Feature Article
Uncategorically Nick
by Veronica Henry
It's refreshing to come across an artist that doesn't fit well into any of the predefined categories established by the music industry. It takes one back to a time when good music was just good music – when weight, race or looks didn't matter. It was a great time, but unfortunately, one that we may not see again.
Despair not though, there is hope, thanks to artists like Nick Rolfe. The pianist and vocalist is a self described mix between his own vibe plus: Sly Stone meets Jamiroquai meets Steely Dan meets D'angelo meets Ben Harper. Intrigued? Thought you would be.
Though he proudly acknowledges he was born in music rich Philly, Nick was raised from the age of 3 or 4 under the picturesque, but gray skies of Seattle, Washington. At the insistence of his parents, his fingers first graced the keys of a piano at the age of 6. Of that experience, Nick says, “My parents had a piano in the house and whenever anybody played it, I'd start squawking, so they figured I wanted to play.”
He continued his play until high school, when his parents finally gave him the option to quit – which he summarily did. But the music still called to him and after finishing high school he heeded that call. He began studying at the Cornish College of the Arts - the leading music school in Seattle and after 2 years, moved to New York City and completed his B.F.A, in music performance, at the New School for Social Researches' Mannes Conservatory.
Fast forward 12 years, Nick is an accomplished artist with 3 albums under his belt and performances in front of crowds around the world, including most recently in Cape Verde, off the West Coast of Africa. Like others making their first trip to the continent, the experience was a profound one for him. “The people were amazing,” Nick recalls. “Amidst all the poverty, they showed so much love for the music and us.” Playing with local artists also exposed him to new instruments including a mini guitar and a metal rod, that when brushed with a knife, creates a unique rhythm.
Having performed with the likes of London's R&B sensation Omar, saxophonist Benny Golston and bassist, Eddie Gomez amongst a slew of others, Nick would like to add Sting to the list. “I'm a person who's music is a melting pot of a lot of different styles and it's one of the things I like most about him.” Though they're no longer with us, he also wistfully imagines what it would have been like to work with artists like Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane in their era.
Someone who plays such a wide variety of music could never be accused of being one dimensional, but there's even more to Nick. The idea of acting always occupied a small space in the recesses of his mind. “When I was in high school,” Nick says, “I had a feeling I was going to be able to do many things artistically.” Opportunity came when director, Bob Balaban needed an authentic pianist for an upcoming movie and was directed to Nick's website by a mutual friend.
If your a believer in destiny, you'll relate to how winning this role came about. “When I got the script and read it, I told my wife I might get this role, but I didn't know why,” he says. He was right, the part, starring opposite Susan Sarandon in the movie Doris & Bernard was his after only 2 auditions. As luck would have it, soon after finishing the movie, Nick was also selected to present Ms. Sarandon with the NAACP Rosa Parks community activist award.
Of the music business, Nick is grateful for his fans, his success and the ability to do something he loves, but like other artists, is challenged the formulaic, numbers driven nature of the industry today. It's something he feels does damage not only to the industry and the artist, but the listener as well. Technology presents a bright spot and hope for the future. The Internet provides artists with a means to reach an even broader worldwide audience, albeit the travel demands that come with that exposure presents its own challenges. Satellite radio also provides an opportunity for the listener to be more selective of the type of music they want to hear, irrespective of commercials and predetermined play lists.
Like mosts artists that have such a clear artistic vision, Nick finds it hard, if not impossible to imagine a world where he would be doing anything else with his life. “I can't even answer that,” he chuckles. “But if I had to, I'd probably be doing something related to fitness - like a personal trainer.” Nick, who's also studied martial arts goes on to say, “Training makes me feel focused and on point. I can't imagine doing anything other than being creative.”
On his most recent release, The Mind of an Evolutionary, lies Nick's favorite song – to date, that is. It's clear that he sees himself evolving with every record and what represents his best today, will hopefully to him, be something different next year. That song is entitled Manifest Destiny. “It's my strongest composition both musically and lyrically. I'm proud of everything I've done and written, but it gets better every time.
Nick's next album, yet untitled, will contain both new music and remakes of greats like Bill Wither's Ain't no Sunshine When She's Gone, Grover Washington (featuring Bill Withers) Just the Two of Us and others from Nancy Wilson and the Stylistics.
You can learn more about Nick Rolfe at his website: www.nickrolfe.com or his MySpace page. Look for the movie Doris & Bernard on HBO. You may click on the links on the left to purchase his music.