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Randy Napoleon
Guitarist Randy Napoleon is a performer, arranger, composer and a professor of jazz at Michigan State University. He toured with Freddy Cole for 13 years, and has also toured with Benny Green, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and Michael Buble.
Napoleon arranged Cole’s last albums, including Cole's Grammy-nominated 2010 release, Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B. He composes and arranges for his own bands, an organ trio, a quartet with piano, and a three-horn sextet that includes organ, drums, trumpet, tenor sax and trombone.
He has appeared on television nationally and internationally with Cole, Buble and CHJO on shows that 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 and Entertainment Tonight.
Other artists who have invited Napoleon to join them on stage include include Rodney Whitaker, Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano, Monty Alexander, Rene Marie and Bill Charlap. He recorded an album of duets with Comstock,"Bitter/Sweet"
Gear
Randy Napoleon endorses Stadler Guitars and D'Addario Strings.
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Randy Napoleon: The Door is Open: The Music of Gregg Hill
by Paul Rauch
In and around the formidable jazz studies program at Michigan State University is a plethora of jazz talent devoted to instrumental and compositional excellence. Most of this talent is young, benefiting from a wide array of world-class instructors that includes program director Rodney Whitaker and veteran guitarist Randy Napoleon, among other notables. Within this labyrinth of jazz wisdom in the Detroit / Lansing metroplex is composer Gregg Hill, a former truck driver and tech entrepreneur whose performing ambitions were superseded ...
Continue ReadingRandy Napoleon: Rust Belt Roots: Randy Napoleon Plays Wes Montgomery, Grant Green & Kenny Burrell
by Jack Bowers
One's response to jazz--indeed, to music of any kind--most often depends on where he or she is coming from. To erase any doubts about where he is coming from, guitarist Randy Napoleon has subtitled his album, Rust Belt Roots, “Plays Wes Montgomery, Grant Green and Kenny Burrell." This is music born of a Midwestern ethos: Indianapolis (Montgomery), St. Louis (Green), Detroit (Burrell). Napoleon called Michigan home before moving to New York City in 1999, and has never forgotten the enormous ...
Continue ReadingRandy Napoleon, Dave Brubeck, Troy Roberts and More
by Joe Dimino
This episode features a number of artists interviewed by host Joe Dimino. We begin with guitarist Randy Napoleon and his mentor Donald Walden. Then, we look into the music of Canadian cat Eric St-Laurent and we profile Australian-born saxophonist Troy Roberts . Finally, we pay our respects to the great Lyle Mays and his contributions to the world of jazz. Playlist Randy Napoleon “Wouldn't It Be Nice" Common Tones (Detroit Music Factory) 00:00 Host talks 5:57 Donald Walden ...
Continue ReadingRandy Napoleon: Common Tones
by Chris M. Slawecki
Randy Napoleon may represent the new school of Detroit guitar players emerging from the lineage of Kenny Burrell and (Motown) Funk Brothers Dennis Coffey and Joe Messina, but his approach and sound on Common Tones are old school for sure. His fifth set as a leader (on the Detroit Music Factory label) collaborates across four generations of Michigan jazz musicians and sounds and feels like an old-school jazz conversation, as if Napoleon and friends are playing directly to each other, ...
Continue ReadingRandy Napoleon: Playing for the Jukebox Crowd
by Trish Richardson
When guitarist Randy Napoleon titled his latest effort, The Jukebox Crowd (Gut String Records, 2012), the jukebox he referred to was not some nostalgic 1950s era one that sits idly in a corner. Rather, she is a much sleeker, hipper, and more modern version. She is cool and, of course, jazzy, and she commands center stage. One trait she does share with her older cousin is that she is filled with songs that are worth paying to hear.According ...
Continue ReadingTake Five With Randy Napoleon
by AAJ Staff
Meet Randy Napoleon: Randy Napoleon is one of the most sought after guitarists in New York today. Just off from a two-year tour with Warner Brothers recording artist Michael Bublé, he has recorded a new CD, Between Friends, released in November 2006 by Azica Records and has been touring in the United States and the United Kingdom to promote the album.Napoleon's career took off one month after moving to New York City, when he joined pianist Benny Green's ...
Continue ReadingRandy Napoleon and Jared Gold: Enjoy The Moment
by Mark F. Turner
Organ trios are prevalent these days with groups such as the neo-funksters Medeski Martin & Wood and Soulive, post-modern boppers Larry Goldings and Sam Yahel, and continuing offerings from veterans Dr. Lonnie Smith and Joey DeFrancesco. From the greasy grooves of Jimmy Smith to the sophisticated lines of Larry Young, imitators and disciples are continuing the quest to B-3 heaven. Add guitarist Randy Napoleon and organist Jared Gold to the list with their new trio recording Enjoy The Moment.
Centered ...
Continue ReadingRandy Napoleon’s “the Jukebox Crowd” Set For Release on April 2
Source:
Janet Goldberg
With the release on April 2, 2012 of The Jukebox Crowd (Gut String Records GSR008), acclaimed jazz guitarist Randy Napoleon adds a swinging third recording to his impressive discography. The album features Napoleon leading a three-horn sextet performing originals as well as arrangements of “Fools Rush In,” “God Only Knows,” “I'm in the Mood for Love” and other standards. Joining the guitarist are trumpeter Justin Walter, trombonist Josh Brown, tenor saxophonist Ben Jansson, drummer Quincy Davis and organist Duncan McMillan. ...
