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IN Music Co. Releases "Bigger Than Ever" by Big Nick Nicholas

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enor legend Big Nick Nicholas, with his distinctive style, made his mark early among the leading innovators of the jazz illuminati during the explosive era of Swing and Bebop. Although his featured solo on Dizzy Gillespie's “Manteca" in 1947 remains a hallmark in the evolution of jazz, Big Nick's work with leaders like Hot Lips Page, Buck Clayton, Hank and Thad Jones, Earl Hines, Tiny Bradshaw, Sabby Lewis, J. C. Heard, Lucky Millinder, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Charlie Parker and Charles Mingus continued to inform his stylistic development. As his sound and his interest in the roots of the music in the blues developed, his gritty and meaty tenor style was frequently augmented by his infectious and heartfelt vocals.

Decades living the musician's life lead to his legendary status among the other musicians and the jazz cognoscenti but failed to produce the offer of a record of his own until the release in 1983, on India Navigation, of his first album as a leader, “Big and Warm." That LP was followed by his 1985 release, also on India Navigation, of “Big Nick," titled for the song John Coltrane wrote in his classic tribute to his contemporary.

The complete India Navigation releases, which remain Big Nick Nicholas' only albums as a leader and represent an important and historic part of the history of the great American music known as jazz, are now available on the new CD and MP3 download of “Bigger Than Ever" from IN Music Co. Produced by the remaining members of the India Navigation family, the music on “Bigger Than Ever" makes the music from Big Nick Nicholas's two albums available for the first time on CD and to the digital music audience.

The recordings have been exquisitely remastered by Emmy award winning audio engineer and musician Damon Trotta on “Bigger Than Ever." The CD features the original liner notes from both LPs as well as rare photos of Big Nick in a package designed by another award winner—Bill Hoo, of The Hoo Group. A never-released version of a medley with Big Nick singing “Baby Face" and “Jingle Bells" a cappella complete this loving tribute to a legendary musician and a beloved friend.

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