Événement

Nicole Stromsoe Duo with Dorian Michael

Sunday April 8th at 2 pm

Nicole Stromsoe

with

Dorian Michael

www.nicolestromsoe.com

Performing an atmospheric blend of eclectic, old soul, jazz & blues, Nicole Stromsoe's voice has been described as nourishing, sensual, and rich in quality. With clarity and presence, she shapes a distinctive experience for her listeners; expressed from a resounding source of emotional intelligence. Nicole is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music (Boston), and has studied the voice intensively for 15 years..

Raised in the coastal village of Cambria, California, and on the road traveling to various US art festivals, Nicole Stromsoes life has been immersed in creative awareness.

Daughter of renowned silversmith, Randy Stromsoe, Nicole grew up with the sound of hammers accompanying an ever-playing stereo. Music was highly revered in her household and she was introduced to a wide spectrum of genre and musical expression.

It was in her early development that she identified as designer, just like her parents; now, however, she practices mostly in the aural arts. Designing shapes and sounds both intangible and impermanent, she crafts not only the song itself, but its interpretation, breath, phrasing, space, and the placement of how it will land out there.

I have a particular affinity for how music influences and defines environment; the environment within as well as the space surrounding ourselves. It has the power to dictate both a very specific, and an overall experience, much like lighting. I strive to create an atmosphere of warmth with a sense of suspension; a push/pull of weighted and lifted space. The intention is not only that the listener will be aware of this sensation within themselves, but the whole room will be alive with it, too.

Nicoles earliest memories include imitating every Ella Fitzgerald nuance on a Gershwin album as early as 5 years old, and continuously replaying a collection of Atlantic Soul Classic hits from which she first fell for voices such as Barbara Lewis.

Singing in choirs from 8 years old, she took charge in putting together a vocal jazz quartet while in high school. Wanting to make music more of a focus in her life, she transferred to the Idyllwild Arts Academy and started seriously studying classical vocal technique, aria, and art song.

She continued to explore the classical tradition for a short period in Siena, Italy. There, she heard a jazz quartet performing in a neighborhood alcove and it rang true for her to further her studies in jazz.

Returning to Californias Central Coast, Nicole continued music studies at Cuesta College while starting to perform out as a jazz vocalist. She was traveling back and forth to Los Angeles and San Francisco for various workshops and vocal education courses when she decided to study at the Berklee College of Music, Boston.

She graduated Magna Cum Laude, and there, surprisingly, was re-introduced to a familiar love of folk/Americana/roots music. Memories of the tones pounding metal created over this music, played in the silversmith workshop growing up, were brought back louder than ever.

She started to incorporate this influence into her set; creating an eclectic array of jazz, blues, old r&b, folk, and roots music. Of course, with the influence of her education, travels, and life experiences, this rooted American music is created from a unique contemporary space that is Nicole Stromsoe.

Some favorite current musical artists include David Byrne, MeShell Ndegeocello, Gregory Porter, Bjork, Jill Scott, Lila Downs, Eileen Jewell, and Rachelle Ferrell ((to name a few)) though most of Nicoles musical influences are artists no longer in performance.

QUOTES:.

Nicole Stromsoe brings the same sort of experimentation and fresh interpretation to her jazz and blues music as, say, a Cassandra Wilson. The acoustic instrumentation provided by Dorian Michael (guitar), Ken Hustad (bass), and Dean Giles (drums) offers just the right touch to her evocative voice.

Glen Starkey, New Times SLO

A vocalist with a strong command of a wide variety of genres including jazz, blues and folk, Nicole Stromsoe effortlessly draws from her musical influences and presents her listeners with a sound and style that is soulful, authentic and uniquely her own.
Graham Dechter, Jazz Guitarist

Her voice is over the moon with stunning emotion, depth, range and timbre. Nicole gives me goosebumps when she sings.
Jacalyn Kreitzer, Vocologist & Mezzo-Soprano

Dorian Michael started playing guitar as a seven-year old in Los Angeles just as folk music was about to have a renaissance of sorts and earthy acoustic music was his first guitar experience. He has been a working guitarist for four decades and in that time has played plenty of blues and folk, jazz and rock and roll. There has always been a huge variety of playing experience from smokey honky-tonks to theater orchestra pits. At some point along the way he started playing a few solo fingerstyle instrumentals, made a cd and decided he needed to hit the road and see if he could sell all those cds he had. Three solo cds and four ensemble cds later Dorian is still playing throughout the States and Canada. He calls his solo music contemporary traditional; original music that reflects his interest in a number of styles of music. These influences come through in his original material, but it is a contemporary music that grows from, rather than mimics, those influences. When he plays someone elses music or a traditional piece he always manages to add a few surprises. Says Dorian, Some music makes you feel, some makes you think and some music is just for the fun of it. I try to get to all those places in the space of a performance.

Ticket Sales Close 2 Hours Before the Show Begins, so get your tickets early, or at the door!

Tickets also available In Person at Mazahar, by phone any time 1-800 838-3006. Also at the door if not sold out.

Advance tickets online, by 800# phone and at Mazahar close 2 hours before the show opens, so get your seats early or show up at the door to claim any unsold seats.

This series is all Open Seating. If you wish to have Accessible Seating in Row A ~ no stairs ~ please make sure to let us know when purchasing your tickets

Thank you to Les Schwab Tire Center of Willits, Willits Furniture Center and NC Financial for underwriting our 2018 season!