Nicolas Bearde

Nicolas Bearde

Musicians | Instrument: Vocals | Location: San Francisco

When Nicolas Bearde's soulful and affecting baritone sits atop these impeccably tailored arrangements of sterling standards, the results are absolutely stunning.

—All About Jazz

Updated: August 22, 2022

Born: September 15, 1960

Recording artist, Nicolas Bearde is an award winning vocalist, whose silky baritone sound, wit and engaging rapport draws the audience into his live performances. Nicolas has 6 CD's out on his own label, Right Groove Records. His most recent album, “I Remember You : The Music of Nat King Cole" released on August 30, 2019, featuring special guest and sax great, Eric Alexander, rose quickly to the Top 20 on the Jazz Week Charts, garnering rave reviews at home and abroad. 

Nicolas is also the featured vocalist on sax legend Vincent Herring's chart-topping  CD, “Hard Times"  as well as the vocalist and narrator with Vincent’s "Story of Jazz Orchestra"  a 10 piece ensemble of jazz luminaries( Eric Alexander, James Carter, Jon Faddis, Jeremy Pelt, Steve Turre, Mike LeDonne, Kenny Davis and Carl Allen) who travel the world presenting Jazz music's 100+ year history. 

As an educator, Nicolas has worked with the California Jazz Conservatory and Jazz Camp West teaching “Vocal Intensive” workshops, and was the chair of “popular voice” for the Young Arts Foundation in Miami, Florida for 5 years.

Nicolas first made his mark in the world of jazz as an original member of Bobby McFerrin's  innovative a cappella ensemble, "Voicestra" (1986-2005), while carving out his own distinctive solo career.  With classic performances and innovative interpretations of jazz standards and blues - Nicolas is the definitive jazz romantic. He'll steam you up with an original soulful song like Love Me, pull you into the nuanced emotion of a classic Bill Wither's tune, Can We Pretend, or captivate you with a stirring rendition of Naima, a John Coltrane ballad.

Born and raised in Nashville, TN and singing as long as he can remember, Nicolas’ love of Jazz and R&B classics can be laid at his mother’s feet.  He remembers: "My Mother and her crew loved to have card parties, listen to late night radio, finger-pop, whoop and shout "Honey, hush" while listening to Billy Eckstine and Cab Calloway, And... Oh how they loved a good ballad!!" One of her favorites “Moonlight in Vermont”,  stayed in Bearde's head for over 40 years before he recorded it on his sophomore album, "All About Love" in 2005.

 Leaving home in his teens, after a short stint in college,  Bearde began singing in earnest while living in Japan during his military service, and after a few years in the LA music scene,  made his home in the San Francisco/Bay Area where he began developing his jazz chops and a more intimate approach to performing. 

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All About Jazz Articles

4
Album Review

Nicolas Bearde: I Remember You: The Music Of Nat King Cole

Read "I Remember You: The Music Of Nat King Cole" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


In 2019, Cole is king. Feted on record by John Pizzarelli, celebrated with a new seven CD set of his early work from Resonance Records, and praised and reappraised from numerous journalistic angles, Nathaniel Adams Coles--better known as Nat King Cole--is receiving the posthumous plaudits he so richly deserves in this, his centennial year. Now, adding to the chorus, comes this easy-going charmer of a tribute from one of the West Coast's most underrated vocal talents. Completely ...

3
Album Review

Nicolas Bearde: Invitation

Read "Invitation" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Bay-area vocalist Nicolas Bearde belongs to an exclusive club: male jazz singers. I suspect, being scientifically minded, that submissions from male jazz singers make up approximately 10% of the music I receive for review. While in may be impolitic to discuss, it remains a fact. Not only are there few male jazz singers, there a fewer good male jazz singers...and that number continues to dwindle. Gratefully, Bearde has emerged follow the release of four previous recordings on his own Right ...

12
Album Review

Nicolas Bearde: Invitation

Read "Invitation" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


A jewel always shines brightest when placed in just the right setting, and boy does this album emphasize that point. When Nicholas Bearde's soulful and affecting baritone sits atop these impeccably tailored arrangements of sterling standards, the results are absolutely stunning. With his four previous albums, the Bay Area-based Bearde has managed to dance around labels. He's flirted heavily with the smoother side of jazz, delivered R&B-centric music, and dabbled in a variety of other settings, never ...

3
Album Review

Nicolas Bearde: Visions

Read "Visions" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Vocalist Nicolas Bearde has carved out a comfortable niche in the soul-meets-jazz area of the music world. His previous albums--Crossing The Line (Right Groove Records, 2003), All About Love (Right Groove Records, 2004) and Live at Yoshi's--a Salute to Lou (Right Groove Records, 2008)--showcase his songwriting and suave delivery while also pointing toward those who've inspired and influenced him, like Lou Rawls, Donny Hathaway and Bill Withers. On this, his fourth self-released effort, Bearde works his magic ...

2
Album Review

Nicolas Bearde: Visions

Read "Visions" reviewed by Chris Mosey


First the good news: Nicolas Bearde, former back-up singer with Bobby McFerrin, is blessed with a deep, dark, romantic voice reminiscent of Lou Rawls and on this album, which seeks to blend soul with jazz, he is backed by some of the best studio musicians on the West Coast. Now the bad news: his voice here lacks both expression and range. On Errol Garner's “Misty" Bearde ducks the famous opening melody, where the words “Look at me..." ...

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4

Recording

Nicolas Bearde's "Invitation," Produced By Nat Adderley Jr., Due January 29

Nicolas Bearde's "Invitation," Produced By Nat Adderley Jr., Due January 29

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

Nicolas Bearde is a San Francisco Bay Area treasure. As a charter member of Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra ensemble as well as the innovative vocal sextet SoVoSó, he’s long been internationally recognized as a versatile and fearless vocal improviser, charismatic performer, and distinctive jazz and soul stylist. While Bearde has drawn on his love for both R&B and jazz on his previous four CDs, Invitation, the singer’s fifth release on his own Right Groove Records label, is his first entirely straight-ahead ...

