Fingerprints, the popular Dallas based sextet, is known as “one of the best kept music secrets in the South.” For many years standing room-only crowds have been lining up to hear the perfect blend of jazz and R&B by the Fingerprints musicians at venues and music festivals throughout the South and Southwest. With five accomplished CDs to date (Fingerprints, Reunion Live, Summertime Music, DNA and the newest release Dream Life), the distinguished sound of Fingerprints has been shaped through the years by its long-term members: Frederick Nichelson (bass), Claud Hardrick (saxophone, flute, vocals), Tim Jones (lead vocals, percussion), Kennan Wylie (drums, percussion), Jordache Grant (keyboards), and Robert Lacroix (guitar).
Their long anticipated fifth CD, Dream Life, on the Pacific Coast Jazz label follows the enormous popularity of their last release, DNA, and proves this contemporary jazz band deserves greater national and international recognition. On Dream Life the band delivers exceptional grooves, emotional energy and some of the most soulful covers around. According to bassist and leader Frederick Nichelson, “Some of our work is comparable to groups like The Crusaders, Spyro Gyra and Pieces of a Dream, but we are careful to stay away from being over produced and seldom use midi-sequencing. We want to be known as a “real band” whose recognized sound of soul, blues and jazz have evolved through over twenty years of live performance.“
Along with electrifying performances on Dream Life, the CD features surprise guest artists like Bernard Wright, Mel Scott, Todd Parsnow, Shelley Carol, Larry Davis, John Gordon, and Richard Smith. The songs on Dream Life are appealing originals by band members or musical guests along with three cover tunes written by, jazz icon Herbie Hancock (Tell Me A Bedtime Story), Grammy award winning songwriter Diane Warren (For You I Will) and a classic jazz standard by the great Tadd Dameron (Lady Bird).
However, what is most special about this CD is the fourth track, “I Am A Man” with inspiring vocals from Tim Jones. Memphis native Frederick Nichelson was honored to co-write the title song with Stax/Volt artist Deanie Parker for the documentary, I Am A Man (www.iamamanthemovie.com). Produced by the Memphis Tourism Foundation in partnership with Running Pony Productions and Old Bridge Media, the all-Memphis team also included Switch Creative and Electraphonic Recording. The documentary is the story of one man, Elmore Nickelberry, and his fight for dignity, justice, and the power of the human spirit. Surrounded by the soul music that helped make Memphis famous, Mr. Nickleberry tells an uplifting life story of endurance and character as he is joined by the men and women of the 1968 sanitation strike whose courageous stand helped change the world forever. Dr. Martin Luther King supported their plight by saying to the public that "our society must come to respect the sanitation worker."
The group, Fingerprints, was founded in 1986 by guitarist Roy Machado and bassist Frederick Nichelson while they were both music students at the prestigious University of North Texas. “We started the band in college,” said Nichelson, “and have stayed together since that time in collaborations and performances. Many of our other band mates and fellow students at the time went on to success with major artists like the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Harry Connick, Jr, Seal, Sheryl Crow and others. We felt it was important to create our own voice in the music community and remained dedicated to that idea. ”Nichelson, a native “Memphian”, grew up in the shadow of Stax Records legends and their contemporaries such as, The Memphis Horns, Kirk Whalum and the Bar-Kays. Drummer Kennan Wylie comes from Austin, Texas and earned his Master's degree in Music from the University of North Texas. When Kennan is not on stage performing with Fingerprints, he serves as an educator and his groups have won past awards at the Percussive Arts Society International Conferences (P.A.S.I.C.). Fingerprints saxophonist Claud Hardrick, (a native of Wichita, Kansas), along with veteran guitarist Robert Lacroix and keyboard player Jordache Grant epitomize the musical philosophy of the group, which is to always strive for the contemporary cutting edge while maintaining respect for tradition. In addition to the “core group”, Fingerprints frequently features talented vocalists Tim Jones (singing on all the band's CD releases) and Ardina Lockhart.
