Jazz singer Nicole Henry connects to a crowd, or perhaps it's better to say she holds an audience in the palm of her hand. Cliche it may be, but Henry is just the kind of vocalist who restores a cliche to it's original beauty, as she does with her repertoire of jazz standards.
In Japan for five shows next week, Henry's energy and passion make her one of the most impressive live performers to polish up and personalize the great American songbook.
While many of the recent wave of female jazz vocalists tend to rely on marketing and promotion, Henry sings from the heart. When she sings "Angel Eyes" as a whispered lament or "Teach Me Tonight" with breathy, knowing seductiveness, she tells real stories and conveys real emotions.
Technically, she's impressive, but it's her charisma that really makes her shows. Her vocal techniques blend with the meaning of the lyrics and the melodic flow of the music to form a natural whole. Ultimately, she values intimacy over skill, and yet is still stunning in both ways.
Last year's tour of Japan was packed. Fans who had pushed her CD high up on the jazz charts were eager to hear Henry in person. They weren't let down. Rather, at the end of each tune, the crowd was so entranced they paused to recover from her spell before launching into hearty applause. This time, she'll be playing with a Japanese trio of piano, bass and drums in slightly bigger venues to accommodate them all. Call early for reservations.
