Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024
10:00 am - 11:30 am | 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
In Part 2 of this series, Nicole pays tribute to the amazing American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, singer, and bandleader Lil’ Hardin Armstrong.
With up close and personal examples of Lil’s amazing boogie-woogie and stride piano approach, Nicole dives into the music and stylings that Lil’ created and exemplified.
Featured selections will include such gems as: “Strutting With Some Barbeque”, “No Secret Flame”, “Oriental Swing”, & “Let’s Get Happy Together”.
There will also be a nod to Lil’s husband “Louis Armstrong” – exploring the couple as a musical force and examining their extensive careers – featuring songs like “What A Wonderful World”, “When the Saints Go Marching In” and the seasonal holiday favorite: “Is Dat You Santa Claus?.”
This event is generously sponsored by Bob and Charlotte Otto.
Led By
Nicole Pesce *
Pianist, keyboardist, composer and arranger Nicole Pesce entertaining audiences with a unique blend of virtuosity, humor, and pizzazz. Nicole’s “Happy Birthday Variations” video has over six million views on YouTube, and Nicole was recognized by Arizona Foothills Magazine with their “Best of 2014” Award for Best Local Band/Musician. With a repertoire consisting of over 12,000 memorized songs, Nicole is often dubbed “the human iPod,” and is hailed as “one of the top ten musicians to hear in Phoenix,” by the Arizona Republic.
Nicole has performed for George Benson, Muhammad Ali, Ricky Martin, President George HW Bush, Waylon Jennings, Taylor Hicks, Janet Napolitano, Shaquille O’Neal, President Jimmy Carter, Chris Rock, Steve Nash, The Gypsy Kings, Glen Campbell, Margaret Cho and Brian Setzer. She’s appeared with American Idol contestant David Hernandez, The Moscow Ballet, Zowie Bowie, and the casts of Mary Poppins, Young Frankenstein, and Mamma Mia!
* returning Musicfest artist