UNFORGETTABLE: 100 Years of Nat & Natalie Cole

Nat King Cole, a celebrated jazz pianist early in his career, was propelled to stardom in the 1940s thanks to his silky baritone. Ranked alongside such contemporaries as Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, and Dean Martin, his storied career encompassed hit records, international touring, radio and television shows, and appearances in films. In the 1960s, Cole was one of the most prominent African-American entertainers during an era of tumultuous social change. It isn’t easy being the child of an superstar, and early in her singing career, Natalie Cole resisted the legacy of her famous father. With a jazz-and-gospel-inflected voice whose power was undeniable, Cole not only emerged from the shadow of her legendary father— staking out her own successful career, selling more than 30 million albums and earning nine Grammy Awards— but embracing her family history with the 1991 album “Unforgettable … With Love,” which included a series of her father’s favorite standards and a “virtual” duet of one of his signature songs. Tonight’s Nat and Natalie Cole revue, starring powerhouse vocalist Denzal Sinclaire (who portrayed Nat King Cole in the stage musical “Unforgettable”) and one-of-a-kind diva Dee Daniels, pays wholehearted tribute to these iconic artists.

Jeff Tyzik, Conductor

Grammy Award winner Jeff Tyzik is one of America’s most innovative and sought-after pops conductors. Tyzik is recognized for his brilliant arrangements, original programming and engaging rapport with audiences of all ages. Tyzik holds The Dot and Paul Mason Principal Pops Conductor’s Podium at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and serves as Principal Pops Conductor of the Detroit Symphony, the Oregon Symphony and The Florida Orchestra. This season, Tyzik will celebrate his 23rd season as Principal Pops Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Frequently invited as a guest conductor, Tyzik has appeared with over fifty orchestras including the Boston Pops, Cincinnati Pops, Milwaukee Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
In May 2007, the Harmonia Mundi label released a recording of works by Gershwin with Tyzik conducting the RPO and acclaimed pianist Jon Nakamatsu. This recording stayed in the Top 10 on the Billboard classical chart for over three months. Alex Ross of The New Yorker, called it “one of the snappiest Gershwin discs in years.” “His concert is the kind of thing that’s likely to give classical music a good name, perhaps even make it seem, dare I say, relevant,” writes John Pitcher of the Gannet News Service.

As an accomplished composer and arranger, Tyzik has had his compositions recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony and Doc Severinsen with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. He has also produced and composed theme music for many of the major television networks, including ABC, NBC, HBO, and Cinemax, and released six of his own albums on Capitol, Polygram and Amherst Records.

Tyzik worked closely with Doc Severinsen on many projects including orchestrating many of the great band leader’s symphony orchestra programs. He produced a GRAMMY Award winning album, The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen, Vol. 1. Tyzik’s subsequent recordings with Severinsen garnered three more GRAMMY nominations.

In his twenty-two years with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Tyzik has written over 200 arrangements, orchestrations and compositions for orchestra. A consummate musician, Tyzik regularly appears as a guest conductor in the orchestra’s classical subscription series. He has also been commissioned to compose original works for orchestra, including a Trombone Concerto, which was funded by a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts and subsequently performed at Carnegie Hall. Tyzik conducted the world premiere of his original work New York Cityscapes with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in 2010. Tyzik composed a Timpani Concerto, commissioned by the RPO, and also led the RPO in the premiere of his new orchestral suite, “Images: Musical Impressions of an Art Gallery” to rave reviews. In the 2015/16 season, Tyzik premiered his new work “Jazz Concerto for Violin and Orchestra” on his Philharmonic Series performance with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

A native of Hyde Park, New York, Tyzik began his life in music when he first picked up a cornet at age nine. He studied both classical and jazz throughout high school and went on to earn both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Eastman School of Music. While there, he studied composition/arranging with Radio City Music Hall’s Ray Wright and jazz studies with Chuck Mangione. Tyzik subsequently toured with Mangione as lead trumpet and worked on five Mangione recordings as a producer and performer from 1976 to 1981.

