About Nigel Clark
Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1957, Nigel was drawn to the guitar in the early 70's, along with the rest of his generation. Influenced by the rock music of the day, Nigel was also exposed to the gypsy genius Django Reinhardt, who made a big impression. His natural talent was honed on many tours through the highlands, the UK, France, Holland, Germany and others, playing fusion, Celtic Rock and with Gaelic singers. In 1987, Nigel joined the jazz/pop band Hue & Cry, opening for such arena rock artists U2, Madonna and Simply Red. The band also employed some of the biggest names in jazz on their recordings--Ron Carter, John Scofield, Tito Puente, Michael and Randy Brecker, to name a few. Treading the line between pop and jazz, the band occupied an artistic triumph that is rarely reached: crossing over. Nigel's visibility in the pop world led to high profile collaborations with Maire Brennan (the singer with Clannad and older sister of Enya), singer-songwriter Carol Laula, and started a lasting musical connection with legendary Scottish vocalist Carol Kidd. In the 90's, Nigel performed with Carla Bley and Steve Swallow at the Glasgow International Jazz Festival, appeared with Jan Akkerman and Spanish guitarist Ximo Tebar at the North Sea Jazz Festival, and in Cannes, performed with Akkerman and Norwegian Terje Rypdal, and with a big band that featured 11 guitarists! The decade also marked adoption of the nylon string guitar as his primary instrument. The Spanish guitar engaged Nigel's imagination, and set forth a multitude of artistic possibilities for the instrument, which ranged from the Brazilian style to the gypsy tinged sounds that were laid early in Nigel's mind through the influence of Django Reinhardt.
The 11 guitar spectacle in Cannes was witnessed by Arkadia CEO Bob Karcy, who was immediately struck by Nigel's deft playing. Karcy remembers "Nigel's fluid, improvised lines and note selections were so natural…I was very impressed, and he stood out from all the other guitarists." Over the next several years, the two kept in contact, ultimately leading to an exclusive recording contract with Arkadia Jazz.
About Grand Hotel Europa
Some of the originals on Grand Hotel Europa show the influence of Nigel’s “complete world” sensibility. Instead of a typical “jazz” recording, the CD is a celebration of the different sounds of the world that have informed Nigel playing throughout the years; from the orient, to the smoky clubs of New York, and on to the hot summer nights of Brazil. "East of the Sun" starts as a ballad, but soon launches into a mix of samba-meets-Spanish bullfighter, the blistering runs reminiscent of Paco De Lucia. The structure of the title track, inspired by a trip to Prague, “is quite grand, moving through several keys. It's really a solo guitar piece with bass and drums accompaniment.”
Nigel’s renditions of the jazz classics "How Deep Is The Ocean" and "Dolphin Dance" literally redefine the standards. “I was heavily influenced by Bill Evans…I tried to capture his energy on guitar,” says Nigel. The up tempo bop sparkles under the hands of the musicians, and Bill would have approved! And of the Hancock tune, “I had never heard it played on guitar before, so it felt very fresh.” Similarly, the haunting, arpeggiated "Sakura Samba" shows the distinctive and passionate amalgamation of gypsy music, jazz and Latin, in a way that has not been seen or heard before. “I don’t think there should be any problem about bringing in lots of influences, and I think it’s great to bring in different flavors.”
Antonio Carlos Jobim’s "Once I Loved" is on display next, a natural for Nigel. “The chord sequence has such built-in grace to it”, as does the sparse and stately original ballad "In Another Moment." The modal "Island Dance" is up next, and is “a challenge to play as a trio, as it has such a blank canvas on which to draw.” Nigel’s rapid fire lines, coupled with his sometimes jagged, slashing chords create a compelling juxtaposition against the three tonal centers of the song. "Caso De Verao" and the mainstay "You are Too Beautiful" showcase the beauty of the moment, and these performances display a new depth of melodic improvisation. The presence of Nigel’s longtime drummer Mike Bradley and bassist Ewen Vernal gives Grand Hotel Europa a relaxed, natural feel that can only be obtained through years of playing together. Musical telepathy is expected in jazz, and Nigel and company deliver the goods with a distinctive flair that is largely absent in today’s current scene. If there was ever a chance of Jazz, Latin and flamenco sharing a common thread, it would be in the Grand Hotel Europa, just after midnight.
All in all, Nigel’s career has seen the stadium heights of pop stardom and the rewards of intimate jazz venues. He has chosen the latter, the quiet candle flame of the Grand Hotel over the roar of Bic lighters. The reasons are purely artistic, and hearing is believing. Arkadia Jazz is proud to present Nigel Clark and his unique music in the new century.
About Arkadia Jazz
A full-service label started in 1997 by Bob Karcy, Arkadia Jazz has earned four Grammy nominations and acclaim as "The Artists' Choice." "Arkadia is a new label whose recordings to date have been meticulous, high-quality productions with focus and purpose" Thomas Conrad, Stereophile. The label has released CD's by Billy Taylor, David Liebman, Joanne Brackeen, T.K. Blue, Mary Pearson, Benny Golson, Paul Tobey, Uli Lenz and David Lahm, among others. The twice Grammy-nominated "Thank You" series includes tributes to John Coltrane, Gerry Mulligan, Duke Ellington and Joe Henderson. In June of 1999, Arkadia acquired the esteemed Postcards label, and is expanding its catalog into the world and classical music areas. Postcards (www.postcardsrecords.com) new releases are from bassist Joris Teepe with Don Braden and Chris Potter, classical pianist Lara Downes and percussionist/ethnomusicologist Royal Hartigan.
Arkadia Jazz is a label of Arkadia Entertainment, a natural extension of V.I.E.W. Video (www.view.com) founded by Karcy 17 years ago. V.I.E.W. is widely acknowledged to be the premiere home video producer and label in jazz, performing arts and special interest with a catalog in excess of 200 award-winning titles. For consumers who would like the name of the nearest retailer, or to receive a catalog, call toll-free, 1-888-ARKADIA. Arkadia's website can be found at www.arkadiarecords.com.
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