Album Notes

For more than 10 years now, standing room-only crowds have been lining up to hear the band FINGERPRINTS at clubs and music festivals throughout the southwest. Fingerprints'1991 self-titled CD sold over 10,000 copies. The Dallas based sextet has expanded its range, garnering regular airplay on jazz and NAC radio stations from Dallas to San Francisco to New York City. This increased exposure has earned FINGERPRINTS critical raves and many thousands of loyal fans across the country. JazzUSA.com writes, ...Fingerprints is one of the best kept secrets of the south...the Smooth Jazz Mafia better watch out!"

FINGERPRINTS second release, Summertime Music , reached top twenty status in both Radio and Records and the Gavin Report. The opening track, Whisper, on this 1994 disc was a favorite of many programmers across the country and abroad. It features long time friend and saxophonist Marion Meadows.

The band's third release Reunion Live was a definitive statement in the evolution of their musical growth and popularity. It was recorded at the world famous Caravan of Dreams club in Fort Worth, Texas. Fingerprints track, December can also be heard on This is Texas Smooth Jazz CD sampler, released in fall 1996. Fingerprints latest CD, DNA was released in the fall of 2001. The hit single So in Love is featured on the compilation, Cafe De Soul Chapter 3 (UK, Japan, Holland, Germany, France). DNA is also distributed by The Orchard Distribution in NYC. Bret Michael, music director at 107.5 FM The Oasis in Dallas says "...it's great, a wonderful feel in such a fantastic collection of Smooth Jazz!"

FINGERPRINTS has performed at major festivals in Dallas, Houston, Memphis, and
Washington, D.C. Band members have also recorded and toured with artists such as Art Porter, Jr., Ronnie Laws, Tom Browne, Harry Connick, Tower of Power, and Freddie Ravel.

FINGERPRINTS was founded in 1986 by guitarist Roy Machado and bassist Frederick
Nichelson. At the time both men were students at the prestigious University of North Texas. Nichelson is originally from Memphis, where he grew up in the shadow of many STAX Records legends and their contemporaries such as The Memphis Horns, Kirk Whalum and pianist James Williams. Drummer Kennan Wylie, from Austin, Texas, earned a Master's degree in Music from UNT. When not on stage he serves as an educator where he and his groups have won various awards at the Percussive Arts Society International Conferences (P.A.S.). Saxophonist Claud Hardrick hails from Wichita, Kansas. His sultry, intelligent play epitomizes Fingerprints' musical philosophy: striving for the cutting edge, while retaining
respect for tradition. In addition to the core group, FINGERPRINTS frequently features guests vocalists. Recently, singers have included Tim Jones (who was featured on the band's latest release) and Melba Stevens, a versatile stylist and dynamic live performer.

Finally, the rest of the world is discovering what the south has secretly enjoyed for years! It's no wonder that FINGERPRINTS is grabbing the attention of listeners craving more than formulaic commercial jazz.