On her sixth album So Good, So Right: Nicole Henry Live, Henry demonstrates her gift for sublime interpretation as well as her love for the emotionally tinged soul, pop and rock songs that were staples of the 1970’s. The 13-track live album, which was recorded at Henry’s sold-out performances at Feinstein’s in NYC in May 2012, showcases her soulful, inspired interpretations of some of her favorite classic hits of the decade from iconic artists including Bill Withers, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, The Commodores and Gladys Knight.

“I really connected with the music of the 70’s-all those incredible grooves and great lyrics that conveyed hope and love and being free,” comments Henry. “Growing up I can remember my parents listening to lots of soul and pop music, and so many of those songs just gave me a great feeling of happiness. The artists of that time were true craftsmen and their music had such a broad sound, accessible by people of all races- that’s the kind of music I loved-no definitions! I wanted to revisit that time and those emotions and share them with my fans.”

Featured tracks on the album include the title track, Brenda Russell’s ‘So Good, So Right,’ which Henry loves for the “simplicity of the adjectives Good and Right and how, in this song, “SO” completely explains that feeling of inexplicable perfection of that moment. It just IS.” Henry grew up on Aretha Franklin’s music so when album producer Matt Pierson recommended to her the song ‘Spirit in the Dark,’ from Franklin’s 1970 album, she knew she had to cover it. “I grew up listening to Aretha’s 1972 live gospel album Amazing Grace- as far as I’m concerned, everything Aretha sings is gospel,” says Henry. “This song reminds people to be free, look within themselves, and lose control when you need to – a revival of spirit.” Other tracks include the great Bill Withers 1972 classic ‘Use Me,’ which Henry says “shows just how funky he was, and the lyrics show how direct his writing could be. The song’s meaning is obvious…GOOD LOVING goes a long way!”

Henry also shines on tracks such as Joni Mitchell’s ‘Big Yellow Taxi,’ where, as Henry explains, “Joni Mitchell’s whimsical melody, combined with her sad lyrics, always throws me for a curve on the last verse,” and Stealers Wheel’s raucous ‘Stuck in the Middle,’ where Henry showcases her signature attitude. So Good, So Right: Nicole Henry Live closes with Fleetwood Mac’s iconic ‘Landslide,’ a beautiful song Henry interprets to be about “learning to love, growing up, accepting one’s past sacrifices, and making decisions about where you’re going.”

Growing up in a musical family in Bucks County, PA, Henry immersed herself in the arts early on, singing in school and churh, and studying cello and ballet. After graduating from the University of Miami with a degree in Communications and Theatre, Henry launched a successful acting career, appearing in commercial roles as well as a series of voiceover assignments. But she directed her strongest passion toward the development of her full-time singing career which was quickly rewarded in her present hometown, when the Miami New Times named Henry “Best Solo Musician 2002.”

Henry’s 2004 debut CD release, The Nearness of You, won considerable attention from audiences and critics in the U.S. and in Japan, where they named Henry Best New Jazz Artist of 2004. The following year, Henry’s Teach Me Tonight reached #1 in Japan and was named HMV Japan’s Best Vocal Jazz Album of 2005. 2008′s The Very Thought of You substantially expanded her American audience, reaching #7 on Billboard’s jazz chart. 2011’s Embraceable, a slight departure from her prior recording, reached the top 20 on jazz and smooth jazz radio charts and was a creative triumph for Henry, increasing her repertoire of originals, and further established her as a peerless interpreter of jazz, and pop standards, transcending genre boundaries.

A highly-praised live performer whose impressive resume includes starring roles on Broadway in such acclaimed musicals as Rent and Aida, Simone has developed an exciting and diverse repertoire of pop, soul, jazz, rock and funk, expressed in shows she’s done throughout the world. “Touring with Simone on Simone has been a dream come true as I’ve traveled around the world and graced stages that are legends unto themselves. Among my favorites have been the Sydney Opera House, the Montreaux Jazz Festival, New York’s Lincoln Center, Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl, and the North Sea Jazz Festival.”

With the success of her 2008 release, Simone On Simone (a big band tribute to her mother produced by famed jazz musician and arranger Bob Belden), music lovers worldwide have discovered the vocal dynamism that live audiences have witnessed for over a decade. “This is my tribute to my mother, a chance for me to do the songs I love the most the way I hear them. It’s a glimpse of my life over four decades…” Fortunate to have been gifted over fifty of her mother’s original arrangements, Simone began working with producer Bob Belden (whose credits include work with Herbie Hancock, Cassandra Wilson, Sting and Chick Corea) on the recording project, culling eleven songs from Nina Simone’s repertoire, including one live performance on which her mother accompanied her and featuring one poignant and highly personal song, “Child In Me” which Simone fondly refers to as “my love song to my mother.”