4

Event

Nicolas Bearde and Nat Adderley Jr CD Preview Concert at Yoshi's on September 15th at 8pm

Nicolas Bearde and Nat Adderley Jr CD Preview Concert at Yoshi's on September 15th at 8pm

Source: Nicolas Bearde

Vocalist Nicolas Bearde And Grammy-Winning Pianist/Composer Nat Adderley Jr. Hit The Jazz Trail Together “Bearde taps into music’s deeper currents, where love, desire and heartache freely intermingle." —Andrew Gilbert, jazz journalist “A powerful musical presence that touched each and every person in the audience." —John Handy About Nicolas Bearde A renowned jazz singer of remarkable depth, range and technique, with a compelling musical style has won acclaim from critics and jazz audiences worldwide. Forged from his Nashville roots, his 1980’s ...

3

Performance / Tour

Vocalist Nicolas Bearde & Special Guest Nat Adderley Jr. To Perform At Yoshi's San Francisco, Sept. 13

Vocalist Nicolas Bearde & Special Guest Nat Adderley Jr. To Perform At Yoshi's San Francisco, Sept. 13

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

Nicolas Bearde is a jny: San Francisco Bay Area treasure. As a charter member of Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra ensemble as well as the innovative vocal sextet SoVoSó, he’s long been internationally recognized as a versatile and fearless vocal improviser, charismatic performer, and distinctive jazz and soul stylist. Bearde will bring it all to Yoshi’s San Francisco on Saturday 9/13, in the company of his newest collaborator, the renowned pianist/arranger Nat Adderley Jr. Joining Bearde and Adderley for what’s billed as ...

123

Performance / Tour

Oleg Kireyev and Nicolas Bearde Quartet, Yoshis Jazz Club, Oakland, October 12th.

Oleg Kireyev and Nicolas Bearde Quartet, Yoshis Jazz Club, Oakland, October 12th.

Source: All About Jazz

Combine Bay Area Jazz/R&B recording artist Nicolas Bearde---whose big, velvet tone and perfectly controlled vibrato frequently complements Bobby McFerrins vocal ensemble Voicestra

With Russian born tenor sax/composer, Oleg Kireyev, and youll be treated to a collaboration of world-class jazz greats together on a single stage!

Earlier this year, these two critically acclaimed jazz icons paired up to perform numerous shows in Russia and Siberia and are now bringing their East Meets West tour to the United States. Backing the duo ...

208

Recording

Vocalist Nicolas Bearde's New CD, "Live at Yoshi's: A Salute to Lou," Due May 20

Vocalist Nicolas Bearde's New CD, "Live at Yoshi's: A Salute to Lou," Due May 20

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

A charter member of Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra ensemble as well as the innovative Bay Area vocal sextet SoVoS, Nicolas Bearde has long been recognized as an adept and fearless vocal improviser. But Bearde is a down-to-earth soul stylist as well. On his new CD, “Live at Yoshi's: A Salute to Lou," which is due for release on May 20 by his own Right Groove Records, Bearde delivers a vibrant set of Lou Rawls-associated material before a full house at Oakland's ...

53

Recording

Vocalist Nicolas Bearde's New CD Is "All About Love"

Vocalist Nicolas Bearde's New CD Is "All About Love"

Source: All About Jazz

Smooth Jazz/Soul Singer's Sophomore CD To Hit Streets January 25, 2005

Since releasing his solo debut (1999's excellently received Crossing The Line) singer Nicolas Bearde has continued to earn critical acclaim for his performances with Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra (he's one of its original members) and the Grammy-nominated A Cappella group Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir. With the upcoming January 25, 2005 release of All About Love, Bearde is once again turning his focus to his solo recording career, ...

"A deeply soulful voice... A unique entertainer." —Bobby McFerrin "He's sung with McFerrin and acted with Eastwood - Bearde taps into music's deeper currents, where love, desire and heartache freely intermingle." —Andrew Gilbert, San Jose Mercury News "Bearde amazes with a sparkling vocal dexterity." —Brian Soergal, Smooth Jazz "Bearde's interpretations are as affecting as they are elegant..." —Christopher Loudon, Jazz times "Commercial without being bloodless, Bearde and his pals, jazz cats Alphonso Johnson, Will Kennedy, Marcus Shelby, Bill Ortiz and others, know how to serve up the jazz vocal sides in mighty fine style." —Chris Spector, Midwest Record Review "Bearde teases the listener with his aural foreplay and romantic verse." —The London Journal “Nicolas Bearde has a powerful musical presence that touches each and every person in the audience

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Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

San Francisco

Contact

Publicist

Terri Hinte Publicity

Links

Followers

All About Jazz user Shaul Dover All About Jazz user Matt Fripp All About Jazz user Trevor Farrell All About Jazz user Matthew Shell All About Jazz user Suzanne Spencer All About Jazz user Sal La Rocca All About Jazz user Nicolas Bearde All About Jazz user Vince Eury All About Jazz user Michael Ricci All About Jazz user Lucia Fodde All About Jazz user Christopher Burnett All About Jazz user Billie Davies PR All About Jazz user Anna Boradzhieva

Concerts

  Sun, Jun 30
Stanford, CA
Nicolas Bearde Quartet
Stanford Jazz Workshop
Sun, Jun 30. 7:30 pm

Music

If You Were Mine

From: Visions
By Nicolas Bearde

God Bless the Child

From: Live at Yoshi's - A Salute to...
By Nicolas Bearde