Nicole Yarling defies description. Her myriad of personal influences have
created a product that begs attention across the board. Her chosen
instruments are voice, violin and fiddle (in that order). Nicole is a rich
velvet voice with technical skill and personality to boot! She is a rising
star in the jazz community who, like many others, has been at it for years.
Born and raised in and around Brooklyn, New York, a musical household laid
groundwork for Nicole's career. She was inspired very early by her father,
who plays jazz organ and piano, and her father's records, which all made an
impact on Nicole's musical tastes: Artists such as Etta Jones, Miles Davis,
Stuff Smith, J.J. Johnson, and Sonny Rollins, to the Beatles and Motown
classics were in regular rotation. As early as age nine, Nicole would jam
on the violin with her father. It was then that she caught the bug to
perform for a living. Aside from the familial influences, Nicole's
education is extensive, ranging from a B.A. in Music from Baruch College,
to a Masters in Music Education at Columbia University. as well as private
training in composition, arranging, voice and violin. She uses her various
music skills today to conduct master classes and give vocal lesons.
Nicole moved to Florida in 1980 and has created quite a buzz. Acoridng to
the Miami Sun Sentinel, "Every musical hat fits Nicole Tarling. For more
than a decade, she has been a part of South Florida's musical world as a
singer and violinist, working in jazz, rock, R and B, experimental music
and a few other styles that defy description."
Nicole's musical excursions have brought about stints with Dizzy Gillespie,
and three years on tour as a featured soloist with Jimmy Buffet. She also
participated on Buffet's platinum-selling CD, Fruit Cakes, and then
went on to do eight worldwide tours with her own project, Little Nicky and
the Slicks.
Nicole's notable talent has a virtue all its own, but it would be remiss
not to mention the late great vocal legend Joe WIlliams. Joe "discovered"
Nicole through a series of events and adopted her as his very own project.
He recognized this diamond in the rough, gleaming through, and began to
invest in seeing Nicole rise to the top. Joe Williams Presents Nicole
Yarling at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild was born as a result. This
unique performance captures Nicole in her element and reflects her
undeniable charisma. It also captures a moment in history which can never
be duplicated: Joe Williams Presents... was to be Joe's final
recording. Sadly Joe passed away before he could see the actual release of
his final work of art. He shared two duets with Nicole, plus two bonuus
tracks sung by Joe alone. Some would say it was a dying wish of Joe
Williams to see Nicole succeed. Joe intended to escort Nicole to the
highest limits, much in the same way Count Basie did for him in the late
fifties.
It can be boldly stated, however, that Ms. Yarling's talent has a strength
all its own, to forge ahead on Joe's intended path. Joe Williams' torch
certainly won't die out, as it has been graciuosly passed along to one
Nicole Yarling, or as Joe might have said: the "Darling Ms. Yarling."
