LIVE at Piedmont Piano Company
Songs & Stories:
Nicolas Bearde
Jazz and Blues singer Nicolas Bearde sings a set of his favorite songs and shares stories about his more than 35 year career, from leaving his Nashville home in his teens, to singing in Japan during his military service, to eventually making his home in the Bay Area. Followed by audience Q & A. Hosted by vocalist Sharmila G. Lash.
$25 General Admission
We are offering a limited number of tickets to attend this performance in person. Advance purchase is recommended. Masking is encouraged but no longer required.
"A jewel always shines brightest when placed in just the right setting... When Bearde's soulful and affecting baritone sits atop of impeccably tailored arrangements of sterling standards... the results are absolutely stunning !" – Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
NICOLAS BEARDE
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. nicolasbearde.com
SHARMILA G. LASH
Sharmila G. Lash is sought after as a jazz and classical singer, as well as for her voice-over work. She is a private voice instructor, works as a session singer for film and television, and is a regular chorister with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Teaching steadily since 2004, she incorporates her vast professional experience to help guide students to find their own voice. Sharmila began her music studies with piano lessons at age six and singing lessons at age eleven. She was a music student at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and continued on to study classical voice at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she discovered her passion for jazz. She has performed on some of the biggest stages in California, led by Gustavo Dudamel, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Michael Tilson Thomas, Zubin Mehta, and others, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, Kronos Quartet, Carmen Lundy, Don Shelton, Luciana Souza, as well as with many of the top jazz and classical musicians in both Northern and Southern California. sharmilaguhalash.com