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Kim Nazarian
A native "up-state" New Yorker and Magna Cum Laude graduate of Ithaca College, Kim is a founding member of the Grammy award-winning group New York Voices, formed in 1987. She has recorded numerous CD's and toured the world with this outstanding vocal quartet. For their most recent project, the group took on the role of featured artist with Paquito D'Rivera on his latest release for the MCG Jazz label; "Brazilian Dreams".
In Japan, Kim has a solo CD on the JVC label entitled "Red Dragonfly In New York". This educational project is a collection of Japanese folk songs that have been translated into English and arranged in "western" musical settings. Ms. Nazarian is also a featured artist on a number of other CD's released on the MCG Jazz label, including "Afternoon In Rio" with Joe Negri, "The 21st Century Swing Band", and the highly acclaimed "A Nancy Wilson Christmas". Please go to mcgjazz.org for details. Always attracted to the "Latin Scene", Kim has performed and recorded with the Boston based band "El Eco". Particularly exciting for Kim is the recent opportunity to work on Bobby McFerrin's upcoming recording project.
After having a son of her own, Kim is even more dedicated to the quality of music for children and music education. Inspired by "Long Ago And Far Away", her original, interactive children's concert, Kim has co-produced a radio show for youngsters under the same title. Also, currently in the creative development stage, is an interdisciplinary TV Series/CD-Rom for children.
Additionally, soon to be completed are Kim's educational book and video/DVD covering her critically acclaimed approach to vocal technique and musical sensibilities for singers. Kim also disseminates her highly sought after perspectives through the teaching of private students, clinics, workshops, master classes, festival adjudication and guest conducting for all levels from grade school to graduate school.
In New York, Kim continues not only her private studio, but also her active involvement in the "studio scene" where her credits include numerous jingles and major motion picture scores. After establishing her "dual residency" in Pittsburgh, PA, Kim was a featured vocalist along with Ray Brown and Stanley Turrentine in the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre production, "Indigo In Motion". Kim truly enjoys being a wife and mom, whether at home or on the road.
Peter Eldridge
Peter Eldridge has been called "perennially classy" (JazzTimes) and ranked "in the celebrated tradition of melodic poets, most famously represented by such disparate voices as Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison and Steely Dan - singer/songwriters who create catchy, beautiful tunes with insightful lyrics that are both personal and universal" (allmusicguide.com). Mr. Eldridge continues to draw on his many-faceted talent as he pursues an eclectic mix of activities, including composing, performing, arranging, recording, as well as teaching (Manhattan School of Music, jazz voice faculty since 1993). He has released three solo recordings: 'Stranger in Town', characterized by its bittersweet swing and called the Best Jazz CD of 2001 by Boston radio station WICN; 'Fool No More', full of Peter's original compositions in a sophisticated pop style, released in the same year (both on the independent label Rosebud Records); and 'Decorum', a 2005 release of originals. Downbeat said of his latest CD, "If musical intelligence and artistry were prompters to marketplace success, Decorum would grant him stardom. . . .strong, far-ranging voice...hauntingly wistful". Peter is also a member of the double-Grammy winning New York Voices, a vocal group he co-founded with Darmon Meader, which has recorded six studio albums (including a new studio project set to be released in the Spring of 2007), made numerous guest appearances, and toured internationally for more than a decade, with appearances at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and the Kennedy Center, among many others. In addition, compositions by Mr. Eldridge have been included on albums by other artists: "Minds of Their Own", written with Brazilian composer-performer Ivan Lins, was included on Nancy Wilson's 'R.S.V.P.' (Rare Songs, Very Personal) on the MCG Jazz Label, which won the 2004 Grammy award for Best Jazz Vocal Album; "Difficult" was recorded by Cuban saxophonist-clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera for his 'The Jazz Chamber Trio', a 2005 release on Chesky Records; and Jane Monheit, who was at one time one of Mr. Eldridge's many talented students, features the Eldridge duet "Around Us", based on a James Thurber quote, on her 2003 Encoded Music DVD, 'Live from the Rainbow Room'. One of his many choral pieces, simply entitled "Prayer", was recently recorded by New York City's own Marble Collegiate Sanctuary Choir, on its recording 'With Many Voices'.
In spring 2006, Peter was invited to join Kurt Elling, Jon Hendricks, and Mark Murphy for a 'concept concert', the Four Brothers. He is also a member of the vocal group Moss, which combines the talents of Luciana Souza, Kate McGarry, Theo Bleckmann, and Lauren Kinhan. Peter also continues to perform with his own band in venues all over New York and beyond, including Joe's Pub, Birdland and the Jazz Standard. He has also worked with Bobby McFerrin, Michael Brecker, Meredith Monk, George Benson, David Byrne, Jim Hall, Fred Hersch, the Roches, Jonatha Brooke, Bill Charlap, Betty Buckley, Joshua Redman, and many others. He is regularly asked to lead master classes and workshops around the world and, when time allows, teaches privately at his home in New York City.
