LIVE at Piedmont Piano Company
Nicolas Bearde
Swinging into the Holidays with Nicolas Bearde LIVE
Now celebrating his 18th Annual Holiday show, this special concert is a "must see" for all fans of contemporary Jazz and Blues. For this performance he will be joined by Grammy award winning pianist, Glen Pearson, bassist Ruth Davies and drummer Leon Joyce, Jr. With heart-warming holiday classics and carols getting the signature Nicolas Bearde high-energy makeover, and... with genre turns from jazz to soul to blues, be sure to catch the Holiday spirit with audience favorites and new selections as Nicolas and his powerful ensemble light up the season.
Give the gift of music this Holiday Season to family and friends and be sure to make your reservations early. This "One night only concert" always sells out.
General Admission
$30 in advance / $35 at the door
We are offering a limited number of seats for this performance. Advance purchase is recommended. Masking is optional.
NICOLAS BEARDE
Award winning recording artist, Nicolas Bearde is a singer-songwriter, actor and educator whose career has spanned over 35 years. From his humble beginnings,( born and raised in Nashville, TN, the second of 7 children) to touring the globe with many of today’s jazz legends, Bearde has travelled many roads. His style is likened to Lou Rawls, Nat King Cole and Bill Withers and he is known for his “velvet voice”, wit and engaging rapport that has drawn audiences into his live performances around the world.
These last few years have been very busy for Bearde. As a solo artist he headlined venues from San Francisco, Miami , Savannah and New York to London and Paris, And… as the vocalist/narrator for sax legend, Vincent Herring’s “Story of Jazz Orchestra” - a 10 piece ensemble of jazz luminaries, (Eric Alexander, James Carter, Jon Faddis, Jeremy Pelt, Steve Turre, Mike Le Donne, Kenny Davis and Carl Allen), toured most of Europe presenting Jazz music’s 100 years of recorded history.
Bearde released his 6th album, “I Remember You – the Music of Nat King Cole” in August of 2019, featuring another sax great Eric Alexander, that garnered rave reviews at home and abroad, and…was the featured vocalist on 3 cuts on Vincent Herring’s chart-topping CD, “Hard Times”.
In November 2023 he released his first holiday EP. “Christmas Melodies” that includes his original tune, “Snowflakes” and is working on his 7th studio album to be released in 2026.
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. nicolasbearde.com
GLEN PEARSON
Glen Pearson is a noted pianist, and long-time educator: who teaches piano, jazz theory, and music appreciation at College of Alameda (CoA), where he is the head of the music studies program.
He began playing professionally at age fifteen – served as the Musical/Band Director of the World Renowned Boy’s Choir of Harlem,NY for 11 years, and appeared on stage and recordings with such notables as Nicolas Bearde, Marlena Shaw, Regina Belle and Bobby Hutcherson.
His playing is known for its sensitivity and expression, blending the swing tradition with modern jazz sensibilities and for the past 5 years he toured with the Count Basie Orchestra, who’s latest album, Basie Swings the Blues, netted “Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album” at the 2024 Grammy awards.
RUTH DAVIES
Bassist Ruth Davies has been an integral faculty member and Festival artist at the Stanford Jazz Workshop for over 15 years. When she’s not recording or touring, Ruth devotes much of her time to teaching, not only at SJW, but also with the San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures In Music program, and the SFJazz JAZZ in Session.
The list of artists Ruth has toured and recorded with reads like a Who’s Who of blues and jazz, including Charles Brown, Elvin Bishop, Clark Terry, John Lee Hooker, Bonnie Raitt, Maria Muldaur, JLinda Tillery, Etta Jones, Elvis Costello, Eric Bibb, Keb’ Mo’, Terry Gibbs, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Little Jimmy Scott. ruthdavies.com
LEON JOYCE, JR.
Drummer, Leon Joyce, Jr. played with Ramsey Lewis and Nancy Wilsom for many years in Chicago, before coming to California. He is fluent in the New Orleans drumming style,via his work with New Orleans legends, such as, Pete Fountain and Ellis Marsalis, but is equally at home with funk, gospel, jazz and blues. He studied theory, conducting and rehearsal techniques at the Armed Forces School of Music, and is an in-demand drummer in jazz venues all over the SF/ Bay area. leonjoycejr.com