Multi-faceted musician Nancie Banks' credits include contributions to the broad spectrum of jazz. She is a vocalist, lyricist, composer and arranger but most importantly, a champion of America's homegrown art form. Acknowledging that her "spiritual mentors are Thad Jones and Duke Ellington," Ms. Banks reveals that "I will consider myself a success if I can be a vehicle for positive energy, have the respect of musicians that I respect, and continue to survive playing music I feel good about."

The daughter of Pittsburgh musicians, Nancie began her career in music at the age of four with piano lessons from her mother. On a whim, she came to New York and began serious studies with Barry Harris (her NYC debut was with his first Strings and Voices concert), Alberto Socarras (a pioneer in Afro-Cuban jazz), Edward Boatner (who wrote many of the spiritual arrangements still performed in churches today), and Jazzmobile workshops.

Nancie has been singing in clubs around the New York City area, leading a working quartet/quintet for more than a decade. Charles Byrd provided her first big band gig as a vocalist (and also introduced her to trombonist Clarence Banks, who became her husband). She went on to be a featured vocalist with many other big bands before forming her own large ensemble.

Her debut recording on the Consolidated Artists label, Nancie Banks Orchestra, Waves of Peace, (CAP 902) was named one of the best Jazz recordings of 1993 by the Village Voice Jazz Critic's poll and one of the best new issues of 1993 by Cadence magazine. Cadence reported that "Ms. Banks is fronting one of the more exciting big bands to come down the pike in some time..." Her next release, Bert's Blues (CAP 904) was one of Coda magazine's Critic's Choice for best recordings of 1995, and also mentioned in Cadence magazine's Editor's Choice as one of that year's favorites. Enthusiastic about her group, Nancie believes that "having the support of the highest caliber of musicians in this endeavor has been a dream come true."

Nancie also takes time to pass on the tradition by teaching. In addition to private students, she has been a Visiting Instructor in Vocal Jazz at the City University of New York and was the Director of the Superfine PS 9 Jazz Choir in New York City, bringing jazz musicians into elementary schools.

Nancie's Credits: Nancie has performed at Tatou, the Blue Note, Birdland, the Supper Club, the Williamsburg Music Center, Germany's Dennis Swing Club, the Village Gate, Sweet Basil, Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park & Avery Fischer Hall, the Hartford Jazz Festival, the Kansas City Women's Jazz Festival (broadcast nationally on NPR's Jazz Alive) and many other venues.

Nancie has sung with Jon Hendricks' Vocalstra, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Dexter Gordon with Strings and Voices, the Barry Harris Jazz Ensemble, Walter Bishop, Jr., Edward Boatner's Spiritual Choir, Charli Persip's Superband, student big bands at Jazzmobile and The New School led by Jimmy Heath, Chris Woods, John Stubblefield, Frank Foster, and Cecil Bridgewater, the vocal group Joyspring, and many others.

Nancie has worked as a music preparation supervisor for major motion pictures including Housesitter with Steve Martin & Goldie Hawn, and Spike Lee's Mo' Better Blues, as a music copyist for Broadway shows such as Swingin' On a Star, Grammy award nominated and winning recordings such as George Benson's Big Boss Band, Diane Schuur and the Count Basie Orchestra, musicians like the legendary Buck Clayton, and many others.

Copyright 1995, Arcadian Arts, Inc.

Recordings:
Bert's Blues
Waves Of Peace
Ear Candy

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