Nicole Henry
Jazz Club J, Shinjuku
April 19, 2005
Nicole Henry – vocals
Janice Friedman – piano
Koji Yamashita - bass
Koichiro Taki - drums
Jazz Club J was swinging on April 19. Fans packed the seats, journalists vied for interviews, CDs sold like hotcakes and Nicole Henry was in charge of it all. Henry is a dynamic singer who makes the old cliché "the songs come alive" no longer a cliché, but true. Listening to her work over "Route 66" or "Angel Eyes," one had the feeling of never having heard the songs sung so well in a very long time. They were not just dusted off but polished and personalized.
Another cliché, "makes the songs her own," also came true. "Nearness of You" was stunning, with beautifully breathy control and comfortable switches of volume and intensity. The way she sings it, "near" is an understatement. On "Teach Me Tonight," she was sexy and seductive, telling a story with the full range of her vocal technique. She's clearly studied vocals, but puts that in the service of telling a story and connecting to listeners. At the end of each tune, the crowd was so entranced they paused to reemerge from the spell before launching into hearty applause.
As a performer, Henry connects not by pandering to the easy pop/rock/folk styles that many recent singers resort to, but by drawing on the subtleties of her impressive jazz technique. She brings the songs to the audience, but expects them to meet her halfway. The audience was clearly happy to do that on an impressive array of standards. She has a charisma that makes her dedication of "Blue Skies" to the cherry blossoms or her dramatic gestures feel genuine and intimate. Each part of her vocal technique blended with the meaning of the lyrics and the melodic flow into a natural whole.
As a singer, her R&B flourishes and potent gospel energy, as on "Got You Under My Skin," were as impressive as the sleek phrasing of the clever lines of "One Note Samba." The band, especially pianist Friedman, was with her on every aching tone and whispered phrase. Henry sang from deep in her chest right up to the tip of her lips, keeping even the lowest volumes beautifully formed.
More than that, perhaps, she sings from the heart. Whether turning "Angel Eyes" into a stunning lament or "Them Thar Eyes" into a joyful celebration, she knows that these songs are really all about telling stories and feeling emotions. Fortunately, Henry will be back to do that again in Japan at the end of the summer.