Committed to performing music of all genres, Tyzik has collaborated with such diverse artists as Megan Hilty, Chris Botti, Matthew Morrison, Wynonna Judd, Tony Bennett, Art Garfunkel, Dawn Upshaw, Marilyn Horne, Arturo Sandoval, The Chieftains, Mark O’Connor, Doc Severinsen and John Pizzarelli. Tyzik has created numerous original programs that include the greatest music from jazz, classical, Motown, Broadway, film, dance, Latin and swing.

Denzal Sinclaire, Vocalist

Denzal Sinclaire is one of Canada’s most popular jazz vocalists and is ranked among the finest jazz singers of his generation. A graduate of McGill University’s Jazz Performance program(Montreal, Canada), he possesses that rare ability to achieve, from the moment he steps on stage, a profound emotional interaction with his audience. His passionate and sincere delivery caresses every song he sings. He touches the listener with the purity of the message.

Denzal is a Juno Award(Canada’s Grammy Award) nominee, a recipient of the 2004 National Jazz Award for “Best Album”, four - time consecutive recipient of Jazz Report Magazine Award for Male Jazz Vocalist, and 2007 Choc Jazzman Award(France). His admirers include Grammy Award -Winning artists, Diana Krall (“Denzal Sinclaire embodies the tradition of the great singers I love like Nat Cole, yet definitely has his own voice. He is one of my favorite singers...”), Wynton Marsalis and the JALC Orchestra, Dianne Reeves, Michael Fienstien and Michael Bublé as well as growing legions of jazz fans in his native Canada and abroad. From his early days as a canny interpreter of Nat ‘King’ Cole’s mentholated crooning, he’s grown into one of the most distinctive and individualistic singers anywhere.

He has graced the stages of numerous concert halls and festivals around the world and has appeared on several popular TV shows, including Canada’s Bravo!TV, Canada AM, Nashville Now, Ireland’s The Late Late Show. As a former member of UK soul artist, Jamie Lidell’s band, he has appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Jimmie Kimmel Live!, and Manu Katché’s show One Shot Not(France).

Equally at home in the theatre, film and television arenas, Denzal has delighted audiences with his critically-acclaimed performance in Unforgettable, a musical based on the life and music of Nat King Cole; Tapestry: The Music of Carole King (Arts Club Theatre); William Saroyan’s award-winning The Time of Your Life (Soul Pepper Theatre Company). His TV and film credits include appearances in the new Battlestar Gallactica TV Series (dir. Michael Rymer); and, Being Julia, starring being Annette Bening and Jeremy Irons (dir. István Szabó).

A pivotal role in Denzal’s career was the collaboration with highly- sought after guitarist/ composer/ arranger Bill Coon whom he befriended in Montreal. Over the course of 15 years they performed to rave reviews in a variety of musical settings ranging from duo to symphony orchestras, as well as several live radio, televison and studio recordings for the CBC(Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)and SRC(Société Radio -Canada). In 1994, they recorded and album of duets, and in 1996, recorded the very first in-studio concert for Canada’s BRAVO!TV with a unique ten - piece ensemble. They now enjoy a new type of collaboration as members of a Christmas quartet, The B3 Kings (as in We Three Kings), featuring Bill on guitar; Cory Weeds, tenor sax; Chris Gestrin, Hammond B3 organ; and Denzal on drums and vocals.

Denzal has performed with renowned artists such as Wynton Marsalis and the JALC Orchestra, Patrice Rushin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Janis Siegal, Dee Daniels, Kevin Mahagony, Michael Feinstein, Marilyn Mae, Bob Mintzer, Jimmy Heath, Barry Harris, The Count Basie Orchestra, Dame Cleo Laine, Sir John Dankworth, Peter Appleyard, Reuben Rogers, Gregory Hutchinson, Russell Malone, Seamus Blake, Nicholas Payton, Brian Blade, Jamie Lidell, Holly Cole, Vince Giardano & The Nighthawks, David Berger Jazz Orchestra, and the WDR Big Band.

