effectively channels the younger Rawls' ability to blur the lines between jazz, soul and blues. The songs - "The Girl from Ipanema", "I believe in You", "The Shadow of your Smile", "God Bless the Child", "I'd rather Drink Muddy Water" - are more strongly associated with other singers, but Rawls made each his own, and Bearde ably demonstrates how.

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Michael G. Nastos writes syndicated previews, reviews, and opinion columns on jazz, blues, and other music. He writes for Down Beat, Cadence, Coda, Jazz Forum, Swing Journal, Arts Midwest, and Jazz News International, and is a freelance writer of artists' biographies, interviews, jazz festival and concert programs, and liner notes. He is also an instructor and guest lecturer at the University of Michigan and Washtenaw Community College

by Michael G. Nastos - All Music Guide


"A paucity of male jazz singers makes Nicolas Bearde a rare avis. It's clear that he enjoys himself on-stage, as evidenced by the rapport, joke-telling, and personality he exudes. This club date at Yoshi's, in Oakland, CA, showcases Bearde as a devotee of Lou Rawls, doing many songs in his repetoire of the late soul-pop icon. But Bearde sounds like himself in a bluesy, good natured way and not nearly as deep-throated, overly dramatic, or bravissimo as Rawls intended to be. Though Bearde does use a few of the inflections and at times seductive techniques as Rawls perfected, he does not lean on them as a crutch.

Field Producer, Bud Spangler, accounts for the excellent sounds of this recording and gives Bearde not only an opportunity to be heard clearly, but to be listened to and appreciated given the gusto and verve he delivers."

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Review by Bill Leikam - freelance jazz writer
May 25th, 2008 @ Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, Half Moon Bay, CA

You bet! The Bach is known for jazz but as a change-up, Pete Douglas booked the Nicolas Bearde Quartet for the show and he was a hit! Nicolas hit the Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society running with his pumping, upbeat band: Glenn Pearson aka "The Professor" on both electric and the Steinway Grand Piano, Nelson Braxton on stand-up and electric bass, Charles McNeal on various saxophones and Jason Lewis keeping time on the drums; all highly accomplished musicians. His band opened with Les McCann´s "Cold Duck Time". As they finished, Nicolas entered, shaking hands, warmly greeting the people as he strode toward the stage. Even when he had reached the front of the room, he continued along the first row with his hand shaking entry. The audience loved it. They cheered him on. Never before have I seen a singer enter a room as Nicolas did on May 25th, 2008.

When he opened his part of the set with "I Believe in You" the audience was primed and responded with heart-felt applause during and after every song. Nicolas has a solid vocal range that is dynamic when need be but smooth and easy as when he sang Lou Rawls song "Lady Love." It was obvious that the band had played together before as they were tight and never left the groove as sometimes happens with bands that are tossed together just to do a gig. Charles McNeal´s impressive sax expertly took the room and the rest of the band to exciting heights.

By the end of the first set, the audience was more than ready to clear the main floor of chairs and dance through the second set. It was a set filled with fun, filled with high energy and so much so that it was nearly impossible for people to stay seated. Nicolas said, "It was a delight to play the Bach… The audience was very enthusiastic and there was great energy in the room for the whole set. Pete Douglas, Linda and all of the staff were so accommodating and helpful as well so it just made the whole experience everything you could hope for."

If you ever have the chance to see the Nicolas Bearde Quartet, you too will be up and dancing, enraptured with their music. It was a very good afternoon and evening, well worth everyone´s time.

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CRITIC'S CHOICE

Nicolas Bearde CD Release

The many forays that Nicolas Bearde made during his singing career -- church choir in Nashville, soul band in Tokyo, cabaret clubs in San Francisco, Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra and later, the a capella group SoVoSo -- ultimately led him straight back to the past. His latest project is a tribute to blues singer Lou Rawls, and features hip, swing-time, vibrato-sluiced renditions of such standards as "God Bless the Child," "The Shadow of Your Smile," and "The Girl from Ipanema." With his classy pinstripe suits, silk ties, and smooth, legato phrasings, Bearde inhabits the old-school lounge-singer persona pretty well -- though he'll occasionally stretch or bend the notes to make his tunes sound more contemporary. Bearde sings Tues., June 3 at Yoshi's in Jack London Square (510 Embarcadero West). Shows at 8 p.m. ($18) and 10 p.m. ($12). Yoshis.com

-- By Rachel Swan
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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, Bearde delivers a vibrant set of Lou Rawls-associated material before a full house at Oakland's premier jazz club.

Read More:
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=18012

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Singer and actor Nicolas Bearde, longtime Rockridge resident, one of Bobby McFerrin's original and ongoing "Voicestra" vocalists and a favorite at Bay Area clubs, will record his next CD live, performing Yoshi's Jazzhouse in Jack London Square next Tuesday, October 16, 2007.