Band members have recorded and toured in the past with highly respected artists such as Harry Connick, Jr., Marion Meadows, Ronnie Laws, Freddie Ravel, Tom Browne, Miles Jaye, Wayman Tisdale, Roy Machado, Toni Redd, Brad Leali, Ardina Lockhart, Shelley Carrol and Kyle Turner. Fingerprints 1991 self-titled CD sold over 10,000 copies and their second release in 1994, Summertime Music, surpassed that number reaching top twenty status in both Radio and Records and the Gavin Report. The opening track, “Whisper,” featuring long time friend and saxophonist Marion Meadows, continues to be a favorite of many radio stations in the USA and internationally. With their third release, Reunion Live, the band created a definitive statement in the evolution of their musical growth and popularity. Recorded at the world famous Caravan of Dreams club in Fort Worth, Texas, tracks can be heard on This is Texas Smooth Jazz CD sampler released in the fall of 1996. But it was the amazing popularity of Fingerprints 2001 CD release, DNA, which catapulted the group into increased exposure with rave reviews and thousands of loyal fans. One of the singles from DNA, “So In Love,” is featured on the international compilation, Cafe de Soul- Chapter 3.
With a performance schedule of over 100 shows per year, Fingerprints still manages to find time to dedicate to their local community through donated concerts to civic and non-profit organizations. Past organizations have included Sarcoidosis Foundations of Texas, the Salvation Army and the Cub Scouts of America. One of their main emphases is to give back to their own communities by supporting young people and youth organizations through their music and performances. “It is an important “mission” for the group to be able to share our music for the benefit of all people and particularly we want to encourage young people to use music as a way to find positive expression in their lives,” commented Nichelson. “Dream Life is a testament to the good fortune and pleasure we have making a living at our music and so we want to inspire others to do the same. We demonstrate that enthusiasm every time we perform or record and hope that people feel the same joy we do.”
For more information go to, www.fingerprintsband.com or www.pacificcoastjazz.com
Notable appearances:
Addison July Jazz series
Taste of New Orleans
Euless Arbor Daze
Fort Worth Main Street Festival
Dallas Jazz festival
Delaney Vineyards- Grapevine, TX
Denton Jazzfest
Beale Street Music Festival
Balcones Heights Jazz Festival
Mansfield Wine and Music Festival
MAAH- Detroit
One World Theater- Austin, TX
Tyler Jazz Festival
Bishop College Alumni Reunion
Taste of Dallas
South by Southwest
Jazz in June (Norman, OK)
Bradley Fair Jazz series (Wichita, KS)
Spirit of Jazz festival- OKC
State Fair of Texas
Houston International Festival
Little Rock Riverfest
Soulfest in Austin, TX
Fingerprints: Bio
Songlist highlights
Acoustic Soul-Fingerprints
All Blues-Miles Davis
Anything for you-Fingerprints
Anytime- B. Mcknight
Ascension- MAXWELL
BackBone- BONEY JAMES
Be Yourself- FINGERPRINTS
Blue Bossa -Standard
Chicago Song- David Sanborn
Cold Duck Time -Les McCann
Come Back to Me-Janet Jackson
Come Together- -Fingerprints
December -Fingerprints
DNA-Fingerprints
Dock of the Bay -Otis Redding
Down Home Blues-ZZ HILL
Dream Life -Fingerprints
Feel Like makin' love- Flack
For the Love of You- ISLEY BROS.
