RANDY NAPOLEON

Randy Napoleon (born 1977) is a jazz guitarist who is a member of The Freddy Cole Quartet, and the leader of the Randy Napoleon Trio. He has toured with Benny Green, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (CHJO), led by John Clayton, Jeff Clayton and Jeff Hamilton, and with Michael Bublé.

Early life

Napoleon was born in Brooklyn, New York, but his family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, when Napoleon was young.

One of Napoleon's formative experiences was in a big band at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, led by the trumpeter Louis Smith. He also played at the jazz clubs in Ann Arbor and learned from jam sessions at the now defunct Bird of Paradise Club, where he also heard master jazz artists play. Early opportunities at the Kerrytown Concert House and at events sponsored by WEMU, a local NPR jazz radio station, helped launch his career. Napoleon went on to study at the University of Michigan School of Music. He moved to New York City after graduating in 1999 and immediately made a name for himself.

Career

Napoleon has an active career both as sideman and as leader. He leads a trio with Quincy Davis on drums, and Jared Gold on Hammond B3 organ. They have toured throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, where they did a concert for BBC radio and played several clubs. In 2008, he began arranging and composing for a new sextet, featuring Gold, Davis and three horns.

He also tours internationally with singer/pianist Freddy Cole.
 
The Randy Napoleon Trio appears on two CDs, Enjoy the Moment and Randy Napoleon: Between Friends. Both feature organist Jared Gold, and drummer Quincy Davis. They have been compared to Wes Montgomery's organ trio. Between Friends, a 2006 release from Azica Records, features the trio on half the tracks and a quartet on the other, with Davis, bassist David Wong, and Benny Green on piano.

Napoleon has also toured with Benny Green (2000-2001), Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, CHJO (2003-2004) and Michael Bublé (2004-2007). He has appeared on TV in Japan with CHJO and throughout Europe and the United States with Bublé. His U.S. TV appearances with Bublé include David Letterman, Jay Leno, The View, The Today Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Regis and Kelly, Dancing with the Stars, the Radio Music Awards, Entertainment Tonight, and a PBS special, Caught in the Act, which is available on DVD/CD from Reprise Records.

He has also appeared on TV with Freddy Cole, Sachal Vasandani, and others.
 
Napoleon has also performed with jazz artists including Rodney Whitaker and Grady Tate. He has appeared with major cabaret artists including Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano, and has worked with musicians from his own generation, such as Josh Brown (trombone), Gerald Clayton (piano), Justin Ray (trumpet), Julius Tolentino (saxophone), and vocalists Melissa Morgan and Sachal Vasandani.

Napoleon has played in venues across the United States, including Lincoln Center, The Hollywood Bowl, The Kennedy Center, Radio City Music Hall and major venues throughout the world, such as Royal Albert Hall in London, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. He has mentioned in interviews that he particular likes playing in intimate spaces and regularly returns to the Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor.“ There are always going to be people that seek out music that's heartfelt. The hardest part is doing the music justice and playing it as well as it can be played. The blessing we have is these old recordings of past jazz masters.”

Discography
 
As a member of other bands:

The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra: Live at MCG
Michael Bublé: Caught in The Act
Jared Gold: Solids & Stripes
The Josh Brown Quartet: The Feeling of Jazz
Melissa Morgan: Until I Met You
Justin Ray
Michael Bublé: With Love
Michael Bublé: Let It Snow
Michael Bublé: A Taste of Bublé
Michael Camacho: Just for You
Sweetie Pie: Live at the Firefly Club
Don't Go to Strangers

Responses & Reviews

In a review of the Freddy Cole Quartet, August 2, 2008: "Cole occasionally sang without accompanying himself, relying instead on guitarist Randy Napoleon's resourcefulness....Napoleon, a young, swing-centric guitarist...was accorded plenty of solo space, revealing an exceptionally nimble finger-style technique." Mike Joyce, The Washington Post
In a review of Between Friends: "Napoleon plays with a gentle, purring tone that makes you lean in close to hear its range of color and articulation, and his improvisations are true narratives, a collection of shapely melodies rather than a series of prepackaged licks." Mark Stryker, The Detroit Free Press

In a review of the Dec 15, 2007 performance of the Freddy Cole Quartet in South Orange NJ: "In the instrumental interludes, the Freddy Cole quartet plays swinging mainstream jazz that is always accessible and interesting...with some superb guitar work from Napoleon, who was simply sensational throughout the evening...Napoleon has been with the group only a few months, but has already become an important part of what they provide musically..." Joe Lang, Jazz Improv NY, Jan. 2008 issue.

