A Shades of Soul Ltd Production

Nicolas Bearde

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Last Show: Wednesday 25 th May 2022

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Returning to the PizzaExpress stage, San Francisco-based jazz vocalist, Nicolas Bearde, will be presenting an enticing collection of soulful jazz standards and originals that showcase his wide ranging and diverse musical influences. Many UK fans were first introduced to this soulful jazz vocalist when Blues and Soul Magazine and the London Journal raved about Nicolas' first album,'Crossing the Line', released on Expansion Records. His most recent live performance since that debut was at PizzaExpress in August of 2019, and his fans poured in to see him, many bringing that 1st CD (in jewel cases) for his signature. The show sold out so we are delighted to welcome back this skillful and versatile, showman to the PizzaExpress Live on May 25th in Soho, and May 26th in Birmingham along with the Robb Barron Trio performing original music from his up and coming album along with music from different genres and generations that are soulful, swinging, improvisational and memorable!!

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"Bearde is an exceptional balladeer...with an acute harmonic sense, seamless tone and delivery"

C. Michael Bailey - All About Jazz

One of today’s premier male jazz recording artists, Nicolas has won acclaim from critics and jazz audiences world-wide for his smooth vocals and engaging performances that easily cross genres, from jazz to blues to soul. His first major hit, in 1998, “Can We Pretend” still garners radio play today, and he has cultivated a global following playing for packed houses from San Francisco to New York, and from Beijing to London to Moscow, receiving outstanding reviews throughout the world.

Internationally renowned vocalist, Nicolas Bearde, is a jazz singer of remarkable depth, range and technique who has won accolades from critics and jazz audiences worldwide for his ‘velvet tone’ and engaging performances. His music has been critically acclaimed by Jazziz, Jazz Times, Jazz Week and… and in the UK  by The Journal, Blues and Soul, and London’s own, Peter Quinn of Jazz Wise magazine.  His most recent CD, “Invitation”, produced and arranged by Grammy-winning pianist Nat Adderley, Jr rose quickly to the Top 20 of the Jazz Week charts, becoming a Grammy contender in 5 categories, and he has performed at many of the most respected jazz festivals, clubs and concert halls worldwide from San Francisco, North Sea Jazz in Holland, Montreaux, Switzerland, Pori, Finland,and Moscow, to Stuttgart & Burghausen, Germany, Beijing, China, New York, Paris and Istanbul.

“Smooth…soulful…deeply sensuous and romantic…” – These are just a few of the words used to describe the music of Nicolas Bearde. 

His silky baritone sound invites comparisons to Jon Lucien, Bill Withers, Lou Rawls, and Joe Williams, and he has established himself as a powerful presence in the contemporary male jazz vocal category over the past couple of decades.

Bearde has toured, performed and recorded with a long list of jazz luminaries including Vincent Herring, Eric Alexander, Jeremy Pelt, Nat Adderley, Jr, David Garfield, Alfonso Johnson, Nelson Braxton, Patrice Rushen, Bernard Purdie, plus the Ebony Big Band in Berlin, and spent fifteen- plus years on the road with Bobby McFerrin and his unique and trend setting ensemble, “Voicestra”

Joining him on stage for these upcoming performances will be Rob Barron (piano), Jeremy Brown (bass) and Joshua Morrison (drums)

Rob Barron has been described as one of the most versatile and creative pianists of his generation. He has played with Al Jarreau, Marlena Shaw, Benny Golson, Phil Woods and Grant Stewart as well as the BBC Big Band

Jeremy Brown is one of the foremost Bass players on the UK jazz scene, and has regularly performed with Stan Tracey, Bobby Wellins, Bill Le Sage and Irish guitarist Louis Stewart.

Joshua Morrison studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston and has worked with many top American artists such as sax greats Eric Alexander and Grant Stewart, Italian pianist, Andrea Pozza and UK vocalist Stacey Kent.

Band Line Up

Nicolas Bearde (vocals)

Rob Barron (piano)

Jeremy Brown (bass)

Joshua Morrison (drums)

TBC (sax)