Fingerprints

Artist Information

Biography

Fingerprints, known as “one of the best kept music secrets in the South,” releases their long anticipated fifth CD, Dream Life, on the Pacific Coast Jazz label. This project follows the enormous popularity of their last release, DNA, and proves this contemporary jazz band deserves greater national and international recognition. On Dream Life the band delivers exceptional grooves, emotional energy and some of the most soulful covers around. According to bassist and leader Frederick Nichelson, “Some of our work is comparable to groups like The Crusaders, Spyro Gyra and Pieces of a Dream, but we are careful to stay away from being over produced and seldom use midi-sequencing. We want to be known as a “real band” whose recognized sound of soul, blues and jazz have evolved through over twenty years of live performance.“
With four accomplished CDs to date (Fingerprints, Reunion Live, Summertime Music and DNA), the distinguished sound of Fingerprints has been shaped through the years by its long-term members: Frederick Nichelson (bass), Claud Hardrick (saxophone, flute, vocals), Tim Jones (lead vocals, percussion), Kennan Wylie (drums, percussion), Jordache Grant (keyboards), and Robert Lacroix (guitar). Along with electrifying performances on Dream Life, the CD features surprise guest artists like Bernard Wright, Mel Scott, Todd Parsnow, Shelley Carol, Larry Davis, John Gordan, and Richard Smith. The songs on Dream Life are appealing originals by band members or musical guests along with three cover tunes written by, jazz icon Herbie Hancock (Tell Me A Bedtime Story), Grammy award winning songwriter Diane Warren (For You I Will) and a classic jazz standard by the great Tadd Dameron (Lady Bird).

However, what is most special about this CD is the fourth track, “I Am A Man” with inspiring vocals from Tim Jones. Memphis native Frederick Nichelson was honored to co-write the title song with Stax/Volt artist Deanie Parker for the documentary, I Am A Man (www.iamamanthemovie.com). Produced by the Memphis Tourism Foundation in partnership with Running Pony Productions and Old Bridge Media, the all-Memphis team also included Switch Creative and Electraphonic Recording. The documentary is the story of one man, Elmore Nickelberry, and his fight for dignity, justice, and the power of the human spirit. Surrounded by the soul music that helped make Memphis famous, Mr. Nickleberry tells an uplifting life story of endurance and character as he is joined by the men and women of the 1968 sanitation strike whose courageous stand helped change the world forever. Dr. Martin Luther King supported their plight by saying to the public that "our society must come to respect the sanitation worker."

For many years standing room-only crowds have been lining up to hear the perfect blend of jazz and R&B by the Fingerprints musicians at venues and music festivals throughout the South and Southwest. Band members have recorded and toured in the past with highly respected artists such as Harry Connick, Jr., Marion Meadows, Ronnie Laws, Freddie Ravel, Tom Browne, Miles Jaye, Wayman Tisdale, Roy Machado, Toni Redd, Brad Leali, Ardina Lockhart, Shelley Carrol and Kyle Turner. With a performance schedule of over 100 shows per year, Fingerprints still manages to find time to reach out to help the youth in the Memphis community through donated concerts to civic and non-profit organizations. “It is an important “mission” for the group to be able to share our music for the benefit of people,” commented Nichelson. “Dream Life is a testament to the good fortune and pleasure we have to be making a living at our music while inspiring others to do the same. We express that enthusiasm every time we perform or record and hope that people feel the same joy we do.” For more information go to, www.fingerprintsband.com or www.pacificcoastjazz.com

Instrumentation

Tim Jones- Vocals
Claud Hardrick- saxophones
Robert Lacroix-guitars
Jordache Grant- keyboards
Frederick Nichelson-bass
Kennan Wylie-drums

Discography

Smooth Groove Collective Mixtape vol.1 -2012
Jazz Infusion Session 2 -2011
Dream Life (Pacific Coast Jazz) 2010
DNA (M&N Records) 2001
Reunion Live (M&N Records) 1996
Summertime Music (M&N Records) 1993
Fingerprints (M&N Records) 1991/2003 re-issue
This is Texas Smooth Jazz Compilation-1996
Cafe de Soul Chapter 3 (UK compilation) 2002