She succeeds admirably turning in tour-de-force performances on little-known gems from her mother’s recorded repertoire such as “Keeper Of The Flame,” “I Hold No Grudge” and “Don’t You Pay Them No Mind” (all from Nina Simone’s 1966 LP High Priestess Of Soul) as well as rewordings of such classics as “Feeling Good,” “Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair” (given a completely new and original twist), “Work Song,” the spirited “(You’ll) Go To Hell” and swinging versions of “Love Me Or Leave Me” and Duke Ellington’s “Gal From Joe’s.” Rounding out her first of many future albums: “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free” (the Billy Taylor tune closely identified with her mother as one of the potent message songs which were so much a part of Nina Simone’s catalog of music with themes of freedom, self-empowerment and justice for all) and “How Long Must I Wander,” a plaintive song that speaks to Simone’s own formative years traveling across the globe with her mother. The album went on to be come #14 on the Billboard Jazz charts and was Top 5 at iTunes on their Jazz Vocalist chart.

Simone recently recorded a new version of her mother Nina’s original classic “Four Women” for Tyler Perry’s film, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf. In keeping with the organic integrity of the original recording with a slightly younger rendition, “Four Women” produced by Warryn Campbell, will be available and heard on the commercially released movie soundtrack (Atlantic Records), closing credits and the movie trailer.

Since her mother’s passing in 2003, Simone has taken on many projects which include managing her mothers’ extensive estate. Simone is also an avid supporter for Breast Cancer Awareness (the disease which claimed her mother’s life in 2003) and actively involved in other philanthropic causes mother’s life in 2003) and actively involved in other philanthropic causes such as Nina’s Kids, a Miami, FL based non-profit organization whose mission is to educate, nurture and motivate musically talented children to achieve the highest level of music artistry. All music in the program will be influenced by the work of Nina Simone, whose life and passion for music is the inspiration for Nina’ Kids.

Encouraged by the constant support of God, family, friends and fans, Simone says her commitment is to “keep singing, keep writing, keep performing, spreading the word, spreading the healing, spreading the message and spreading the love!” With a rich heritage to draw from, a wealth of accomplishments and accolades as a Broadway star and live wealth of accomplishments and accolades as a Broadway star and live performer and a finely-developed sense of her own unique artistry, Simone is ready to establish herself as a successful recording artist of the first order. She has had a wonderful run with Simone On Simone, an album that honors her mother’s musical contribution while beginning a new chapter in her own musical journey.

Soon after, nicknamed Kemp after his idol the genius American basketball player SHawn Kemp, also started playing rugby with US Cenon RD, a sport which will remain a permanent feature in our life. He still practices with the Lormont Club, a second division club in Borderaux.

Roger started touring at an early age with famous French artists such as Bireli Lagrene, Pierre Vassiliu and Jacques Higelin, and was also a valued member of local bands such as Post image. He has also worked with Tribal Jam as a musical director.

FOllowing his notable contribution to Chic Hot, he quickly made a name for himself at a national level, and was subsequently approached by two other key jazz fusion bands, Sixun and Ultramarine, as a substitute to their original drummers Paco Sery and Mokhtar Sambar.

Recording sessions with artists such as the Hansons, Narada, Michael Walden, Chris de Burgh, I Muvrini, Carol King, Keziah Jones and the great guitartist Jeff Beck, raised his international profile. Four tours with the legendary and sadly missed Joe Zawinul confirmed his status as an international artist, the last of which in October/ November 2006 also involved the guest appearance of the no less famous Bobby McFerrin.

Roger has also played with Frank McComb, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Marcus Miller, Michel Jonasz, John Beasley, Andy Narell, Mark Tuner, Womack & Womack, the late John Stubblefield and the late James.

Alongside Steward Copeland and Jeff Porcaro many other genius have influenced his career, just as Jeff “Tain” Watts, Vinnie Colaiuta, the All Blacks, James Taylor, Phillip D. “Fish” Fisher, Wayner Shorter, Omar Hakim, Stade Tpulousain, Brandon & Wynton Marsalis, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Kenny Kirkland and Sting to name but a few.

Along with a world tour from November 2005 to July 2009 with the great Malian singer Salif Keita, Roger realised a long standing dream with the release of his own album, Influence, an album in which Roger expresses his multiple talents as a jazz drummer and composer, not to mention his love of rugby, an underlying theme in his album.

With From Palmer, his new album celebrating the neighbourhood of his childhood, Roger continues to follow in the footsteps of his masters and friens, Jeff “Tain” Watts and Brandford & Wynton Marsalis.

BERNARD CESARI, drums, a well known musician and part of different groups in Europe, he immediately agree to the spirit of French Sumo and he became a strong pillar for them. He share his time between France and Switzerland with guitarist Francis Coletta, bassist Reggie Johnson and vocalist Sandy Patton. His influences come from musicians he personally met like Max Roach, Jose Boto (Tania Maria) and Dédé Ceccarelli (DeeDee Bridgewater).