For You i will-Fingerprints
Forever More- URBAN KNIGHTS
Full Moons Melody- FINGERPRINTS
G Bop - KENNY G
God Bless The Child - STANDARD
Grand Central -Boney James
Have you met Ms Jones-Std
Having A Party -L. Vandross
I am a Man-Fingerprints
I can't help it- M. Jackson
I can't stop loving -KEM
In Effect -Marion Meadows
Is it A Crime -Sade
It might be You -R. Flack
Just a Little Bit-FINGERPRINTS
Killer Joe -STD
Killing me Softly-Flack
Lady Bird -Fingerprints
Let's Get it On -MARVIN GAYE
Let's Stay Together -Al Green
Lonesome Rhodes -Fingerprints
Love and Happiness -AL GREEN
Love Calls-Kem
Lovely Day- Bill Withers
Make Me a Memory-G. WASHINGTON
Maputo-SANBORN
Maria Maria-Santana
Max Master -Fingerprints
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy -C. ADDERLY
Mind Games-Fingerprints
Mr. Magic -Grover
My Funny Valentine-STANDARD
My Girl -TEMPTATIONS
Naima- Coltrane
NE Wind -KIRK WHALUM
Never Enough -Fingerprints
Never give you up- Raphael Saddiq
Never too Much -L. Vandross
Night in Tunisia -Dizzy/Bird
Nostalgia in Times Square- Mingus
On and On-Eryka Badu
Ordinary People- John Legend
Out a Hand-KIRK WHALUM
Outstanding-GAP BAND
Playground-FINGERPRINTS
Please Forgive Me-FINGERPRINTS
Proud Mary-Tina Turner
Rainbow of Love -Fingerprints
Satin Doll-Ellington
Save Your Love for Me -N. Wilson
Shady Shores -Fingerprints
Smooth Operator -Sade
So In Love-Fingerprints
So What - M. Davis
Song for Art Porter -Fingerprints
Song for my father - Horace Silver
Soon Enough -Fingerprints
Stay with you- John Legend
Steal Away -BLUES
Straight to the Point -A. PORTER
Summertime -STANDARD
Summertime Music -FINGERPRINTS
Sumthin' Somethin"- Maxwell
Sweetest Taboo -Sade
Take the A Train -Ellington
Tell me a bedtime story-Herbie Hancock
That's the way -Janet Jackson
The Way Love Goes -B. McKnight
Thrill Is Gone -B.B. KING
Time Will Tell -Fingerprints
Wake up Everybody- Harold Melvin & Blue Notes
What a wonderful world-Armstrong
What were you thinking-Fingerprints
What You Won't Do -B. Caldwell
What's Going On -M. Gaye
When A Man Loves-M. Bolton
Where is the Love-R. Flack
Whisper -FINGERPRINTS
Why would you stay-Kem
Winelight-Grover Washington, Jr.
World is A Ghetto- WAR
Velas -Quincy Jones
You Send Me-Percy Sledge
Frederick Nichelson - bassist, composer, producer
Frederick Nichelson was born in Memphis, TN and began playing saxophone at age 12. After high school, I attended Jackson State Univ and began playing electric bass. I later went on to earn a BBA at UNT in Denton. It was there, that I met Roy Machado and formed the band Fingerprints in 1986. After graduation, the band moved to nearby Dallas and recorded its first CD. Machado left the band in 1996 and Nichelson continued on with a host of the best talent in the area.
Frederick has performed or recorded with artist such as Tom Browne, Shelley Carrol, Don Diego, Vic Duncan, Fingerprints, Mark Harper, Bobbi Humphrey, Marchel Ivery, Ronnie Laws, Ardina Lockhart, Joel McCray, Marion Meadows, Toni Redd, Howard Scott (original member of WAR), Kyle Turner, Bernard Wright, and many others. Nichelson has also produced CDs for Carrol, Fingerprints, Barrie Lee Hall, Jr., Bobby Lavell, Brad Leali, Kyle Turner, and Sebastian Whittaker.
As an artist, I most enjoy playing smooth jazz, soul, and singer-sonwriter material. My biggest influences are Victor Bailey, James Taylor, EWF, Kirk Whalum, and the music of STAX records.
Personal gear includes:
Fender Amer Standard 4 st bass w/ EMGs (1993)
Fender Jazz bass 24 w/ Basslines p/u
Fender Jazz vintage 1978
Fender Jazz lined fretless
Modulus Quantum 5 bass
MTD 5 strg Heir bass
Yamaha TRB 4 (tuned A-D-G-C)
Main live rig:
SWR SM400s amp
SWR Goliath III 410
Aphex 204 Big Bottom exciter
Source Audio Bass envelope filter
Boss ME-50B
Additional back up gear:
Ampeg PF-500 head
Hartke HA3000 amp
SWR Goliath II 210
SWR Workingman 210
SWR Workingman 115
Behringer 112 combo
For writing and production, I use the following:
Presonus Studio One
Studiolive 1602 console
Pro Tools 8
Stienberg Sequel 2
Akai MPC 2500 le
Yamaha Motif rack
EMU Proteus 2000
Korg Triton le 61
Roland JV 1080
Alesis Micron
BBE Tmax bass preamp
Rhodes 73 suitcase
Wurlitzer EP (vintage black)
Tascam CD Bass trainer mkII