Darmon Meader
Recognized in both the jazz vocal and instrumental world, Darmon is a distinguished vocalist, arranger and saxophonist. He has achieved rapid international recognition as the founder, musical director, chief arranger, composer, producer, saxophonist, and vocalist with New York Voices. As a member of New York Voices, he has released four albums on the GRP Records label. Darmon has performed and/or recorded with a variety of artists including Ray Brown, George Benson, Bobby McFerrin, Don Sebesky, Nancy Wilson, Ann Hampton Callaway, Patti Austin, Jon Hendricks, Jim Hall, Paquito D'Rivera and the Count Basie Orchestra. He has toured internationally, performing at such renowned venues as Carnegie Hall, Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival and the Blue Note Jazz Clubs in New York and Japan. Currently, Darmon is in the studio completing a long awaited solo CD, which will be available in early 2006.
In addition to Darmon's continuing New York Voices touring and recording commitments, he is increasingly busy as a sideman, university clinician, and studio musician. When not involved with music, Darmon likes to "escape" from New York through a variety of outdoor activities including biking, skiing, camping and kayaking.
Lauren Kinhan
Marking her Fourteenth year as a member of the New York Voices, Lauren is no longer the new girl. Always a primary focus in her career, she has contributed original songs to the NYV repertoire and continues to do so on their new outing for release in 2007.
In 1999 Lauren recorded her debut solo project, Hardly Blinking, an eclectic set of original songs. They are lush with story, built on a musical palate ranging from earthy acoustic settings to cleverly layered productions. Produced by three musical powerhouses, Phil Ramone (Billy Joel, Phoebe Snow), Frank Filipetti (James Taylor), and Rob Mounsey (Steely Dan, Paul Simon) it was an opportunity for Lauren to stretch her wings in a genre that is as interesting to her as the jazz artform. Phil Ramone describes Lauren as a true songstress, like Joni Mitchell and Pheobe Snow: "She is musical, lyrical and really delivers vocally. I am a devoted fan of Lauren Kinhan." You can purchase Hardly Blinking on Lauren's bio page.
She is currently producing and recording her follow up CD to Hardly Blinking with the idea of a 2007 release. It is another all original songbook from Lauren showcasing her deep appreciation for melody driven music interpreted in many genres and her delecate attention to the ever important prose. The command of her voice fully delivers the whole package. She shares the co production with the talented Ben Wittman (Jonatha Brooke, Patty Larkin, Lucy Kaplansky, Peter Eldridge) who also plays and mixes with seemless expertise.
NYV has returned to their roots by featuring original compositions by the group intermingled with established works on their upcoming CD. Two of Lauren's tunes are selected for this project. Her early songwriting contributions for NYV can be found on 1993's What's Inside.
In 2005 she joined musical forces with four stunning solo artists creating, Moss; Luciana Souza (Brazilian singer and composer and 3 x Grammy Nominee), Theo Bleckmann (Incredibly inventive singer, improsationalist and sound scape artist), Kate McGarry (Soulful Jazz vocalist and composer) and Peter Eldridge (of NYV fame and composer extraordinaire). They combine their unique talents in fresh musical settings, pushing beyond their comfort zones, creating new music for the vocal group genre. Moss is preparing to record in August of 2007. For more information, go to www.Mossproduced.org .
Lauren has had the privilege of being involved in the grass roots development of Bobby McFerrin's choral project; a collection of his original songs set for multiple voices. Watch and wait for a release date.
While in stark contrast, Lauren appeared on the critically acclaimed CD by Ornette Coleman, "Sound Museum, Three Woman." It was voted Down Beat's 1997 "Jazz Record of the Year." Ornette's original, "Don't You Know By Now," showcases her expressive voice and fearless abandon. She toured for a brief time with Ornette in 1997/8, culminating with her participation and presentation of her own original song, "My Beating Heart," in his retrospective, "Celebration," at Avery Fisher Hall.
In 2000 Lauren collaborated with Japanese guitarist, Jiro Yoshida, on a collection of jazz standards entitled, "Guitar and the Moon." The rhythm section was made up of the legendary, Eddie Gomez on bass, and members of NYV's rhythm section, Andy Ezrin on piano and Ben Wittman on drums.
The Song Writer's Hall of Fame and SESAC awarded Lauren the 1997 Abe Oleman Scholarship for song writing excellence. She is a graduate of Berklee College of Music.
