When Shaker High School alum and Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Kim Nazarian takes to the stage in the high school auditorium on Feb. 2, it will be just as powerful for her as for the group of choir students who will be performing alongside her.
“It’s an experience that comes full circle because that’s where I started,” said Nazarian. “It’s so great to go back home and give back to the place that initially inspired you along this path.”
Her path is one that started long before she was in high school — she sang her first wedding gig at age 7 — but the music class of Ned Fleischer is where her true passion was ignited.
“It all goes back to Ned Fleischer and his passion for music and his passion for teaching and the quality and high standards that he put forth and what he expected of us,” said Nazarian.
She grew up listening to jazz groups, claiming her parents’ old records “bent her ear” in that direction, but it was during Fleischer’s classes that she found her own place in the genre.
“It was the beginning of all my experience. It’s the harmony … it’s the complexity and sophistication of the music, and it’s also that my voice lent itself well to this,” said Nazarian. “It felt good, it felt natural.”
Nazarian’s inspiration led her to cofound the New York Voices, a jazz vocal quartet. The group put out six albums (plus solo projects) and went on to win a Grammy with the Count Basie Orchestra, as well as a Latin Grammy.
Now, they’re getting ready to celebrate their 25th anniversary and preparing to release a seventh album; but coming home for the February performance is what Nazarian’s focused on.
“Exciting things are happening where it all began. It’s quite fascinating,” said Nazarian.
The concert will raise money for the North Colonie Friends of Music piano project. Members of the high school choir will perform alongside the New York Voices and for a few students, this concert represents their own dreams.
“For someone like me who wants to go into music, that’s pretty inspiring because it shows that people from here have gone on and do what I want to do, which shows it’s possible for me, which is a little comforting,” said Chris Brennan, a senior.
Brennan said he’s excited to perform with such a “prestige group” and is looking forward to learning from them. He has plans to major in music education and vocal performance to eventually become a choral director.
“I’ve always been interested in music but a couple years back, I’ve seen singing connected with me a little more,” said Brennan. “It’s a way of expressing music and emotions and it kind of hooked me.”
Alaina Boyle, a junior, also wants to go to college for vocal performance in either opera or jazz. She sees Nazarian’s success as a sign of hope that she too can achieve what she wants to.
She also knows mastering her singing craft, especially in a difficult vocal genre like jazz, isn’t easy.
“It takes a lot more effort to learn it but when it does it’s very rewarding,” said Boyle. “It has a very different sound. It’s a mixture of different rhythms and different chords that people aren’t normally used to. It has kind of a darker sound in general, but I think it’s more expressive.”
Frankie Conroy has no plans to pursue music when he graduates this year, but he said he’s excited for the opportunity to round out his high school chorus career alongside a group well known in his family.
“I’ve actually heard about Kim from my dad because he went to school with her,” said Conroy. “I like music. I’m still learning music and I think it’s complicated but still very fun.”
Nazarian said “persistence and dedication,” plus making the right connections, are the keys to succeeding in the music world.
“When you are supported and taken under the wing of these great legends and icons it’s a wonderful shot in the arm,” said Nazarian.
If you do achieve success, Nazarian said it’s your responsibility to share that, which is exactly what she plans to do.
“That’s a responsibility that falls upon those that are blessed with good fortune in this business and industry; to nurture the quality that comes after you and support that,” said Nazarian. “Maybe there’s the next vocal group at Shaker High School.”
The New York Voices and high school choir will present a concert in the high school auditorium on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 for reserved seating and more information about ordering tickets is available online at www.northcolonie.org. For more information about the New York Voices visit www.newyorkvoices.com.