IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR NICOLE'S LATEST RELEASE, "TREASURE" PLEASE VISIT: www.nicolehartband.com/cd.asp
Nicole Hart stands at the crossroads of many musical boundaries, undefined by any genre. The sound is a natural evolution of Blues, R&B, Funk & Soul, aggressively combining a seductive, funky feel with the soulful nuances of the Blues. Under the direction of producer, arranger, and keyboardist Lance Ong (David Sanborn, Andre Crouch), the mission of this consortium is to bring an intense, provocative listening experience & a musically enticing & satisfying show to the audience.
"I am an artist influenced by all great music, undefined by genre,” says Hart. “Our music is inspired by many of the greatest artists of our time...we aspire to create a feeling & a depth of integrity representing those influences, while also conveying a viewpoint toward the world all our own."
Nicole’s timeless, powerful, intoxicating voice is beautifully soul/sweet – silky, then gritty – classic yet absolutely contemporary – and she is renowned for her electrifying stage presence. Lance Ong’s masterful command of the keyboards is undisputed; Ong is one of the most exciting and versatile soloists on the scene today.
Nicole’s impressive resume includes work with a variety of music greats such as Harry Belafonte, Billy Joel, Michael Bolton, Oscar Winning Film Director Jonathan Demme, Richard Bona, Drew Zingg, Chuck Berry, & Bo Diddley; she has opened for Bernard Allison, Odetta, E.C. Scott & Richie Havens, & has the distinction of being the first-ever Caucasian singer for the R&B super group, The Shirelles.
Lance Ong, Keyboards, Vocals, Musical Director: Lance Ong was part of a team that produced, wrote and arranged over 700 songs and whose credits include a Grammy Award-winning record by Andre Crouch and recordings with David Sanborn, The Pointer Sisters, Grand Funk Railroad, Michael Murphy, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Anne Murray, Johnny Halliday and Sylvie Vartan, Trini Lopez, Erykah Badu & many others. His masterful command of the keyboards is undisputed.
Guest Guitarists:
Grammy-nominee Gil Parris (David Sanborn) is one of very few artists who have 5 nationally released albums in over four different genres: R&B, smooth jazz, traditional jazz and blues. He has solo albums on RCA/BMG ("Gil Parris shines through as the brightest star in the genre since Larry Carlton" -Guitar One Magazine), Okra-Tone/Koch ("Parris has the goods and all seven cuts here show it" -Vintage Guitar), and his own "Jam This" release ("When it comes to improvising epic, crowd-pleasing solos in an eclectic range of styles, Parris is more than qualified to deliver the goods" -Guitar Player);
Special Guest Stanley Behrens, Harmonica & Tenor sax:
Stanley has toured with Ruth Brown, recorded two records with Willie Dixon, three records with Jimmy Smith, “Friends in the Can” for Canned Heat alongside guest artists John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal, Roy Rogers, Corey Stevens and Walter Trout, & recorded for more television shows & movies than we can name here. For more on Stanley, simply "Google" him!
Reviews:
"Their initial CD,“Live,” is an in-performance document that testifies to their confidence and shows Hart's raw gospel passion and a seriously tight band."
~ Rick Kosta, Arts Writer, New London Day News, CT
"Clearly, Nicole has the chops to compete in the big time blues and R&B circuits. Her voice harkens back to her gospel roots, exuding blues soul. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Nicole is a talent who is on the move up in the biz. I was impressed by her ability to work the crowd into a frenzy with her voice. This gal knows how to use her beauty to enhance her talent without turning it into a distraction."
~ Writer Rick Grant, Review, Springing The Blues Festival
"Hart is, er, kinda gorgeous, and she has a big voice, too, with a road-tested backup band that delivers nicely on the band's CD, "Nicole Hart & The NRG Band Live!"
~ Tad Dickens, The Roanoke Times, VA
"This vocalist can be hotter than hot or cooler than cool but, make no mistake, Nicole Hart & NRG lights up the phone lines like a x-mas tree - a treat instead of a treatment, both in person, or on the airwaves...I know talent when I hear it. She has a tremendous future in the music industry...A major star."
~ Bill Nolan, host of "Antique Blues", WPKN-FM 89.5, Bridgeport, CT
"Imagine Margo Timmins of Cowboy Junkies swinging to a Bonnie Raitt groove. That's Nicole Hart."
~ Robert Breslin, The Berge Record
"Hart and the NRG band are traipsing up and down the East Coast creating a stir with a style inspired by the music industry's greats -- and a measure of their own ingenuity."
~ Jeffrey Theodore, The Jersey Journal
"Sensual, smoky, smooth, Hart's...sultry vocals take on the brash confidence and gravel of a woman empowered....calling up hints of Bobby Bland and Aretha Franklin on the way..."
~ Ben Cox, WEAI, IL
"What a stage presence! Gorgeous Nicole Hart sings with power, passion, and incredible range... (her) BIG voice hits all the right notes...but it's the emotion in her voice that really grabs you."
~ Jim Hynes, Blues Director - WDVR-FM
"Sweet, fine, sensitive, charming, sexy...Is this excellent, versatile singer who tastefully and cleverly combines funky music, blues and ballads."
