Press

Reviews of Nicki's Live Events and Recorded Works

JAZZ NOTES Twenty 4 Seven Friday 1 May 2009

Nicki Allan is an appealingly singer largely free of mannerisms, with an accurate, straight ahead approach, a judicious use of vibrato and an unerring ear for quality songs.

People Will Say We`re In Love is her new CD and we are hooked from the first notes.

The arrangements by pianist Graham Hearn and drummer Ronnie Bottomley create startling new takes on familiar tunes and are played by some fabulous musicians.

From the flowing and harmonious backing figures on Skylark by tenor saxophone and flugelhorn, to the intriguing counter-melody from the band against the voice on Autumn Leaves, Messrs Hearn and Bottomley grab you by the ears.

All hail the recording engineers, who have faithfully captured the dynamic band/vocals sound, including the inventive drums of Ronnie Bottomley and the deep, woody double bass of Rus Pearson.

Better Than Anything has dynamic changes of tempo and Toots Thieilmans` jazz waltz, Bluesette, features a telling solo by alternative bass man Richard Hammond.

Instrumental solos are a joy throughout, the ravishingly romantic flugelhorn by Mark Chandler and passionately expressive tenor saxophone by Joel Purnell.

Ms Allan`s diction is clear enough for us not to trouble ourselves as to whether she is singing in an English or American accent, a knotty problem for some. All of which excuses her ventures into the controversial Scatlands of Shoobie Doobie, and tortuous byways of Old Shabba Dabba, which are mercifully brief.

Since Nicki Allan and the eight accompanying musicians are on the faculty of the Leeds College of Music, this album should be on the College website for all potential students to hear � immaculately fresh arrangements and flawless musicianship.

Who could ask for more?

Charles Worsdale, The Doncaster Entertainer

Nicki Allan

Currently the music scene abounds with gifted young lady jazz singers and talented and indeed welcome as they are, not all are completely worthy of the title with a capital J!!

In my humble opinion however, one who can rightly claim to be a Jazz singer ( even though she can also perform most convincingly outside that particular sphere) is Leeds based vocal talent Nicki Allan, who recently made a most welcome return visit to the Conservative Club as featured star guest with The Emmerson/ Spragg Combo.

Nicki is one of that relatively rare breed of artist, who though fully respectful of song lyrics, has the control and confidence to take daring unexpected liberties with the melody, without marring and in most cases actually enhancing the results!!

Fields of Gold
Nicki Allen

Tony Faulkner - Big Band Arranger & Jazz Historian

I can't imagine anything that demonstrates Nicki's versatility better than this album. It's an eclectic mix of old standards, new standards, jazz standards plus a couple of raunchy 'jump n' jive' tracks to complete the picture. She's accompanied by a basic jazz trio with either Kevin James or Andy Cholerton on piano with guitarists Ted Platt or Lee Fothergill appearing on seven of the twelve tracks and saxophonist Richard Ormrod doing his inimitable thing on the two jump 'n jive tracks. The line-up is completed by bassist Scott Devine and drummer Paul Smith. Highlights for me are Nicki's version of my all-time favourite song 'Detour Ahead' and her rampant delivery of the Duke Ellington masterpiece from 1931, 'It Don't Mean a Thing if it ain't got that Swing'. More please!

Nicki Allan Quartet (internet review)
June 2004, Queen's Arms, Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton

The second week of 'Jazz At The Queens' had vocalist Nicki Allan in attendance with her band featuring Pete Lingwood piano, Rich Hammond bass, Paul Smith drums and last but certainly not least, 'Ted' on electric guitar ....sorry Ted, I didn't get your full name:-) Nicki has a style all her own and it's one that any aspiring singer should seek to emulate. A pitch perfect voice allied to a smooth and subtle tonal range means she has a way with jazz that exerts considerable hold over her audience. She covered a lot of ground, taking in straight jazz, latin jazz and jazz-rock which all helped to demonstrate the versatile ease with which she presents herself. A likeable lass with great appeal and a superb voice.

The Kingdom of the Lord
Nicki Allan

Chris Norton
Producer of a variety of Christian albums for UK and US labels & author of Microjazz piano works

Nicki Allan's self-produced CD was given to me recently by a mutual friend. I was intrigued to hear that a Leeds-based singer had written a set of Christian songs, some black gospel in style, others in a distinctive and individual contemporary Christian music style.

The style of Nicki's CD has little connection to the stereotyped evangelical styles featured on albums from UK Christian labels. It has a fresh sound all of its own, powered by Nicki's remarkable and versatile voice, a richly textured voice that ranges from full-throated Aretha-style gospel to simple, unaffected ballads.

Nicki is backed live in the studio by a very good bunch of musicians and her backing vocals are rich, multi-layered affairs. Most of vocal takes on the album were recorded live and as a result the CD has a real spontaneity about it that is likely to be much in evidence when Nicki sings live. She apparently does lots of live performing, particularly in jazz and big band settings and this really shows. In fact, since hearing the CD, I've featured Nicki on a number of recordings for various labels and she really has proved amazingly versatile and intelligent as a singer. Check this album out - you will be very impressed both by the quality of the writing and by the commitment Nicki brings to the performances.

'' Lovely voice, Great sound!'' - Lee Gibson, Jazz vocalist and Voice coach from the Guildhall School of Music, London.