Randy Napoleon

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Randy Napoleon (born 1977) is a jazz guitarist who is a member of The Freddy Cole Quartet, and the leader of the Randy Napoleon Trio.^[1][2] He has toured with Benny Green, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (CHJO), led by John Clayton, Jeff Clayton and Jeff Hamilton, and with Michael Bublé.^[1][3][4]

Contents 1 Early Life 2 Career 3 Discography 4 Responses & Reviews 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Early Life

Napoleon was born in Brooklyn, New York, but his family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, when Napoleon was young.^[5]

One of Napoleon's formative experiences was in a big band at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, led by the trumpeter Louis Smith. He also played at the jazz clubs in Ann Arbor and learned from jam sessions at the now defunct Bird of Paradise Club, where he also heard master jazz artists play. Early opportunities at the Kerrytown Concert House and at events sponsored by WEMU, a local NPR jazz radio station, helped launch his career. ^[5] Napoleon went on to study at the University of Michigan School of Music.^[3] He moved to New York City after graduating in 1999 and immediately made a name for himself.

[edit] Career

Napoleon has an active career both as sideman and as leader. He leads a trio with Quincy Davis on drums, and Jared Gold on Hammond B3 organ.^[3] They have toured throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, where they did a concert for BBC radio and played several clubs. He also tours internationally with singer/pianist Freddy Cole.^[2][1]

The Randy Napoleon Trio appears on two CDs, Enjoy the Moment and Randy Napoleon: Between Friends. Both feature organist Jared Gold, and drummer Quincy Davis. They have been compared to Wes Montgomery's organ trio.^[1] Between Friends, a 2006 release from Azica Records, features the trio on half the tracks and a quartet on the other, with Davis, bassist David Wong, and Benny Green on piano.^[3][4]

Napoleon has also toured with Benny Green (2000-2001), Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, CHJO (2003-2004) and Michael Bublé (2004-2007). He has appeared on TV in Japan with CHJO and throughout Europe and the United States with Bublé. His U.S. TV appearances with Bublé include David Letterman, Jay Leno, The View, The Today Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Regis and Kelly, Dancing with the Stars, the Radio Music Awards, Entertainment Tonight, and a PBS special, Caught in the Act, which is available on DVD/CD from Reprise Records.^[3][5][4]

He has also appeared on TV with Freddy Cole, Sachal Vasandani, and others.

Napoleon has also performed with jazz artists including Rodney Whitaker and Grady Tate.^[3] He has appeared with major cabaret artists including Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano, and has worked with musicians fom his own generation, such as Josh Brown (trombone), Gerald Clayton (piano), Justin Ray (trumpet), Julius Tolentino (saxophone), and Sachal Vasandani (vocalist).^[3]

Napoleon has played in venues across the United States, including Lincoln Center, The Hollywood Bowl, The Kennedy Center, Radio City Music Hall and major venues throughout the world, such as Royal Albert Hall in London, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.^[4][1] He has mentioned in interviews that he particular likes playing in intimate spaces and regularly returns to the Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor.

“

There are always going to be people that seek out music that's heartfelt. The hardest part is doing the music justice and playing it as well as it can be played. The blessing we have is these old recordings of past jazz masters.[5]

”

[edit] Discography

• Randy Napoleon: Between Friends
• Enjoy the Moment

As a member of other bands:

• The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra: Live at MCG
• The Josh Brown Quartet: The Feeling of Jazz
• Justin Ray
• Michael Bublé: Caught in The Act
• Michael Bublé: With Love
• Michael Bublé: Let It Snow
• Michael Camacho: Just for You
• Sweetie Pie: Live at the Firefly Club
• Don't Go to Strangers

[edit] Responses & Reviews

• In a review of Between Friends: "Napoleon plays with a gentle, purring tone that makes you lean in close to hear its range of color and articulation, and his improvisations are true narratives, a collection of shapely melodies rather than a series of prepackaged licks." Mark Stryker, The Detroit Free Press

• In a review of the Dec 15, 2007 performance of the Freddy Cole Quartet in South Orange NJ: "In the instrumental interludes, the Freddy Cole quartet plays swinging mainstream jazz that is always accessible and interesting...with some superb guitar work from Napoleon, who was simply sensational throughout the evening...Napoleon has been with the group only a few months, but has already become an important part of what they provide musically..." Joe Lang, Jazz Improv NY, Jan. 2008 issue.

• Randy Napoleon performed with Warner Brothers recording artist Michael Bublé for three years, during which Napoleon put out the album Between Friends Upon hearing it, Bublé commented for the liner notes: " Randy Napoleon is the most exciting guitarist of our generation."

• In a preview of a 2007 appearance of the Randy Napoleon Trio in Pittsburgh, a reviewer commented on Napoleon's recent album: "His melodic lines are clean and uncomplicated. He shows a sensitivity for song rather than a desire to show off." Bob Karlovits, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

• Between Friends received attention in several countries: "Napoleon ha un suono generoso, brillante e corposo allo stesso temp, che sa di Nebbiolo d'annata." Matteo Brancaleoni, Jazz Magazine (Italian publication).

• "Napoleon at times searches, not for the big fat notes, but the tiniest, trim, lean and bittersweet ones. His heaviness lies not in volume or weight, but in depth of spirit." Michael G. Nastos, WEMU radio host

• "Napoleon must be considered in the first rank of modern jazz guitarists." Piotr Michalowski, Southeast Michigan Jazz Association

• "Napoleon consistently shows that he is in full command of his instrument without resorting to overindulgent solos like many young players...Napoleon's tasty, spacious interpretation of the magical ballad "A Time For Love" is yet another highlight...The subtle opener, "Face the Truth," is a conversational piece that might appeal to a singer if it only had a lyric." Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

• "Each note hangs, suspended with raindrop clarity from its bough of melody, on up-tempo tunes as well as ballads." Lawrence Cosentino, Lansing Michigan's City Pulse.

• "His guitar lines are soulful and smart." Marc S. Taras, Current Magazine

• "Randy Napoleon an der Gitarre ergibt sich ein voller Klang, der sich vom ersten Lied bis zur letzten der zahlreichen Zugaben, einem Lied von Louis Armstrong, ebenmäßig durchzieht." LitGes (Review of Freddy Cole Quartet)

• "In seiner Band tummeln sich in Gestalt von Randy Napoleon ein geschmeidiger Gitarrist, mit Elias Bailey ein stoisch walkender Bassist und mit Curtis Boyd ein swingender Drummer" (In review of Freddy Cole Quartet at Birdland in Neuberg, Germany )Donaukurier

• "Freedy tryskał energią i jak na prawie 80-cio letniego człowieka pokazał naprawdę niezłą formę. Bardzo eksponowanym muzykiem był gitarzysta, Randy Napoleon, który grał bardzo poprawne harmonijne, ciekawe melodyjnie solówki. Praktycznie w każdym kawałku. Pod koniec koncertu dawało się odczuć lekkie znużenie przewidywalnością jego kolejnych fraz" (review of Freddy Cole Quartet in Poland)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Discussion of improvisation in Psychology Today, featuring comments by Napoleon.
• Interview with Randy Napoleon in Noir Dame.
• Freddy Cole biography.
• PBS page on Caught in the Act, features photo of Randy Napoleon.
• All About Jazz profile.
• All Music Guide Profile
• Review in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
• Review in All Music Guide
• Review in Southeast Michigan Jazz Association newsletter
• Article in the Ann Arbor News about Randy Napoleon on BBC radio.]