Nick Langston

Originally from Oxford, I have been in Bristol for a number of years and over the last few months may have been spotted singing in Marlows, Seymours and, most often, at Tantric Jazz, St Nicholas Street, Bristol. I'm pleased that people are appreciating our mix of cool jazz, hot swing and smooth latin. There are some great jazz musicians in Bristol and I have been lucky enough to sing with a number of them. The jazz scene in this area is very cool and definitely worth investigating. I've been singing since before I can remember. I learnt guitar listening to the great Sam Cooke - simple chord progressions but brilliant songs. My musical tastes stretch from Suede to Groove Armada, from Bowie to Jamiroquai, from Sylvian to The Smiths. Jazz is just another part of this music. I 'discovered' Louis Armstrong first - the father of modern music? In Los Angeles I was lucky enough to see one of Ella Fitzgerald's last ever performances. If you haven't got an Ella and Louis CD there is a huge hole in your CD collection - the same goes for Bing and Louis. Frank Sinatra's 'Songs for Swinging Lovers' I would call one of the greatest albums ever made and the remastered production makes it sound as fresh as ever. Harry Connick Jr appeared around 15 years ago - and though most people know him for his big band music, I can strongly recommend the more intimate CD '25' - inspiring for me. Then there is the great Chet Baker - a brilliant trumpet player but also such a wonderful melancholic singer - look out for 'Chet Baker Sings'. Matt Monro - an unbelievable voice - so smooth - look out for a song called 'Charade' (though you will know him better for 'Born Free'). Nat 'King' Cole - another smooth voice and a great pianist. And Mel Torme - a great all-rounder with a brilliant back-catalogue of jazz standards. There are so many other influences: Ray Charles, Louis Jordan, Cab Calloway, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, The Rat Pack, Bryan Ferry, Morrissey, Elvis Costello, etc, etc. If you need any recommendations or have any comments, please feel free to e-mail me. All the best.

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