Nicole Henry gained attention in 2004 when she released her debut CD, Nearness Of You: The Ballad Book, on Banister Records. She started off singing in church and school choirs, and she studied cello for six years. Henry received a scholarship to study architecture in college but instead graduated with a degree in advertising and theater. In 2000 she toured as a background singer for Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise, performing dance music. She has since worked as an actress, a spokesperson, an R&B singer, and more recently a jazz singer. She discovered jazz when she was singing in Miami Beach. Bassist Paul Shewchuk invited her to learn some jazz standards and gig with his trio. She found that she enjoyed the freedom of the music, and that has been her main direction ever since. Based in Florida, Nicole Henry has performed in Korea, Japan, Mexico, London, and throughout the U.S. In addition to Nearness Of You: The Ballad Book, she has also recorded the 2007 Japanese-only release Teach Me Tonight and The Very Thought Of You, the latter CD issued by Banister in 2008. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi