For those unaware, since her debut in 2004, Nicole Henry has established herself as one of the jazz world’s most acclaimed vocalists. Ms. Henry possesses a potent combination of dynamic vocal abilities, impeccable phrasing, and powerful emotional resonance.

Her repertoire includes the American Songbook, classic and contemporary jazz titles, contemporary standards, blues, and originals; while her accompaniment ranges from a simple jazz trio to a full big band.

The Jazz maven took to the studio during the pandemic and has now released her eighth album, and it couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time in everyone’s lives. TIME TO LOVE AGAIN is a musical salve to soothe the soul during the difficult times in which we have all found ourselves these days.

Ms. Henry has created an album of covers that ranks as one of the most enjoyable CDs of 2021. Henry, who often draws comparisons to other artists and voices who have come before, is a consummate artist whose work (and voice) stands entirely on its own, something made patently clear by the fact that the nine tracks on the forty-five (ish) minute album don’t actually sound like covers.

This could be an album of nothing but original tunes, so strong is Henry’s focus on discovering new colors, new layers, new points of view on songs long well-known and loved by many music lovers.

1. Feeling Good
2. Midnight At The Oasis
3. Your Smiling Face
4. I Didn’t Know What Time It Was
5. Is It A Crime
6. Until It’s Time For You To Go
7. Wild Is The Wind
8. Love and Affection
9. OverJoyed

This truly beautifully crafted new album opens on a vibrantly enthusiastic take on Nina Simone’s Feeling Good and that is then backed up with the sultry, harmonica-led Midnight At The Oasis (Maria Muldaur), which is in turn followed by a dutifully melodious cover of James Taylor’s Your Smiling Face and the free flowing, rhythmical magnificent I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (Frank Sinatra).

On an album where Ms. Henry seems to be celebrating life, music, and the act of enjoying both, next up is a stand up bass-infused, breathy rendition of Sade’s Is It A Crime and the late night, gentle dance floor swirl of Until It’s Time For You To Go (Elvis Presley), and they are followed by a quite mesmerizingly atmospheric, percussion-embossed Wild Is The Wind (David Bowie), the album rounding out on a brilliantly resculptured rendition of Joan Armatrading’s Love and Affection, coming to a close on a simply joyous Steve Wonder cover of OverJoyed.

Personnel:
Nicole Henry: voice / vocals; Pete Wallace: piano; Jean Caze: trumpet; Aaron Lebos: guitar; Troy Roberts: saxophone; Eric England: bass, electric; Camilo Velandia: guitar; Eduardo Rodriguez: percussion; Dan Warner: guitar; John Michalak: saxophone, tenor; Richard Bravo: percussion; David Chiverton: drums; Gregoire Maret: harmonica; Teddy Mulet: trumpet; Jim Hacker: trumpet; Jorge Dorbal, Jr: trombone; Tom McCormick: woodwinds; Doug Emery: keyboards.

Ms. Henry’s passionate, soulful voice and heartfelt charisma have earned her a 2013 Soul Train Award for Best Traditional Jazz Performance, four Top-10 U.S. Billboard, JazzWeek and HMV Japan jazz albums, and rave reviews both domestically and internationally by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Japan Times, El Pais, Jazz Times, Essence and more.

Ms. Henry has captivated audiences in over 20 countries, headlining at venues in cities including New York, Tokyo, Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and Miami. She has performed in more than 30 music festivals worldwide and in some of the world’s most famous venues including Blue Note, NYC; Jazz at Lincoln Center; Blues Alley; Arsht Center; Feinstein’s; Green Mill; Madrid Jazz Festival; the Regattabar; and Catalina Jazz.

Ms. Henry’s 2004 debut CD release, The Nearness of You, won considerable attention from audiences and critics in the U.S. and in Japan, where they named her Best New Jazz Artist of 2004. The following year, Ms. Henry’s Teach Me Tonight reached #1 in Japan and was named HMV Japan’s Best Vocal Jazz Album of 2005. In 2008, The Very Thought of You substantially expanded her American audience, reaching #7 on Billboard’s jazz chart.

The 2011 release of the Embraceable CD was a creative triumph for Ms. Henry as it expanded her recordings beyond those of the American Songbook jazz standards which had been her focus up until that time. Embraceable included more originals, soul and even a touch of gospel, and reached the top 20 on jazz and smooth U.S. jazz radio charts. Joining Ms. Henry on Embraceable was an amazing collection of jazz artists including Kirk Whalum, Gerald Clayton, John Stoddart, Julian Lage, Gil Goldstein, Larry Grenadier, and Eric Harland.

Ms. Henry demonstrates her diversity and skills as a performer and a peerless interpreter of songs on her 2013 release, SO GOOD, SO RIGHT: Nicole Henry Live. The 13-track live album, which was recorded at sold-out performances at Feinstein’s in NYC in May 2012, showcases her soulful, inspired renditions of some of her favorite classic hits of the ‘70s from iconic artists including Bill Withers, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, The Commodores and Gladys Knight.

Nicole Henry - Your Smiling Face (Official Video)

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