New Record Pool Add! - FEATURED ARTIST: MERCEDES NICOLE

Mercedes Nicole

Mercedes Nicole is not only a Singer/Song Writer, but also an extraordinary vocal jazz stylist and interpreter of standards, blues, original compositions, and New Gospel music, Ms. Nicole brings her unique personality and vocal quality to her performances. Her rich, expressive voice is deepened by a refreshing vulnerability and ardor. Her performance reveals an unending passion for probing the lyric, as well as the melodic and rhythmic nuances of not only songs from the great American Songbook, but also her own original compositins.

In 2001 she wrote, produced and performed her first tribute to the edgy and provocative Nina Simone at the 300-seat Microsoft Auditorium in the Seattle Public Library. In 2008 and 2009, she debuted her uncanny ability to translate the treasured recordings of Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan at Demetriou’s Jazz Alley, a highly acclaimed national stage and a favorite of many of the great touring artists of all genres.

For the last 12 years, Mercedes has performed and performs at numerous venues and festivals, including:

Demetrio's Jazz Alley
The Triple Door
Egan's Ballard Jazz House
88 Keys Whidbey Island
Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center
SPL- Seattle Public Library in the Microsoft Auditorium
Shoreline Jazz Festival
Ballard Jazz Festival
Panache Jazz Festival
Westport Blues Festival
Bumbershoot Music Festival
Earshot Jazz Festival
Intiman Theatre
Umoja Festival
Tacoma Bite
Columbia City Save KPLU Fund Raiser
Her Tribute Shows include Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and Etta James.

In 2013, hearing of the death of Hall of Famer Etta James, Nicole presented a tribute at the historic Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center to a sold-out crowd. Her first CD, Beautiful Alignment, is a richly percussive album with an award-winning rhythm section that showcases her unique songwriting and that of her co-writer Peter Tomack. In 2016 she produced her second CD, “People Are Talking” a thought provoking romantic set list of some of the all time great standards, and new original material- and indeed, people are still talking about how amazing the music is.

Mercedes Nicole has a rich resonance and fluidity in her voice, and humanly connects to the message birthed in each song, transparently sharing her joy as well as her pain. She loves aligning with the message and deep meaning behind lyrics, embracing the tension and rhythms of life that gives magic to each song.

Mercedes was born in Michigan, and raised on the west coast and later the Pacific Northwest. She grew up singing in the Black Church as a child never thinking she would become a professional singer.

She went to the University of Washington and graduated with a Master of Social Work in 1991 but continued to keep music, Blues, Gospel and Jazz in her foreground.

Now music is what she is known and loved for!