Jazz singer, Nicki Parrott, loves old pop songs with good lyrics and melodies so decided to put them into this jazz setting on her new album If You Could Read My Mind.
Born in Newcastle, Australia, Nicki started her musical training with the piano at the age of four, and soon after took up the flute as well. She continued to play flute and piano throughout her school years, but switched to double bass at the age of 15 because her sister Lisa, who plays alto sax, wanted a bassist for her group. After completing high school, Nicki moved to Sydney to study jazz at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music and shortly after began to play with well-known Australian musicians such as Mike Nock, Dale Barlow, Paul Grabowsky, Bernie McGann, and Ten Part Invention.
She moved to New York City in 1994 and continued her education on bass with Rufus Reid. Her teachers also included Ray Brown and John Clayton.
For several years she played bass guitar and sang backing vocals for an R&B band in Manhattan. She started a trio with John Tropea and David Spinozza.
In 2000, she became the bassist for Les Paul in his trio’s weekly performances in Manhattan. “She has that special gift you cannot buy in a music store,” he said.
She has recorded tribute albums to Burt Bacharach, Nat King Cole, Doris Day, Blossom Dearie, Peggy Lee, The Carpenters and If You Could Read My Mind, sees her cover an eclectic mix of artists such as Dolly Parton, Don McLean, The Police and Bill Withers.
Joining Parrott and her swinging bass are a selection of her favourite sidemen Larry Fuller (piano), Lewis Nash (drums), Harry Allen (tenor sax) and David Blenkhorn (acoustic and electric guitars).
The lyrics are published in the liner notes so you can sing along with celebrated the vocalist who is described by Joe Lang as a rare performer with absolute star quality: “Parrot’s combination of talent and charisma enables her to stand out from the pack, and simply wow an audience.”

TRACKS:

I Can See Clearly Now
Jolene
If You Could Read My Mind
Vincent
Every Breath You Take
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
You Belong To Me
We've Only Just Begun
This Girl's In Love With You
Do That To Me One More Time
Lean On Me
The Water Is Wide