Thursday, November 17, 2022 10:00 am
Part performance, part lecture, go deeper into the creation of some of your favorite pieces with Musicfest Informances.
Join Nicole Pesce for a survey of tunes from the progenitor of Harlem stride – Fats Waller! Best known for tunes like “Ain’t Misbehavin'” and “Honeysuckle Rose,” Waller was a prolific songwriter in addition to one of the world’s great pianists. In this session, Nicole will explore Waller’s innovative piano playing, his song-like melodic playing, and the playful tunes both well-loved and relatively unknown!
Fats Waller: Ain’t Misbehavin’
Nicole Pesce: I Got Rhythm
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