In a review of the Jan 22, 2009 performance of the Freddy Cole Quartet at St. Cecilia's in Grand Rapids, MI: "His quartet includes three fabulous players...who play with no unnecessary gestures, no wasted notes...Guitarist Randy Napoleon, a finger-style player with a soft, smooth touch, meshed perfectly with Cole's piano, whether trading fills or sharing the melody in octaves. When Cole stepped away from the keyboard, Napoleon filled in all the space without missing a trick, delivering thick, chord-rich solos on tunes such as 'I Will Wait For You.'" Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk, The Grand Rapids Press.
 
Randy Napoleon performed with Warner Brothers recording artist Michael Bublé for three years, during which Napoleon put out the album Between Friends Upon hearing it, Bublé commented for the liner notes: " Randy Napoleon is the most exciting guitarist of our generation."
In a preview of a 2007 appearance of the Randy Napoleon Trio in Pittsburgh, a reviewer commented on Napoleon's recent album: "His melodic lines are clean and uncomplicated. He shows a sensitivity for song rather than a desire to show off." Bob Karlovits, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Between Friends received attention in several countries: "Napoleon ha un suono generoso, brillante e corposo allo stesso temp, che sa di Nebbiolo d'annata." Matteo Brancaleoni, Jazz Magazine (Italian publication).
"Napoleon at times searches, not for the big fat notes, but the tiniest, trim, lean and bittersweet ones. His heaviness lies not in volume or weight, but in depth of spirit." Michael G. Nastos, WEMU radio host
"Napoleon must be considered in the first rank of modern jazz guitarists." Piotr Michalowski, Southeast Michigan Jazz Association
"Napoleon consistently shows that he is in full command of his instrument without resorting to overindulgent solos like many young players...Napoleon's tasty, spacious interpretation of the magical ballad "A Time For Love" is yet another highlight...The subtle opener, "Face the Truth," is a conversational piece that might appeal to a singer if it only had a lyric." Ken Dryden, Allmusic
"Each note hangs, suspended with raindrop clarity from its bough of melody, on up-tempo tunes as well as ballads." Lawrence Cosentino, Lansing Michigan's City Pulse.
"His guitar lines are soulful and smart." Marc S. Taras, Current Magazine
"Randy Napoleon an der Gitarre ergibt sich ein voller Klang, der sich vom ersten Lied bis zur letzten der zahlreichen Zugaben, einem Lied von Louis Armstrong, ebenmäßig durchzieht." LitGes (Review of Freddy Cole Quartet)
"In seiner Band tummeln sich in Gestalt von Randy Napoleon ein geschmeidiger Gitarrist, mit Elias Bailey ein stoisch walkender Bassist und mit Curtis Boyd ein swingender Drummer" (In review of Freddy Cole Quartet at Birdland in Neuberg, Germany )Donaukurier
"Freedy tryskał energią i jak na prawie 80-cio letniego człowieka pokazał naprawdę niezłą formę. Bardzo eksponowanym muzykiem był gitarzysta, Randy Napoleon, który grał bardzo poprawne harmonijne, ciekawe melodyjnie solówki. Praktycznie w każdym kawałku. Pod koniec koncertu dawało się odczuć lekkie znużenie przewidywalnością jego kolejnych fraz" (review of Freddy Cole Quartet in Poland)
"Vagy én nem oldódtam fel rendesen az elején (valószínűbb), vagy nekik kellett egy kis idő, amíg igazán megtalálták egymást (nem valószínű), mert mintha az első számban a Cole által sokat éltetett Randy Napoleon gitárjátékával nem találta volna az összhangot a zongorával, vagy legalábbis nem volt teljesen világos a szerepük. Később teljesen visszahúzódott a törtető Napoleon, és csak akkor játszotta magát az előtérbe, mikor Cole otthagyta hangszerét, és sinatrás pózban énekelt, de akkor viszont zenekarvezetői szerepben gitározott." (review Freddy Cole Quartet in Czech Republic by Linczényi Márk, 2008 November)

References

a b c d e All About Jazz (2007). "Randy Napoleon Returns to Brooklyn Roots". All About Jazz. Retrieved on 2007.
a b Zan Stewart (2007). "Freddy's way". The New Jersey Star-Ledger. Retrieved on 2007.
a b c d e f g All About Jazz (2007). "Randy Napoleon". All About Jazz. Retrieved on 2007.
a b c d All About Jazz (2006). "Jazz Guitarist Randy Napoleon Unites Top Artists for New Release". All About Jazz. Retrieved on 2007.
a b c d Christian Czerwinski (2006). "Jazz guitarist gets his own backing band". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved on 2007.