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Swing in the New Year with Randy Napoleon
Source:
Verbronics Enterprises
Guitarist Randy Napoleon came to the attention of the jazz world a decade ago when he was a student at the University of Michigan, soloing with Ellen Rowe's jazz band at a festival in Indiana. Among those who evaluated the young musicians were pianist Benny Green and drummer Jeff Hamilton.
On the last day of Napoleon's last class at Michigan, the phone rang. Hamilton was on the other end, inviting him to do a series of performances at the Hollywood ...
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Randy Napoleon Sextet Previews New Music at Fat Cat
Source:
Verbronics Enterprises
Guitarist Randy Napoleon brings a three-horn sextet to Fat Cat in New York City on September 3 to perform originals and fresh arrangements of jazz and soul standards and rethought pop tunes. “It's really an exciting process," he says of working on the arrangements. “There's a fine line between doing something adventurous and doing something where the song loses what attracted people in the first place. The trick is to balance familiarity and surprise."
Joining Napoleon are Ehud Asherie on ...
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Mychelle Colleary, Elias Bailey, Randy Napoleon - Sunday 12/23 @ Cafe 50 West
Source:
All About Jazz
2007 MAC Nominee for Outstanding Jazz Vocalist MYCHELLE COLLEARY This SUNDAY, December 23rd, 5-8pm at Flatiron's hippest new Boite CAFE 50 WEST 50 West 22nd Street, New York 212-352-2233 NO COVER... no minimum... no maximum... I have the great good fortune to be playing with Elias Bailey on bass and Randy Napoleon on guitar. It's PICK-UP jazz, we just show up and play... an all is calm, all ...
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Acclaimed Jazz Guitarist Randy Napoleon Returns to Brooklyn Roots
Source:
Verbronics Enterprises
Internationally acclaimed jazz guitarist Randy Napoleon will bring his organ trio to the Brooklyn Lyceum to perform originals and standards, some featured on Napoleon's recent albums, “Between Friends" and “Enjoy the Moment." Songs include “These Foolish Things," the classic ballad popularized by Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra, and a cheerful rendition of “You're My Everything." “I feel it's important to go beyond the darker colors of the emotional spectrum and include songs that make you smile," says Napoleon, who critics ...
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Randy Napoleon Returns to Brooklyn Roots
Source:
Verbronics Enterprises
Internationally acclaimed jazz guitarist Randy Napoleon, who critics have compared to Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass, will bring a trio to the Brooklyn Lyceum on November 11 to perform originals and standards, some featured on Napoleon's recent albums, “Between Friends" and “Enjoy the Moment." Songs include “These Foolish Things," the classic ballad popularized by Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra, and a cheerful rendition of “You're My Everything." “I feel it's important to go beyond the darker colors of the emotional ...
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Randy Napoleon Trio to Play Cefalo's Jazzclub
Source:
Verbronics Enterprises
Internationally acclaimed jazz guitarist Randy Napoleon, who has been compared to Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass, will bring a trio to Carnegie PA later this month. Bassist Mike Karn and drummer Pete VanNostrand join Napoleon to perform originals and standards from his recent release, Between Friends, including These Foolish Things, the classic ballad popularized by Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra, and a cheerful rendition of You're My Everything. “I feel it's important to go beyond the darker colors of the ...
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Randy Napoleon Quartet at Kerrytown Concert House and Cliff Bell's
Source:
JazzStage Productions
The Randy Napoleon Quartet will be making two appearances in the Detroit, Michigan area this weekend: Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor, MI - Randy Napoleon Quartet with Rodney Whitaker (b), Rick Roe (p) and Sean Dobbins (d). Join Randy Napoleon, who always loves to come back to his hometown, and bring together Michigan's best in an intimate venue that's all about the music. Saturday, August 25: Cliff Bells, Detroit, MI - Randy Napoleon Quartet with Rodney Whitaker (b), Rick Roe ...
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Jazz Guitarist Randy Napoleon Unites Top Artists for New Release
Source:
Verbronics Enterprises
Fresh from international tours with Grammy-nominated vocalist Michael Buble, acclaimed jazz guitarist Randy Napoleon has released Between Friends, a new CD from Azica. The album is a mix of original tunes and jazz standards featuring Benny Green (piano), David Wong (bass), and Napoleon's ongoing trio with Quincy Davis (drums) and Jared Gold (Hammond B3 organ).
“The musicians on this record are some of my favorite players and people," said Napoleon. “This is music I made with my friends for others ...
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"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
Primary Instrument
Guitar
Credentials/Background
Randy Napoleon studied at the University of Michigan School of Music and has learned from mentors including Freddy Cole, Benny Green, Rodney Whitaker, John Clayton, and Jeff Hamilton. He currently is an associate professor in the College of Music at Michigan State University. He gives private lessons and offers clinics for colleges and conservatories. Hours and location vary, since he is on the road most of the time. Check Randy Napoleon's website to see when he will be performing in your city and drop him an e-mail to schedule a lesson.
Nathan Borton
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Music
Showtime
From: Stanco's TimeBy Randy Napoleon
The Lost Tune
From: The Door is Open: The Music of...By Randy Napoleon
Hit the Road to Dreamland
From: DreamLandBy Randy Napoleon
Andy's Lament
From: Puppets: The Music of Gregg HillBy Randy Napoleon
S.O.S.
From: Rust Belt Roots: Randy Napoleon...By Randy Napoleon
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Randy Napoleon
Instrument: Guitar
Born: May 30, 1978
Publicist: Dog Ranch Music PR