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• MySpace
• Parent Company

Audio

• Time will tell
  Listen  
• Just a Little Bit
  Listen  
• Whisper
  Listen  
• I am a Man
  Listen  
• Acoustic Soul (remix)
  Listen  
• Tell me a bedtime story
  Listen  

Video

Fingerprints promo

Photo Gallery

Press

• Ray Hair, President [+ Show ]
  

  Fingerprints is the perfect blend of jazz and R&B. That's why they are one of the most popular group...Fingerprints is the perfect blend of jazz and R&B. That's why they are one of the most popular groups in North Texas.

• David Munoz, The Jazz Show [+ Show ]
  

  A great blend of smooth jazz. If you need evidence of Fingerprints being a very good band, just chec...A great blend of smooth jazz. If you need evidence of Fingerprints being a very good band, just check out DNA!

• Norm Breest [+ Show ]
  

  In all the new releases I have heard this year, Fingerprints is the best. DNA is one of the best CDs...In all the new releases I have heard this year, Fingerprints is the best. DNA is one of the best CDs of 2002 and should have more airplay across the USA.

• Raymond Redmond [+ Show ]
  

  DNA holds it down with the big boys...this CD is smooth jazz at its best. The Smooth Jazz Mafia bett...DNA holds it down with the big boys...this CD is smooth jazz at its best. The Smooth Jazz Mafia better watch out, there's competition a-plenty here!

• Lyndsey Williams [+ Show ]
  

  Fingerprints was outstanding at our 12 tastes of Christmas Gala! I would recommend this band for any...Fingerprints was outstanding at our 12 tastes of Christmas Gala! I would recommend this band for any occasion that needs live entertainment.

• Muzikreviews.com [+ Show ]
  

  Dream Life by Fingerprints may be one of the smoothest of smooth jazz albums. No matter how many tim...Dream Life by Fingerprints may be one of the smoothest of smooth jazz albums. No matter how many times you pop this CD in the player (for those of you that are old-school that way), it's going to be over before you know it. Why? Is it because the tunes are too brief? Is it because there's a shortage of songs on the album? No, not at all! It's because this group has found the pocket for true easy listening. Moment by moment your blood pressure will drop as the tracks carry you along on a serene musical trip. A quiet evening at home could hardly find a more complimentary soundtrack.
  
  These guys are at their best when they push the envelope of the genre a little by adding in a vocalist. Some might contend that it's not smooth jazz anymore when you've got a singer. Smooth pop, perhaps? “I Am A Man” is more like smooth soul, with its off-beat horn hits and thanks to Tim Jones' highly expressive singing. In any case, the songs with Jones on the microphone make for the most engaging selections on the record, whatever you might choose to call them.
  
  If there is one single criticism to level at the album, it's ironically pretty much the same thing that makes it good smooth jazz. With the exception of the vocal tracks, the music has a tendency to flow by without really drawing in the listener. Though the players are quite accomplished, and the recordings are very well produced, somehow the hooks just don't quite hook. That's a major hazard when making smooth jazz, after all, and many groups have hit the same snag. If it's what you enjoy, though, and smooth is what you're craving, then you will love this album. Throw a log on the fire or light some candles, pour yourself something to warm your belly, lay back and enjoy the ride. There will be no bumps!
  
  
  
  
  Key Tracks – I Am A Man, Anything for You, For You I Will
  Donny Harvey – MuzikReviews.com Staff
  January 10, 2011
  ©MuzikReviews.com
  For Questions Or Comments About This Review Send An Email To info@muzikreviews.com

Setlist

Our show is mostly originals but we do have a large amount of standard jazz tunes and pop favorites to round out our set. Some of our heavy influences include The Crusaders, Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Maze, Al Jarreau, EWF, Kirk Whalum, and Marcus Miller.

