Experience the depth of American Roots Music in an unforgettable night of soul-filled music and powerful stories delivered by some of the Bay Area’s top musical artists. Exploring themes of love, loss, struggle and resilience, Ballads & Blues presents an homage to early American jazz and R&B artists like Arthur Prysock, Johnny Hartman, Nat King Cole, Billy Eckstine, Ray Charles, and Joe Williams, featuring headlining vocalists Bryan S. Dyer, Nicolas Bearde and special guest, Clairdee.
Bryan S. Dyer – Vocals
Nicolas Bearde – Vocals
Clairdee – Vocals
Frank Martin – Piano...
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Experience the depth of American Roots Music in an unforgettable night of soul-filled music and powerful stories delivered by some of the Bay Area’s top musical artists. Exploring themes of love, loss, struggle and resilience, Ballads & Blues presents an homage to early American jazz and R&B artists like Arthur Prysock, Johnny Hartman, Nat King Cole, Billy Eckstine, Ray Charles, and Joe Williams, featuring headlining vocalists Bryan S. Dyer, Nicolas Bearde and special guest, Clairdee.
Bryan S. Dyer – Vocals
Nicolas Bearde – Vocals
Clairdee – Vocals
Frank Martin – Piano
Eric Swinderman – Guitar
Kevin Goldberg – Bass
Lorca Hart – Drums
George Brooks – Saxophone
Musician Bios
Bryan S. Dyer
Bryan S. Dyer is a Bay Area-based musician with more than 30 years of professional experience. He’s a versatile multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and producer who performs many styles of music, from classical and avant-garde to rock, jazz, and blues. Music has taken Bryan around the world to perform in countries including Japan, Switzerland, Indonesia, and Africa, and alongside such notable artists as Huey Lewis and The News, Michael McDonald, and Carlos Santana.
Some of the groups he currently performs with include SoVoSo, The Funk Revival Orchestra, Chelle! and Friends, Bobby McFerrin & MOTION, Crosspulse w/Keith Terry, and Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir. Bryan has also worked on several projects with Santa Cruz based producer and choreographer, Tandy Beal & Company, over the last 20 years including “JOY” and “Mixed Nutz!”.
Nicolas Bearde
Award winning recording artist, Nicolas Bearde is a singer-songwriter, actor and educator whose career has spanned over 35 years. From his humble beginnings to touring the globe with many of today’s jazz legends, Bearde has travelled many roads. His style is likened to Lou Rawls, Nat King Cole and Bill Withers. He is known for his “velvet voice”, wit and engaging rapport that has drawn audiences into his live performances around the world.
As a solo artist he headlined venues from San Francisco to Paris, and… as the vocalist/narrator for sax legend, Vincent Herring’s “Story of Jazz Orchestra” , toured most of Europe presenting Jazz music’s 100 years of recorded history.
Clairdee
Celebrated for her sophisticated and heartfelt interpretations, vocalist Clairdee brings a unique blend of elegance and warmth to the stage. Rooted in the rich tradition of jazz, she draws inspiration from iconic figures such as Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, and Nancy Wilson, yet her style remains distinctly her own. Her career highlights include collaborations with renowned musicians like Cyrus Chestnut and Regina Carter, and performances around the globe at prestigious venues including Dizzy’s NYC and the Monterey Jazz Festival. Clairdee’s voice is characterized by its velvety timbre and dynamic range, allowing her to convey a wide spectrum of emotions with grace and authenticity. Beyond her captivating performances, she is also a dedicated educator, passionate about preserving the legacy of jazz and mentoring the next generation of musicians.
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