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MP3 Gregory Hickman-Williams - Passages
12 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Jazz Vocals, EASY LISTENING: Crooners/Vocals
Details:
Moving. That’s the first word I would choose to describe Gregory Hickman-Williams’s singing.
There’s something about the rich dark beauty of his voice, or the exquisite subtlety of his phrasing, that makes you taste each word. It stops you in your tracks and moves you to a more intimate place. Gregory takes you on a guided tour of your own heart, as one admirer said.
He can infuse a simple song like “Clementine” with such freshness and intensity of feeling that audiences feel they have never heard the song before. Listen to their voices after a performance: “poetry,” “beautiful,” “amazing,” “I never thought I’d hear such singing,” “wow!” The finest professionals have called his voice “beautiful,” “intense,” “powerful,” “extraordinary.”
Song has taken Gregory from California to the South, New York, Europe and Israel, singing in venues ranging from the historic San Paolo church in Lucca, Italy, to Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theater in New York. Everywhere he as acquired a new understanding of people, their language and their songs. And new admirers.
On his journey from a childhood singing gospel and spirituals in church, blues and Southern play songs on the front porch, Gregory has been relentless in the pursuit of the craft which his artistry required. He has sought out advice and instruction from the best: Gino Bechi, one of the premier Italian baritones of the twentieth century, and Giuseppe Baratti, an outstanding Italian tenor and Italian folk song artist; Betty Allen, a major African-American mezzo-soprano, whose portrait hangs in Carnegie Hall; Melvin Jordan, New York voice teacher; Jester Hairston, the preeminent specialist of his day in spirituals; William Farley-Smith, the arranger of African-American hymns for the Methodist Hymnal, and William Duncan Allen, mentor, accompanist and friend to many leading African-American artists of his time.
Gregory’s performances encompass blues, gospel, jazz, spirituals, cabaret, Broadway, art songs, folk, roots, opera and many languages. To every song he brings an instinct for its heart and a love for its beauty. Gregory has said that he loves songs like Clementine because they are neglected beauties, forgotten and ignored. His compassion for the music permeates every style, every language, every performance, every heart.
Jon Bauer, Producer
"This is a gorgeous CD, exquisite. It is a work of art. Gregory Hickman-Williams is the champion of singing. His is a world voice." - Loren Pickford, Earth Spirit recording artist.
“He reminds me of Big Joe Turner. His voice has the strength of a semi truck.” - Russ long, jazz pianist.
“Nobody sings with as much intensity"
- Laurette Goldberg, international harpsichordist and baroque specialist
“A powerful voice, an extraordinary voice, a beautiful voice”
- Frederica von Stade, international opera star
“Gregory Hickman-Williams has a great vocal instrument. Powerful, soulful and always musical in a variety of styles”
- Danny Embrey, jazz guitarist
“Greg’s vocal stylings are beautifully crafted and artistically inspired”
- Stan Kessler, jazz trumpet
“It is a beautiful, dark voice”
- Gino Bechi, international opera star
“His command of languages was impressive, singing in perfect idiomatic portuguese--very rare”
- Doug Auwarter, KC jazz artist
“The first thing that impressed me about Gregory was the way he could project his voice into the space without a microphone. He is a stylistically versatile singer. I’m impressed with his sound and his feel for the music.” - Tommy Ruskin, jazz drummer.
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