The list of artists he has supported includes Diana Krall, Dianne Reeves, Kurt Elling, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Anita Baker, Four Tops, Holly Cole, Bill Charlap, Katie Melhua, Jane Monheit, Matt Dusk.

Photo: Greenberg Artists

Dee Daniels, Vocalist

Dee Daniels, an accomplished hidden jewel in the crown, passionately delivers timeless performances in multiple genres that include: jazz, blues, gospel, and her original compositions. A sultry songsmith and master of storytelling, she has performed for royalty and international dignitaries on multiple occasions, and has an extensive list of international performances with combos and big bands. She crossed the threshold of the classical world with the creation of her fabulous Symphony Pops programs, “Great Ladies of Swing” and “The Great American Swing Book”, and has performed and recorded with orchestras throughout North America and abroad. In addition to her accredited presence and magnetic prowess on keys, Daniels adds a spellbinding four-octave vocal range to her potent, natural and unique spin on every song she touches. Her international career includes performances across Europe, the United Kingdom, Russia, Australia, South America, Hong Kong, Japan, twelve African countries, and throughout North America.

Her vocal style was born deep in the gospel roots of her stepfather’s Baptist church choir in Oakland, California, refined through the R&B era, and smoothly polished during a five-year stay in The Netherlands and Belgium from 1982 to 1987. Dee Daniels has performed and/or recorded with the who’s who of the Jazz world including Jazz legends: Benny Green, Houston Person, John Clayton, Russell Malone, Wycliffe Gordon, Cyrus Chestnut, Clark Terry, Ken Peplowski, Kenny Barron, Bill Mays, Jeff Clayton, Benny Golson, Grady Tate, Toots Thielemans, Jeff Hamilton, Monty Alexander, Steve Wilson, Marvin Stamm, Lewis Nash, Kenny Washington, Norman Simmons, Ben Riley, Dennis MacKrel, Steve Davis, Martin Wind, Bucky Pizzarelli, Helen Sung, Christian McBride, David Young, Neil Swainson and many more.

Dee Daniels served on the President's Advisory Council for the Jazz Education Network (JEN) from 2016 - 2018; was Artistic Director for the west coast’s DeMiero Jazz Fest from 2011 to 2018; the 2010 recipient of an Atlanta Theater’s Suzi Bass Award nomination; the 2009 receipt of an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Fine Arts and 2008 President’s Award, both from Capilano University; and a recipient of the prestigious and most coveted Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her 2003 induction into the University of Montana’s School of Fine Arts Hall of Honor, the 1997 University of Montana Distinguished Alumni Award; the 2002 inductee into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame and member of Vancouver’s, Granville Street Walk of Fame are a testament to her dedication to her musical career.

Dee has cultivated a diverse career that has also seen her on theatre stages including the 2009 premiere of New York choreographer, Twyla Tharp’s, musical, Come Fly Away, the critically acclaimed musical, Wang Dang Doodle at the Arts Club in Vancouver, BC, as well as an inspirational speaker with a keynote address being delivered at the 2009 Women’s CEO & Senior Management Summit in Toronto, the BC Music Teachers Conference, and commencement addresses at Capilano University.

An internationally respected vocal clinician, adjudicator and mentor, Dee presents clinics, workshops, and master classes globally. She was on the faculty of the vocal department of the Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College (NY) 2013 - 2014. Also in 2013, she created the annual week-long Dee Daniels Vocal Jazz Workshop, and through 2017, was the donor for the Dee Daniels Jazz Vocal Scholarship at the Capilano University in North Vancouver, BC since 2001. She was the first artist to serve on the advisory board of the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival (2002 - 2008), and has received several awards for her contribution in the field of music performance, music education, and community service.