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Abigail Riccards
Since arriving on the New York scene in 2003, vocalist Abigail Riccards has garnered much attention from the jazz community for her effortless swing, heartbreaking tone, and personalized approach to lyrics. Abigail's inimitable approach to the Great American Songbook has made her one of the most celebrated jazz vocalists of her generation. In 2000, she was also selected to participate in the Jazz in July workshop at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and competed in the 2006 Fish Middleton Competition, where she was a semi-finalist. In 2004, Abigail was selected to be a semi-finalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, where she competed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C for judges such as Kurt Elling, Al Jarreau, Jimmy Scott and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Over the past decade in New York, Abigail has repeatedly performed at many of the most treasured venues in NYC, including Birdland, Jazz Standard, Smoke, Smalls, Kitano Hotel, Sweet Rhythm, and 55Bar. Abigail has also collaborated with many of the best jazz musicians in the world including Michael Kanan, David Berkman, Mulgrew Miller, Spike Wilner, Neal Miner, Jay Leonhart, Steve LaSpina, Lee Hudson, Tony Romano, Brad Shepnik, Matt Wilson, Bill Goodwin, Rick Montalbano, Elliot Zigmund, Joel Frahm, Adam Kolker, and Ron Horton. Abigail's first album, When the Night Is New was released to rave reviews. It featured the talents of David Berkman, Ben Allison, Matt Wilson, Adam Kolker, Ron Horton, Lage Lund, Rogerio Boccato and was produced by Dena DeRose. Ken Dryden calls it "an outstanding debut effort by the promising jazz vocalist Abigail Riccards." Abigail followed it up with her 2011 release Soft Rains Fall, an intimate collection of jazz and popular standards, recorded in a duo setting with nylon string guitarist, Tony Romano. Recently, Abigail moved to Chicago where she has quickly established herself as one of the rising vocalists of its unique jazz scene. Since moving to Chicago she has performed at many of the top jazz clubs with some of Chicago's most well-respected musicians, headlining at venues such as the Green Mill, the Jazz Showcase, and Andy's Jazz Club. Since earning her Master's Degree, Abigail has also become an active music educator. She teaches privately and conducts many college workshops. Recently, she has conducted vocal jazz workshops at Hunter College and Clark University. Abigail was also selected as a collaborator for David Berkman's The Jazz Singer's Guidebook: A Course in Jazz Harmony and Scat Singing for the Serious Jazz Vocalist on which she recorded the vocal examples for the accompanying CD.
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Abigail Riccards: Every Little Star
by C. Michael Bailey
Abigail Riccards may not be known yet but Jane Monheit is, and on Riccard's Every Little Star, the famous jazz chanteur is both a mentor and co-producer. The Chicago-based Riccards began appearing in New York City in the early 2000s, garnering a good deal of critical attention from her live performances and her debut recording, When The Night Was New (Jazz Excursion, 2008). Always supported by the best musicians, Riccards is backed up here by a piano-guitar ...
read moreAbigail Riccards: When The Night Is New
by Michael P. Gladstone
One of the pleasures of hearing debut albums from aspiring jazz singers is to get an inkling of who the real talents are. In the case of Abigail Riccards, she clearly has a future.
Riccards has already accumulated several honors. She was the recipient of two awards from Down Beat Magazine for outstanding collegiate singer, as a student, in 2002 and 2004. She also earned a semi-finalist role in the 2004 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal ...
read moreAbigail Riccards: When The Night Is New
by Woodrow Wilkins
Young female jazz vocalists often launch their recording careers with fresh interpretations of standards. While some of these ventures are successful, it all too often happens that we never hear from these divas again. Hopefully, that will not be the case with Abigail Riccards, whose When the Night Is New certainly fits the mold left by artists such as Renee Olstead and Robin McKelle. Riccards comes onto the scene with some impressive credentials. She was a 2004 ...
read moreAbigail Riccards: When The Night Is New
by Mark F. Turner
The heralded arrival of any new singing sensation is oftentimes met with caution, but in the case of Abigail Riccards' When The Night Is New the total package--her voice and the music--is one that truly deserves attention. Riccards has gained notoriety since moving to New York in 2003--as a semifinalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2004, performing with some of the best in jazz, locally and for the troops in the Middle East. ...
read moreAbigail Riccards - Soft Rains Fall (2011)
Source:
Something Else!
When I first listened to Chicago-based jazz singer Abigail Riccards I had that strange and wonderful feeling of temporarily “forgetting who I was." This is the kind of power that music can have, forcing the attention down to a tiny (and yet immense) point of interest, causing the listener's surroundings to vanish. Riccards' 2008 debut recording When the Night Is New, presented her incredibly expressive voice in a relatively traditional setting involving drums, bass, piano, guitar, and a horn or ...
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Abigail Riccards CD Release at the Jazz Standard December 3rd
Source:
All About Jazz
Jazz Standard on Monday, December 3rd! Two sets at 7:30 and 9:30pm Abigail Riccards - vocals David Berkman, piano Neal Miner, bass Matt Wilson, drums Adam Kolker, saxophone Ron Horton, trumpet Be sure to but tickets or make a reservation at jazzstandard.net or call the Jazz Standard directly for a reservation: (212) 576-2232 Tickets are $15 each, and the Jazz Standard is located at 116 East 27th Street New York, ...
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Abigail Riccards Live at Trumpets with Bill Goodwin, David Berkman, and Evan Gregor
Source:
All About Jazz
Abigail Riccards with Bill Goodwin, David Berkman, and Evan Gregor Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007 4-7pm Trumpets 6 Depot Square Montclair, NJ About Abigail Riccards: Since coming to New York in 2003, Abigail Riccards is already making a name for herself. Last summer, she toured the middle-east, playing a week tour in Yemen for the United States State Department. In 2004 Abigail was selected to be a semifinalist in the Thelonious Monk International ...
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Abigail Riccards and Nicole Lequerica Live at Sweet Rhythm, April 24th 2007
Source:
All About Jazz
Come join Abigail Riccards and Nicole Lequerica for a very special night at Sweet Rhythm. This week's Tuesday night vocal series, produced by Tessa Souter, will feature musicians from William Paterson University's jazz program. TUESDAY, APRIL 24th, 2007 Nicole Lequerica, vocals Abigail Riccards, vocals Justin Kauflin, piano Evan Gregor, bass Shawny B, drums Roxy Coss, sax and special guests! Sets at 8pm and 9:30pm Sweet Rhythm ...
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"You know that cliché about a voice so beautiful that you wouldn't mind it singing the phone book? I'm ashamed to say that I've got to dust that one off for Abigail Riccards. The song [I'll be seeing you] itself has been done by so many singers that I was surprised to find myself looking up from my writing pad as the first verse passed. Guitarist Lund floats a gorgeous chord melody underneath the vocals...and oh, the vocals! Riccards has a lovely, finely textured voice and the delicate trills added at each line's end made me wish I'd known this version forever." Mark Saleski - www.jazz.com "She can also make outstanding drama with her naked voice on Billie Holiday's "Left Alone" and bring a smile to your face with her spunky delivery" James Hale - Downbeat Magazine
Primary Instrument
Vocals
Location
Chicago
Willing to teach
Advanced only
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