---------------

Biography (www.allaboutjazz.com)

Born: May 28, 1977

Randy Napoleon is one of the most sought after guitarists in New York today. He is a member of The Freddy Cole Quartet and the leader of his own organ trio.
Napoleon's career took off one month after moving to New York City, when he joined pianist Benny Green's trio and achieved international exposure. Since that auspicious debut on the New York scene, he continued to make a name for himself as a forward-thinking musician with a passion for the jazz guitar tradition.

Napoleon played many major European festivals and toured Japan with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (CHJO). His connection to this LA-based orchestra dates back to his college days, when Jeff Hamilton heard him perform with the University of Michigan Big Band. In 2004, he appeared on a TV special in Tokyo with CHJO and recorded Live at MCG Jazz with them.
He began backing Michael Bublé in the fall of 2004. During three years with Bublé, he appeared on TV in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, London, Milan, Paris, Sydney,Toronto (Canada AM and CityLine) and the U.S. (Letterman; Leno; The View; Today, Regis and Kelly; The Ellen DeGeneres Show; a PBS special, Caught in the Act; The Radio Music Awards, Dancing with the Stars),) on BBC radio, and on the stages of prestigious music halls all over the globe.
He appears on three of Bublé's albums, including Caught in the Act, With Love, and Let it Snow
Napoleon also makes time to work with his own trio. Their most recent CD, Between Friends,was released in November 2006 by Azica Records.

In January 2007, he returned to London to appear on BBC radio and in clubs to promote the album. The trio, a collaboration with organist Jared Gold and drummer Quincy Davis, continues to attract attention internationally.

Napoleon has played with other major artists including Rodney Whitaker, Rick Roe, and Grady Tate, and with top cabaret performers, including Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano. He has formed partnerships with some of the finest musicians of his own generation, among them Josh Brown, Gerald Clayton, Julius Tolintino and Sachal Vasandani.

When he isn't on the road with Freddy Cole or with his own trio, Randy Napoleon performs in New York City. Whatever the setting, he always is happy to pick up his guitar and play.

Home: NEW YORK, NY 

Press Quotes

“In the instrumental interludes, the [Freddy Cole] quartet plays swinging mainstream jazz that is always accessible and interesting. Napoleon has been with the group only a few months, but has already become an important part of what they provide musically...Cole stepped away from the piano for Luiz Bonfá's Morning of the Carnival, with some superb guitar work from Napoleon, who was simply sensational throughout the evening... “ Joe Lang, Jazz Improv NY
“Napoleon plays with a gentle, purring tone that makes you lean in close to hear its range of color and articulation, and his improvisations are true narratives, a collection of shapely melodies rather than a series of prepackaged licks.” Mark Stryker, Detroit Free Press
“Napoleon at times searches, not for the big fat notes, but the tiniest, trim, lean and bittersweet ones. His heaviness lies not in volume or weight, but in depth of spirit.” Michael G. Nastos, WEMU radio host
Napoleon’s sound can be likened to the classic elegance of jazz great Wes Montgomery.” Lawrence Cosentino, Lansing City Pulse
“Napoleon must be considered in the first rank of modern jazz guitarists.” Piotr Michalowski, Southeast Michigan Jazz Association 
“Possessed of a technique informed by greats like Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass, Napoleon favors subtlety over flash, accenting his improvised solos with a languid swing and patient flourishes that are technically flawless, yet full of soul and feeling” Will Stewart, Ann Arbor News
“His melodic lines are clean and uncomplicated. He shows a sensitivity for song rather than a desire to show off.” Bob Karlovits, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
“”Keep an eye on this talented guitarist, as he is destined to make a name for himself.” Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
“”The guitar sound is huge, the playing is radiant,” David Adler
“Randy Napoleon is the most exciting guitarist of our generation.” Michael Bublé, Warner Brothers recording artist
“His guitar lines are soulful and smart.” Marc S. Taras, Current Magazine
“He's terrific!” Bridget Apps, Senior Music Producer, BBC Radio

www.allaboutjazz.com