Bearde, who teaches a class entitled "The Soulful side of Jazz" at Berkeley's Jazz School, has specialized for the past quarter century in just that: the continuity between jazz vocals and soul music. But the origins of his warm, distinctive vocal and performing style go back to a lifetime of singing, listening and thinking about music and how it affects its listeners.

Some of it goes back to Nashville, where he was born and raised, when his mother and her buddies would hang out all night, drinking, dancing and listening to 'Ebbtide', Lou Rawls, Arthur Prysock, Nat Cole, Cab Calloway...I'd hear it through the doors - "Honey, hush!" - and it was only later that I understood what they meant when talking about how Cab Calloway's hair would look on a pillow!"

Read more.....

http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article1.cfm?issue=10-12-07&storyID=28218

Ken Bullock - Special writer to the Daily Planet
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While much of contemporary R&B is geared toward an adolescent mindset, Oakland vocalist Nicolas Bearde taps into black music's deeper currents, where love, desire and heartache freely intermingle.

"Contemporary R&B tends to focus more on sexualtiy and not expressions of love per se," says the Nashville native during an interview at the JazzSchool in Berkeley, where he is teaching a class called the "Soulful side of Jazz". That aspect of love is valid, of course, but there's more to it than that. There's building a life together, and having a relationship. But instant gratification is where pop music and modern culture are at, not just R&B.

On Bearde's latest album, 2004's "All about Love", he interprets original tunes set to soft, insinuating grooves, as well as a handful of jazz and soul standards, such as Donny Hathaway's "Trying Times" and "Wild is the Wind". But lately his music has taken on a deeper hue of blue. As he eases into his middle years, Bearde is finding himself drawn to songs associated with sophisticated singers such as Lou Rawls, Arthur Prysock and Nat "King" Cole.

Part of what makes Bearde such an effective song stylist is that he carries himself with easygoing confidence on stage. With his compact build, wide-set brown eyes and trimmed goatee, he's got the handsome features of a leading man. In fact, Bearde has spent the past two decades pursuing a two-track career as a singer and actor. On stage he has appeared in films such as Clint Eastwood's "True Crime", and "Final Analysis" with Richard Gere and Kim Basinger. On television he's best known for a recurring role in "Nash Bridges".

He broke into acting in 1985, when he was invited to participate in "Juke Box" with Danny Glover, which was produced by KPFA, and after studying with Jean Shelton, at Danny's suggestion, he was cast in Athol Fugard's "Master Harold......and the Boys"

At the same time his singing career was gaining visability, and through his work with Molly Holm and Jazzmouth, he connected with Bobby McFerrin, and become a founding and current touring member of the vocal wizard's wildly innovative a cappella group, "Voicestra".

"Voicestra changed my life", Bearde says. "It expanded my understanding of boundries or lack of boundries of being on stage. It is such an experimental approach to music. McFerrin mixed all these different styles and experiences and created a unique approach based totally on improvisation."

Andrew Gilbert - Special to the Mercury News
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Remember back in the days when R&B and soul music was actually about love? When songs used to be about loving someone for whom they are instead of the materialistic things? Remember how these songs would always say " I love you" as opposed to "the left to the left", everything you own on the box to the left?"
There are few that continue to sing about the good side of love and happiness. Touring with greats such as Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra, singer/songwriter and recording artist Nicolas Bearde comes forth with his latest album, " All About Love". This album is a definite collectable item for those who are into the jazz and old school soul. Sounding a lot like Jon Lucien, Nat King Cole, and Lou Rawls, Nicolas Bearde's 12 track album brings a nostalgic feel to its listeners of smooth ballad jazz and sensual smooth songs such as " Wild is the Wind", which provide an intimate atmosphere for listeners. The mature sound of this album along with Nicolas' voice is the huge driving factor where he delivers a crisp, yet sensual deep singing that might make some listeners sigh.......
This album will definitely remind you of what loves songs used to be.
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What others are saying

East Bay Express - October 2005
San Francisco Chronicle - February 2005
Urban Network Magazine - February 2005
Cafe Jazz - Jazz Lynx (Toronto, Canada) - January 2005
O's Place Jazz Newsletter - Winter 2004
Soul Express - London, England - December 2004
SmoothJazz.com - December 2004
EJazz News - December 2004
All About Jazz - November 2004
East Bay Express - September 2004
Bohemian Life - September 2004
Record Corner - London, England - February 1999
Blues and Soul Magazine - London, England - December 1998
OP Magazine - London, England - December 1998
Bay Guardian - December 1998
Soulvation Magazine - London, England - November 1998
The Journal - London, England - November 1998
Echoes - London, England - November 1998

Find Nicolas' music on these radio stations.