Our typical set would be as follows:

Blue Bossa-standard
Whisper
Song for Art Porter
Lovely Day- Bill Whithers
Just a little bit
Rainbow of Love
What's going on- M. Gaye
Joy and Pain-Maze
December
Tell Me a bedtime story-H. Hancock
This Masquerade-Benson
Love and Happiness- Al Green

______________________

Below is a master list of most of our repertoire:

Acoustic Soul -Fingerprints
Ain"t No Sunshine-Withers
All Blues-MILES DAVIS
Anything for you -Fingerprints
Anytime- B. Mcknight
Ascension - MAXWELL
Backbone- BONEY JAMES
Be Yourself- FINGERPRINTS
Blue Bossa- Standard
Chicago Song-David Sanborn
Cold Duck Time -Les McCann
Come Back to Me-J. JACKSON
Come Together-Fingerprints
December -Fingerprints
DNA -Fingerprints
Dock of the Bay-Otis Redding
Down Home Blues- ZZ HILL
Dream Life- Fingerprints
Feel Like makin' love- Flack
For the Love of You- ISLEY BROS.
For You i will- Fingerprints
Forever More-URBAN KNIGHTS
Full Moons Melody-FINGERPRINTS
G Bop- KENNY G
God Bless The Child - STANDARD
Grand Central-Boney James
Have you met Ms Jones-Std
Having A Party-L. Vandross
I am a Man -Fingerprints
I can't stop loving -KEM
I wanna know-Joe
In Effect -Marion Meadows
Is it A Crime- Sade
It might be You- R. Flack
Just a Little Bit-FINGERPRINTS
Killer Joe -STD
Killing me Softly- Flack
Lady Bird -Fingerprints
Let's Get it On-MARVIN GAYE
Let's Stay Together-Al Green
Lonesome Rhodes-Fingerprints
Love and Happiness-AL GREEN
Love Calls -Kem
Lovely Day - Bill Withers
Make Me a Memory -G. WASHINGTON
Maputo -SANBORN
Maria Maria-Santana
Max Master -Fingerprints
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy -C. ADDERLY
Mind Games-Fingerprints
Mr. Magic -Grover
My Funny Valentine- Std
My Girl -TEMPTATIONS
Naima- John Coltrane
NE Wind -KIRK WHALUM
Never Enough- Fingerprints
Never too Much -L. Vandross
Night in Tunisia -Dizzy/Bird
On and On -Eryka Badu
Ordinary peolple- John Legend
Out a Hand -KIRK WHALUM
Outstanding-GAP BAND
Playground -FINGERPRINTS
Please Forgive Me FINGERPRINTS
Rainbow of Love -Fingerprints
Satin Doll-Ellington
Save Your Love for Me-N. Wilson
Shady Shores- Fingerprints
Smooth Operator -Sade
So In Love -Fingerprints
So What - M. Davis
Song for Art Porter-Fingerprints
Song for my father- Horace Silver
Soon Enough- Fingerprints
Stand by me- Ben E. King
Steal Away -BLUES
Straight to the Point- A. PORTER
Summertime-STANDARD
Summertime Music-FINGERPRINTS
Sumthin' Somethin"-Maxwell
Sweetest Taboo-Sade
Take the A Train-Ellington
Tell me a bedtime story-Herbie Hancock
That's how strong my love is- Otis Redding
That's the way -Janet Jackson
The Way Love Goes -B. McKnight
Thrill Is Gone-B.B. KING
Time Will Tell-Fingerprints
Wake up Everbody-Harold Melvin & Blue Notes
What a wonderful world-Armstrong
What were you thinking-Fingerprints
What You Won't Do -B. Caldwell
What's Going On-M. Gaye
When A Man Loves- M. Bolton
Where is the Love- R. Flack
Whisper -FINGERPRINTS
Winelight-Grover Washington, Jr.
World is A Ghetto- WAR
Velas -Quincy Jones
You Send Me- Percy Sledge

Basic Requirements

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