JEAN-PAUL ARTERO, upright bass. He met Yves Scotto and Bernard Cesari when he manages and produced TANGORA. In 1996, she left to Paris and their friendship was setted in a new band : French Sumo was created and still going strong ! !

They actually propose concerts from trio (mainstream jazz and Latin music) to quintet “French Sumo XXL ” (jazz bop, jazz pop ) adding sax and/or vocalist. Along these years they could play with artists such as Gregory Hutchinson, Pierre Boussaguet, Francis Lockwood, Jimmy Woode, Guy Marchand, Linda Love Burroughs, Francis Coletta, George Robert, Diana Krall, Russel Malone, Munyungo Jackson , and played or “jam sessions” in New York, London, Ekaterinburg (Russia) or Hong Kong.

They also have been the summer tour quartet for the exceptional singer LA VELLE (jazz, blues, gospel).The repertoire goes from jazz mainstream (Oscar Peterson, Monty Alexander) to Latin jazz (Michel Camilo, Sonny Rollins) and Frenchstandards (Michel Legrand, Claude Nougaro)

In addition, since 2000 he has studied with the well-known New York jazz pianist Peter Madsen, with whom he is playing in the band “Mistura” and also in Peter´s Ensemble “CIA” (Collective of Improvising Artists). In 2006 David Helbock also studied with Thierry Lang at the University of Arts in Bern. Helbock has also attended numerous jazz and improvising master classes, including those of Art Lande, Huw Warren, Kenny Werner, Peter Herbert, George Garzone, Michael Jefry Stevens, Enrico Pieranunzi, Michael Lauren, Andre Manga, Esbjörn Svenson and Bobo Stenson.

David Helbock is a several-time award winner at the young musicians´ competition “Prima la Musica,” and in 2001 he was awarded the prestigous Bösendorfer Scholarship (classical piano). With the band Tat-twam-asi, which has appeared as an opening act for Joe Zawinul, among others, he won the 2002 Talent Competition.
David Helbock played Tours and Recordings with different projects in countries like the USA, Mexico, Russia, Kasachstan, Kirgistan, Kenya, Senegal, Indonesia, Argentina, Chile and all over Europe.

Since the start of his musical career David Helbock is also very active as a composer. His newest works are a concerto for Jazztrio and Orchestra and a big „One-Year compositional project“ where he wrote a new piece every day for a whole year. (In April 2010 his „My Personal Realbook“ with over 600 pages of music was released)

Inspite of his young age David Helbock has already released several CDs as a „Leader“ on different european record companies. In 2002 he recorded his first Piano-Solo CD “Emotions” and in 2004 “Transformation”, the second CD followed – this time with the Dave Helbock Trio. Both Cds were released by the Vienna Label Gramola.

In 2006 he won the competition of the biggest german speaking jazzmagazine “Jazzthing” called “Next Generation” with the Helbock-Dietrich-Vogel Trio (short: HDV Trio). This allowed them to release their CD „Celebrating modern Genius“ on the cologne label “Doublemoon Records”. With the HDV Trio David Helbock also won the international competition „New Generation 06“ in Straubing, Germany, where they were able to win against more than 60 other european bands.

In 2007 David Helbock was invited to the world biggest Jazz-Piano-Solo competition in Montreux and could convince the topclass jury, winning the 2nd prize. In the same year he published his second Solo-Piano CD called “Time” on the german label YVP Music.

Also in 2007 David Helbock won the podiums-prize of Liechtenstein. In Oktober 2008 the HDV Trio released their next CD “All In”, again on the label Doublemoon, which was spoken of in high terms by the press (Jazzthing, Jazzthetik, Concerto).

In 2009 the band “David Helbock ́s Random/Control” was founded, a trio with a very unique instrumentation, which released their first CD on the berlin label “Traumton” in September 2010. This CD got great press and big features in magazines like the Jazzthing or the Jazzthetik.
A more intensive collaboration with the label Traumton in berlin will take place in the future. David Helbock released a CD called “Diagonal” with the violinplayer Simon Frick in 2011 and in 2012 a new CD, this time solopiano, will be released on Traumton.

Speaking about „Free Music“ someone shoudn´t forget David Helbock ́s collaboration with the CIA Ensemble in Vorarlberg (Collective of Improvising Artists). In 2007 Peter Madsen founded this ensemble which has already published several CDs and DVDs and since a few years they also improvise free music once a month to silent films.
In 2010 in addition to the normal prize David Helbock won the “audienceprize” at the same pianocompetition in Montreux.
In the year 2011 David Helbock was awarded the biggest austrian prize – the “Outstanding Artist Award”