Nina Clark Music

About Nina Clark

Nina Clark is a musical activist, minstrel and singer-songwriter. ALPHA is her third studio album, and a creative landmark in her career, being the first musical recipient of the Arts Council’s ‘DYCP’ fund in UK’s South East. Her first album was recorded in Chicago, an extraordinary experience which gave her the confidence to self-produce her second album.

A seasoned performer, Nina’s live sets are designed to be fun and uplifting, with John Fordham of The Guardian citing “..cool, lyrical originals..”. Her musical activism is founded on a belief that music should be available to all, a mission which led her to start www.musicalwalkabout.com a minstrel project for people facing social isolation.

Nina’s work has been performed by Grammy Award Winner Kurt Elling, and has performed in the UK, Dubai, Germany, New Zealand and the US. Her musical association with Sam Dunn and Jules Jackson spans many years, and Steve Hanley’s addition to the Alpha Band is the missing piece of the puzzle.

Sam Dunn, a world-class jazz guitarist, is a regular on Ronnie Scott’s roster, and Grammy Nominee Judy Carmichael’s favourite accompanist. Dunn has performed at the Royal Albert Hall and toured the world playing music.

Jules Jackson is a multi-instrumentalist – at home on bass, drums, keys and more – accomplished recording engineer, and Professor of Jazz Bass at London’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Jackson has worked with many musical luminaries, including Jamie Cullum, Lianne Carrol and Guy Barker.

Steve Hanley, an up and coming drummer with a passion for experimenting in all styles of music. Hanley also plays with Sam Dunn in their trio, Perpetual Motion Machine.

Nina Clark’s ALPHA album is a passion piece; averse to categorisation, it springs from Pop to Jazz to Soul to Folk with ease, always anchored by Clark’s soaring vocals. ALPHA also features the talents of UK’s leading saxophonist Paul Booth (of Steve Winwood band) on its title track and was mastered by the legendary Jon Astley, masterer for The Who, Led Zeppelin, Sting and Tori Amos.

Sam Dunn, Jazz Guitarist and Colleague, Leeds, UK
Nina Clark’s musical style is totally her own; a witty blend of lyrical and harmonic sophistication anchored to an earthy organic sensibility. It has been a pleasure to make ever-evolving music with Nina on and off the bandstand for many years!

http://www.samdunnguitarist.co.uk

FunkGurus, International Music Agency, Worldwide
“Nina is a passionate, enthusiastic, and incredibly talented guitarist/ vocalist.”

http://funkgurus.com

Jude Noonan, proprietor The Three Mariners, Hythe, Kent, UK
“Effortless guitar playing, accompanied by truly stunning vocals!”

Keith Holland, proprietor Googies Art Cafe, Folkestone, Kent, UK
“Nina is a terrific performer, a great entertainer with a natural ability to engage with the audience. Her unique style is always a winner at Googies.”

http://googies.co.uk

Prviate Client (Via Contraband Agency, UK)
“Nina exceeded all expectations – she was absolutely amazing!”

Dan Blood, Promoter and Musician, South East, UK
“Nina’s a great entertainer with plenty of aces up her sleeve. Her style on stage is very charming and easily accessible to all. Musically she has always pleasantly surprised me with both instrumental and vocal skill, and excellent judgement in picking songs for an audience!”

http://www.danblood.co.uk/music/

Chris Amey, Sonic Artist and Carpenter, South West, UK
“Nina is a great singer and musician with tonnes of material and professional experience. She has a very special voice and stage presence which cuts through the crowds making every gig something to remember. I have watched her perform many many times. Well worth a booking!”

Michael Moorcock – Legendary Sci-Fi/Fantasy Author
“Very tasty!”

John Fordham – The Guardian
“Cool lyrical originals…Nina has found her voice…”

Greg Theoharis – The Independent on Sunday
“Sun-tinged…Nina Clark is cultivating a sound that marks her out from the crowd…”

Matthew Webb (Rock Kent)

“Indulged in the comfort of The Ballroom’s velvet furniture and partially candle-lit 18th-century ballroom interior, I sat back and waited for local solo artist Nina Clark to take to the almost romantically backlighted stage. My brief meeting with Nina shortly after entering the venue gave me an insight into her welcoming, confident and friendly personality, a trait that I was eager to see expressed through her musical performance.

Embracing the acoustic guitar, one of three instruments waiting on stage, Nina left no room for disappointment, opening the night with the beautifully sung ‘Long Time Ago’, one of many tracks from the performer’s collection of original songs that would see her through the night. Those situated within The Ballroom were treated to songs born from Nina’s own talent, along with familiar covers made famous by such legends as Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, John Martyn, Billy Joel and Steve Miller Band.

As Nina’s vocal introduction placed itself as a highlight of the evening, not to mention an effective way to kick start her set, it seems only necessary to provide this element with first mention. Unleashing a unique balance of power and grace, Nina’s vocal ability pronounced itself clearly through the 1600sq ft venue, even over the sound of eventual peak numbers occupying its floor. Delivering everything from soothing tones to up-beat melodies, her confident voice remained consistent throughout, echoed simultaneously through stage presence. Showcasing her musical relationship with piano, guitar and a Nord Electro 3 synthesizer named Kara, Nina dominated the stage with proficiency as a solo artist and the mastery of her instruments.

I might speculate that the setting of the venue – a tranquil white and purple colour scheme, decorated with artistic portraits and a wall of mirrors, warmly lit by candles and descending chandeliers – enhanced the experience of watching Nina’s own brand of acoustica. Through a diverse performance and musical deliverance, centered around her three primary instruments and vocal talents, I couldn’t help but feel the same diversity also within the atmosphere, shifting between what I’d describe as the cheerful, the romantic, the up-beat, and the peaceful.

Though I can admit that in the past I probably haven’t indulged in the listening of many albums that would fall into the category of the ‘chill-out’ genre, I’d like to firmly express that Nina’s overall sound would certainly be a top contender if I were to select music to relax to. I feel like this is a rather modest statement, however. Moreover, not only does Nina’s music provide one with feelings of relaxation, but solidifies itself as a sound that, quite simply put, makes you feel good about yourself and everything around you, emphasising the solo artist’s ability to create a potent sense of serenity, whether your listening to jazz-inspired ‘Too Sweet’, the mellow ‘Cry Baby’, or the dance-inducing ‘Cold Night of Day’, to name just a few.”

George Bass – Coke Machine Glow
“It’s Clark’s voice that feels warmest, though, her deep lilt rich and rosy…”

http://cokemachineglow.com/features/award-simoncowellhaiti-2010/