~ Vincente Zumel, DJ & Host of The Blues Hour, Barcelona, Spain
"Nicole Hart leads the band with an incredible voice similar to that of Susan Tedeschi, but with a sound very much all her own."
~ Al Lundy, KZUM Radio - Nebraska
"Don't let Atlanta, Georgia native Nicole Hart's movie star good looks fool you, she can belt out vocals with the best in music. With her full rich tone, impeccable phrasing and precise pitch, it's obvious that she is a singer's singer."
~ Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation, JSJBF.org
"Record label scots take not: Nicole Hart & The NRG Band gots chops! The independently-released "Live NRG" (***) is a splendid showcase for frontwoman Hart and the NRG Band."
~ Dylann DeAnna , contibuting writer to BluesWax & Blues Revue
"Nicole belts out some seriously soulful and very bluesly vocals... She really gets to show her broad and versatile range ... also highlighted by more great organ and guitar work."
~ Peter "The Blewzzman" Lauro, contributing writer to Blues Revue, Blueswax Ezine, and Mary4Music.com
"Nicole Hart & The NRG Band whipped up some of the most soulful tunes of the evening ... with Hart's impervious vocals supported by a few of the most critically accredited musicians around, including the Grammy nominated guitarist Gil Parris and the quick paced harmonica solos of Stanley Behrens."
~ Good Times Magazine Review
"A great mix of R&B, blues and originals—Nicole is truly one of the finest and most charismatic vocalists I’ve ever heard. She sings with tremendous passion and style, and has great audience rapport."
~ David Goldman, Songwriter & Recording Artist, World Wave Music (ASCAP)
"Lance Ong...an amazing artist to listen to and trust me, your eyes will be glued to his performance. Ong's performance during "Treasure" was electrifying...collaborating with Ms. Hart's very soulfully charged vocals."
~ Connecticut Excursionz Magazine
"Been a long time since I heard a voice like yours...You got the magic."
~ Blues Legend Sam "the bluzman" Taylor
"Imagine that classic band fronted by a beautiful blonde with a gospel voice and all the moves of Tina Turner. Get the picture?"
~ The Working Musician
"The musicianship and vocals carry the listener along on a musical journey spanning a cohesive mix of Blues, soul, funk, R&B & Nicole Hart's sultry vocals. If you love your Blues mixed in with a touch of soul & sprinkled with a bit of good old fashioned rock n' roll, The NRG Band delivers! "
~ Robert John, Correspondent, BARRELHOUSE BLUES
"Hart can give Sade a blues make over that is simply moving... shakes and shimmies the blues with a powerful beat and genuine feel of loss and pain..."
~ Mark "Dr. Blues" Gresser
"Nicole Hart belts out the Blues...She's a Heartbreaker"
~ North Shore Sun
Nicole Hart of NRG...This blonde bombshell’s sweet, sultry and energetic vocals brought the audience into her hands."
~ The Journal News
“Great keyboard work by Lance Ong & vocals from Nicole Hart.”
~ BLUES REVUE
“Wrote the book on putting on a perfect show. Their sound treated the blues in the highest regard. They exemplified how the blues doesn’t have to be just a simple twelve-bar phrase.”
~ GOOD TIMES MAGAZINE
“A big sound steeped in Jazz, R&B, Blues & Rock with incredibly soulful vocals. This band really knows how to cook with a blazing musical bonfire.”
~ MUSICMORSELS
"NRG Band is off the hook !!!!!! Love your groove...leaves a great taste in your soul !!!!!!"
~ Alexis P. Suter, LEVON HELM'S MIDNIGHT RAMBLE
“Spectacular vocals & instrumentals bring their considerable talents together to rock your world: Rhythm & Blues at its finest!”
~ BARRELHOUSE BLUES, recipient, USA Today’s coveted “Hot Site” award & “Livin’Blues” Gold award for Virtual Excellence on the Web
"TOUR DE FORCE" ~ LONG ISLAND BLUES SOCIETY REVIEWS
“A top notch band of immense talents...something special in a world cluttered with the ‘next best things’...this band IS the next best thing...”
~ UNITED JERSEY BLUES NETWORK
"High energy, action-packed show. A real crowd pleaser!"
~ Tom Gahan, Producer, RIVERHEAD BLUES FESTIVAL
"First rate Rhythm & Blues show...hits all the right grooves in all the right places!"
~ Mike Moss, Producer, BLUES 2005 FESTIVAL
“Ms. Hart unleashes a torrent of emotion. Slinging his keyboard over his shoulders like a guitar, Lance attacks it just like a guitar - his stinging vibrato drives the crowd into frenzy.”
~ NEW YORK BLUES & JAZZ SOCIETY REVIEWS
“The group is one hard workin’, soulfunkin’, blues jumpin’ R&B revue.”
~ RHYTHM & NEWS MAGAZINE
“Terrific!!” ~ BLUESVIEWS
"Great! The crowd's favorite!"
~ Bob Putignano, President NY Blues & Jazz Society, 2003 KeepingThe Blues Alive award recipient, contributing writer Goldmine Magazine, & Blues Music Association Communications Committee www.BluesMusicAssociation.org
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