New York Voices is the Grammy Award winning vocal ensemble renowned for their excellence in jazz and the art of group singing. Like the great groups that have come before, such as Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Singers Unlimited, Manhattan Transfer and Take 6, they have learned from the best and taken the art form to new levels. Their interests are rooted in jazz, but often Brazilian, R and B, classical, and pop influences are included with equal creativity and authenticity. The group was formed in 1987 by Darmon Meader, Peter Eldridge, Kim Nazarian, Caprice Fox and Sara Krieger. By way of explanation, Darmon, Peter, Kim and Caprice attended Ithaca College in NY and were part of an invitational alumni group formed to tour the European Jazz Festivals in the summer of '86. As a result of this exciting experience, the idea of forming a professional group was born. In 1989 they would sign their first record deal with GRP Records and release their self titled debut album, New York Voices. The group received rave notices and quickly received domestic and international recognition in the Jazz World. From '89 to '94, they released four total CDs on the GRP Label, Hearts of Fire, What's Inside, and The Collection. While recording for GRP, they underwent personnel changes. In 1992, Sara Krieger retired her chair, and after auditioning over 60 vocalists from all over the U.S., the group found Lauren Kinhan. There was an immediate chemistry in fit and sound, allowing the group to make a quick transition and become the "new" New York Voices. Lauren's first musical contributions can be heard on NYV's third CD, What's Inside, released in May of 1993. In early 1994, Caprice Fox left the group, forever fixing NYV as the quartet it is today. Besides their own CDs, NYV has made many guest appearances on recordings and live performances that have earned them critical acclaim and demand in a variety of musical settings. You can find their performances on such CDs as the Grammy Award winning, Count Basie Orchestra with New York Voices, Live at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (MCG Records), the Latin Grammy Award winning, Brazilian Dreams with the great Paqito D'Rivera, the contemporary classical, The Ancient Tower (Robert Lepley - EarthBeat Records), Heirs to Jobim (BMG Records), Don Sebesky's, I Remember Bill (BMG), Jim Hall's, By Arrangement (Telarc), A Love Affair - the Music of Ivan Lins (TELARC), Irving Berlin's, Louisiana Purchase (DRG), and many more. They have had the pleasure of performing with a number of influential jazz artists including Ray Brown, Bobby McFerrin, Nancy Wilson, George Benson, Jon Hendricks, Annie Ross, the Boston Pops, Diana Krall, Paquito D'Rivera, and many more. In early 1997 they traveled down a different road, paying tribute to a contemporary composer which produced, New York Voices Sing the Songs of Paul Simon. They explored and used a variety of styles to express new turns on this singer/songwriter's rich songbook. In late 2000, New York Voices completed their sixth CD entitled Sing, Sing, Sing. After many years of performancing with the Count Basie Orchestra, the group wanted to address the great Big Band song book and offer their own take on it. With Darmon doing the lion's share of the vocal and big band arrangements, they hired the producing talents of Elliot Scheiner (Manhattan Transfer, Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac) to capture the music and mix it with his exquisite precision and care. Other guest band arrangers are the great Micheal Abene and Rob Mounsey. Sing, Sing, Sing was released in early 2001. As reviewed by Don Heckman of the LA times, "The title track quickly lays down what to expect from the balance of the program: complex, interwoven vocal lines, interactive improvising and brisk ensemble accompaniment. And revivalist swing fans -- both players and listeners -- would do well to check out the Voices' capacity to bring a contemporary quality to classic material without sacrificing the essence of either."In recent years, they have been called upon by the Boston Pops to bring a new edge to the Pops Orchestra scene. They have a full program of Big Band Swing arrangements that they have toured with the Boston Pops and many many other symphonys all over the United States. They also have a program of music from the Baby Boomer period. You are likely to hear music from the Beatles, Joni Mitchel, Stevie Wonder, the Mammas and the Papas and the Carpenters, to name a few. In 2005 they created a spectacular Christmas program with the Boston Pops and did an extensive tour with them all over the Eastern Seaboard and Central U.S. The Boston Pops continue to play an important role in their creative life with more projects in the works.In 2006 they began shaping a new NYV studio CD. You can expect to hear a group going back to it's roots; a brazilian tune next to a swing tune, and sprinkling their original compositions throughout. Look for that on the MCG Label in the Late Summer of 2007.NYV has traveled the globe with their elegant music, amazing audiences the world over with their impeccable voices and stunning arrangements. They have appeared on the stages of Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Blue Note (Japan, NYC), The Austria Opera House, The Zurich Opera House, and the list goes on. They have been seen at the many jazz festivals including the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland, The Montreal Jazz Festival, and the New Orleans Jazz and Blues Heritage Festival. Along with their extensive concert performances and recording dates, NYV also works in the field of education, giving workshops and clinics to high school and college music students. Individually, the four members are involved in a variety of projects including solo performances and recordings, teaching, writing and arranging. The group hopes to continue to explore all styles of music, and expand their audience for years to come. Please visit the member's individual pages to hear more about their solo projects and upcoming events.