Liner Notes: Candace Nicole’s debut album gives listeners something they can feel 

Welcome to Liner Notes, where we dig into the stories and offer commentary behind the albums that resonate beyond the music. Today, we’re unpacking Candace Nicole, the self-titled album by Detroit-based pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Candace Nicole. 

Nicole’s musical journey began at age 3. Inspired by her piano-playing mother and musically-inclined grandmother, she embraced a family tradition – taking piano lessons. Her classical training introduced her to the works of Beethoven, Bach, and Gershwin, while her Detroit roots infused her artistry with the rich sounds of Motown, jazz, and R&B. Over the years, Nicole would hone her craft performing at concerts and showcases, but her true passion lay in creating original music.   

Balancing family life and work, she composed her debut album during quiet late-night hours, the only time of day where she had the opportunity to create, and soon she had compiled a number of original works that would comprise the album.

Fashioning herself as a “neo-classical” artist who fuses the worlds of classical with jazz and R&B, she secured the services of noted percussionist and producer Jeff Canady (of the Don Was Pan Detroit Ensemble) as well as a cauldron of some of Detroit’s top-tier musician talent to play on the album, including Twon Green II (keys), Anthony Booker (guitar) and Terry Washington (bass/music direction) along with audio engineers Derrick Holmes and Greg Reilly to help bring the album to life.   

1. Latin

Let’s start with the opening track, “Latin,” a lively fusion of Latin and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. This tune channels the vibrant spirit of music legends like Joe Sample and Chick Corea, while adding Nicole’s improvisational jazz flair.  

2. Paradise to See

While the album spotlights Nicole’s piano mastery, it also features standout collaborations with talented vocalists. One such gem is “Paradise to See,” featuring the radiant Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Buckman.  This track evokes the breezy elegance of Natalie Cole’s “La Costa,” blending island-inspired grooves with a hopeful message. Buckman’s soulful delivery paired with Nicole’s lush arrangements creates a sonic escape amid uplifting sentiments of hope toward better times ahead.  

3. Time Goes On

Throughout the album, Nicole’s compositions reflect a variety of styles, and “Time Goes On” is a quiet storm ballad that explores enduring love and commitment and features a heartfelt duet featuring vocalists Kenyatta and Nate Smith, a.k.a. N.A.T.A. 

Nicole’s graceful chord progressions provide the perfect backdrop to the vocalists deftly swapping melodic verses, making this duet a gorgeous slow burn and portrait of unrequited love.

4. Alive!

All throughout the album, Nicole’s restrained gracefulness on the keys belies a dazzling yet rhythmic economy as she avoids the traps of so many jazz and R&B artists, who tend to overplay or drown a tune in bombastic soloing. Nicole blends subtlety and technical brilliance, which is clearly apparent on the track “Alive!” as she delivers a hauntingly beautiful composition that captures both strength and vulnerability. The tune features Kenyatta once again, who delivers soaring soprano vocals.  

5. Mi Mamasita

There are distinctive Latin influences peppered throughout the album, and Nicole’s versatile treatment of Salsa/Merengue/Bachata vibes make for a jubilant celebration of rhythm on “Mi Mamasita.” Again featuring Buckman’s warm, heartfelt vocals, Nicole wrote the tune in celebration of her mother. The song also serves as an homage to the nurturing influence of all motherly figures. 

6. Midnight

The breezy and organic chord structures of the track “Midnight” close out the album in grand fashion.

Across the continuum of this six-song opus, Candace Nicole is many things. First, she is a superb musician with a complete understanding of both a lyric and its relation to the melodic content of a track – her piano serving as an extension of her thoughts and your ears the filter for its distillation.

She is a tunesmith of the highest order who can seamlessly blend classical, jazz, Latin and R&B elements. Her music is deeply personal yet universally resonant, drawing listeners into an intimate, emotional journey.

The album is a debut of remarkable vision, maturity, control, professionalism and iridescence. It shows a riveting, classically-trained artist who can finesse a track from gentle whisper to searing crescendo and allow you the space to ruminate in between while you connect with the music.

But above all, it shows that Candace Nicole, the musician, makes music that is a reflection of you, the listener. She gives listeners something they can feel.

If you dig music like this, check out The Progressive Underground every Saturday evening at 6 p.m. on 101.9 WDET where the genres of future soul, progressive hip-hop, nu-jazz, deep house, techno and rare grooves are presented on a sonic palette just for you. See you next time! 

To learn more about Candace Nicole, visit candacenicolemusic.com.