Nancy Wilson returns to the Blue Note for the first time in ten years for a rare one night only concert. With a career spanning over fifty years, Ms. Wilson has won three Grammy Awards, received an Emmy for her variety show The Nancy Wilson Show, was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2004, and has recorded over 70 albums. From 1996 - 2005, Ms. Wilson hosted Jazz Profiles, NPR's first and only jazz documentary series. The 8:00pm show at the Blue Note show is sold out. There are still tickets available for her 10:30pm set at the Blue Note and her Mother's Day performance at BB King Blues Club & Grill in Times Square on Sunday, May 9 at 8:00pm.
WHEN: Monday, May 10, 2010; First set is sold out. Sets @ 8:00pm & 10:30pm
WITH:
Nancy Wilson, vocals; Other musicians, TBA
COST: $75 @ table /$50 @ bar
WHERE: The Blue Note; 131 W 3rd. St, New York, NY 10012
MORE: Doors open at 6pm. Set times are 8pm and 10:30pm
BIO:
Nancy Wilson's musical style is so diverse that it is hard to classify. Over the years her repertoire has included pop style ballads, jazz and blues, show tunes and well known standards. Critics have described her as "a jazz singer," "a blues singer," "a pop singer," and "a cabaret singer." Still others have referred to her as "a storyteller," "a professor emeritus of body language," "a consummate actress," and "the complete entertainer." Then who is this song stylist (that's the descriptive title she prefers) whose voice embodies the nuances of gospel, blues, and jazz? Her colleague and long time friend
Joe Williams used to call her "the thrush from Columbus."
Nancy's professional singing career began at the age of 15. She had her own television show, Skyline Melody, on a local station. Soon after, she began performing in clubs in the Columbus area. After graduating high school, still undecided about a music career, she enrolled in the teacher training program at Central State College. But in 1956, Nancy's desire outweighed the uncertainty of a vocal career, so she left college to join The Rusty Bryant Band. That same year she met Julian "Cannonball" Adderley when she accompanied Bryant's band to New York City for a recording session. Adderley, impressed with her talent and determination, took an immediate interest in her career and the two kept in touch.
Nancy's debut single, "Guess Who I Saw Today," was so successful that between April of 1960 and July of 1962
Capitol Records released five
Nancy Wilson albums. Two of those remain in-demand reissues to this day: The Swingin's Mutual with George Shearing (1961) and
Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley (1962), and earned her a permanent star in the jazz constellation. In 1963 "Tell Me The Truth" became her first truly major hit, leading up to her performance at the Coconut Grove in 1964 - the turning pointing of her career garnering critical acclaim from coast to coast. Time Magazine wrote, "She is, all at once, both cool and sweet, both singer and story teller."
In 1995, when National Public Radio (NPR) was looking for an articulate voice with both name value and jazz credibility to host their Jazz Profiles series, Nancy was the obvious choice. Not only did she know the music, but she knew the artists personally. Her first profile for this program was the 75th birthday tribute to
Charlie Parker.
Three years later Nancy gave MCG Jazz and the world of music another gift - R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) - which was released on August 25, 2004. Receiving gifts in return, R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) won the 2005 GRAMMY® Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the 2005 NAACP Image Award for Best Jazz Artist. Her third CD on the MCG Jazz label, Turned To Blue (released in August 2006), brought her a third Grammy award.
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