"Nicole and JD are both jazz singers and both from New York. However, their styles are quite different. Nicole will be singing straight-ahead jazz. JD Walter, on the contrary, is famous for his experiments with voice and sounds and for fusing different styles. He represents the modern branch of jazz," said Roman Khristyuk, a spokesman for Igor Butman.
Henry was born in Philadelphia to a musical family. She turned to singing in the late 1990s when she collaborated with the producer and disc jockey Noel Sanger on "No Greater Love," which entered the Billboard dance music chart and remained there for eight weeks. She has recorded three albums, one of which, "Teach Me Tonight," reached No. 1 on the jazz week radio chart. During her three shows in Moscow, Nicole will be accompanied by the band Jazz Passion, which is led by Butman's brother, Oleg.
Walter is a familiar guest in Russia, having played in the country more than 25 times. His innovative singing style goes beyond jazz and comprises pop and soul as well as experiments with samplers that have drawn comparisons with Bobby McFerrin. Apart from singing, Walter conducts music master classes, giving one to the students of the Moscow College Consort and the Kazan Music Conservatory on this visit to Russia. During the Moscow festival, Walter will perform with St. Petersburg pianist Andrei Kondakov and his trio.
The festival will open with a performance by the Daniil Kramer Trio, one of the Russia's most prominent pianists, and will close with a performance by the Igor Butman Big Band.
The festival "Igor Butman, Freixenet and Friends" is March 5 to 7. March 5: The Daniil Kramer Trio, Crazy Rhythm, Nicole Henry. March 6: JD Walter, Nicole Henry. March 7: JD Walter, Nicole Henry, Igor Butman Big Band. Concerts start at 8 p.m. at The Igor Butman Club. Metro Chistiye Prudy, 16 Ulansky Pereulok. Tel. 632-9264.
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