Nick Langston
Nick has had a very busy few years with the
release of his album 'Captivated' to some excellent reviews, national
songwriting awards and appearances at jazz festivals and major events
such as the Glastonbury festival for two consecutive years.
Originally from North Oxfordshire, Nick Langston has been
based in
Bristol for a number of years and is well-known on the live circuit for
his cool brand of jazz, swing and latin. However, he is also no
stranger to funk, blues, acoustic and a range of other styles that run
through his music.
Originally
spotted singing at Tantric Jazz in Bristol, he is still a regular at venues including and El Puerto and
The Old Duke. He can also be spotted at events such as the Thornbury Arts Festival and Bristol
Harbourside Festival. Nick is also
helping run the East Bristol Jazz Club where he met a number of the
musicians who work with him.
He is also an accomplished guitarist and
songwriter - skills that have been invaluable during the project
of writing twelve songs for his new album 'Captivated'. An album which also enabled Nick to use his
talents on keyboards and percussion as well as as an arranger
and producer.
In September 2008 Nick reached the finals
of the UK Songwriting Contest (held in association with The Brit
Trust and BBC Radio) in the Jazz/Blues category and was also a
semi-finalist in the Adult Contemporary and Instrumental
categories.
2010 was a great year for Nick with
some high profile gigs including Glastonbury and he was invited
back to Glastonbury in 2011 for two appearances.
Nick explains his influences:
"I've been singing
since before I can remember. I learnt guitar listening to the
great Sam
Cooke - simple chord progressions but brilliant songs.
My musical tastes
stretch from Bowie to Jamiroquai, from Suede to Groove Armada, from
David Sylvian to The Smiths. Jazz is just another part of this music.
I
'discovered' Louis Armstrong first - the father of modern music perhaps? In Los
Angeles I was lucky enough to see one of Ella Fitzgerald's last ever
performances. If you haven't got an Ella and Louis CD there is a huge
hole in your CD collection - the same goes for Bing and Louis. Frank
Sinatra's 'Songs for Swinging Lovers' I would call one of the greatest
albums ever made and the remastered production makes it sound as fresh
as ever.
Harry Connick Jr appeared around 20 years ago - and though most
people know him for his big band music, I can strongly recommend the
more intimate CD '25' - inspiring for me. Then there is the great Chet
Baker - a brilliant trumpet player but also such a wonderful melancholic
singer - look out for 'Chet Baker Sings'. Matt Monro - an unbelievable
voice - so smooth - look out for a song called 'Charade' (though you may
know him better for 'Born Free'). Nat 'King' Cole - another smooth
voice and a great pianist. And Mel Torme - a great all-rounder with a
brilliant back-catalogue of jazz standards.
There are so many other
influences: Ray Charles, Louis Jordan, Cab Calloway, Wilson Pickett,
Otis Redding, The Rat Pack, Bryan Ferry, Morrissey, Elvis Costello,
Scott Walker - too many to mention."
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