Fingerprints

"Fingerprints is one of the best and most respected bands in North Texas....One reason they are asked to perform at premier events in the region and beyond."  -Ray Hair, President AFM International

Fingerprints, the popular Dallas based sextet, is known as “one of the best kept music secrets in the South.” For many years standing room-only crowds have been lining up to hear the perfect blend of jazz and R&B by Fingerprints at venues and music festivals throughout the South and Southwest. With five accomplished CDs to date (Fingerprints, Reunion Live, Summertime Music, DNA and the latest release Dream Life), the distinguished sound of Fingerprints has been shaped through the years by its long-term members: Frederick Nichelson (bass), Claud Hardrick (saxophone, flute, vocals), Ardina Lockhart (lead vocals), Kennan Wylie (drums, percussion), Jordache Grant (keyboards), and Robert Lacroix (guitar). Their long anticipated fifth CD, Dream Life, on the Pacific Coast Jazz label follows the enormous popularity of their last release, DNA, and proves this contemporary jazz band deserves greater national and international recognition. On Dream Life the band delivers exceptional grooves, emotional energy and some of the most soulful covers around. According to bassist and leader Frederick Nichelson, “Some of our work is comparable to groups like The Crusaders, Spyro Gyra and Pieces of a Dream, but we are careful to stay away from being over produced and seldom use midi-sequencing. We want to be known as a “real band” whose recognized sound of soul, blues and jazz have evolved through over twenty years of live performance.“ Along with electrifying performances on Dream Life, the CD features surprise guest artists like Bernard Wright, Mel Scott, Todd Parsnow, Shelley Carol, Larry Davis, John Gordon, and Richard Smith. The songs on Dream Life are appealing originals by band members or musical guests along with three cover tunes written by, jazz icon Herbie Hancock (Tell Me A Bedtime Story), Grammy award winning songwriter Diane Warren (For You I Will) and a classic jazz standard by the great Tadd Dameron (Lady Bird). However, what is most special about this CD is the fourth track, “I Am A Man” with inspiring vocals from Tim Jones. Memphis native Frederick Nichelson was honored to co-write the title song with Stax/Volt artist Deanie Parker for the documentary, I Am A Man (www.iamamanthemovie.com). Produced by the Memphis Tourism Foundation in partnership with Running Pony Productions and Old Bridge Media, the all-Memphis team also included Switch Creative and Electraphonic Recording. The documentary is the story of one man, Elmore Nickelberry, and his fight for dignity, justice, and the power of the human spirit. Surrounded by the soul music that helped make Memphis famous, Mr. Nickleberry tells an uplifting life story of endurance and character as he is joined by the men and women of the 1968 sanitation strike whose courageous stand helped change the world forever. Dr. Martin Luther King supported their plight by saying to the public that "our society must come to respect the sanitation worker." 

The group, Fingerprints, was founded in 1986 by guitarist Roy Machado and bassist Frederick Nichelson while they were both music students at the prestigious University of North Texas. “We started the band in college,” said Nichelson, “and have stayed together since that time in collaborations and performances. Many of our other band mates and fellow students at the time went on to success with major artists like the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Harry Connick, Jr, Seal, Sheryl Crow and others. We felt it was important to create our own voice in the music community and remained dedicated to that idea. ”Nichelson, a native “Memphian”, grew up in the shadow of Stax Records legends and their contemporaries such as, The Memphis Horns, Kirk Whalum and the Bar-Kays. In addition to the “core group”, Fingerprints frequently features talented vocalists including Katina Butler,  Ardina Lockhart, and Toni Redd.

For more info visit www.fingerprintsband.com

SONGLIST 2022

Smooth Jazz Favorites 

Affirmation-Benson 
Autumn Leaves-standard 
Bermuda Nights-Albright 
Blue Bossa-standard 
Can we talk-Whalum 
Chicago Song-Sanborn 
Coming home baby-standard 
December-Fingerprints 
Friends and Strangers-Ronnie Laws 
Have you met Miss Jones-standard 
Indian Summer Love-Confunkshun
I can't help it-M. Jackson 
Keep that same old feeling-Crusaders 
Make me a Memory-Grover 
Maputo-Sanborn 
Mister Magic-Grover 
Misty-Standard 
My funny Valentine-Standard 
New View-J. Kashiwa 

On my way to Harlem-G. Porter

Playground- Fingerprints

Pocket Sandwich- Fingerprints 
Put it where you want it-Crusaders 
Shaker Song-Spyra Gyro 
Sleepwalk-Larry Carlton 
So Amazing-Vandross 
Song for Art Porter-Fingerprints 
Songbird-Kenny G 
Summertime-Standard 
Sweet Love-Anita Baker 
Sweet Sticky Thing-Bugnon
Tell me a bedtime story-Hancock 
This Masquerade-Benson 
Time will tell-Fingerprints 
Walking in Rhythm-Black Byrds 
Whisper-Fingerprints 
You are the sunshine-Stevie 

Classic Soul and Dance 

Ain't no woman-4 Tops 
Ain't too Proud-Temps 
Ascension-Maxwell 
Before I let go-Maze 
Best of me-Hamilton 
Boogie Shoes-KC/Sunshine band
Brick House-Commodores 
Can't hide love-EWF 
Celebration -Kool and Gang 
Can't get over you-Maze 
Chain Gang-S. Cooke 
Dock of the Bay-Redding 
Down Home Blues-ZZ Hill 
Get down tonight -KC/Sunshine band

Hold on I'm coming -Sam and Dave
 Holding on -Gregory Porter 
I wish-Stevie 
Joy and Pain-Maze 
Just my imagination-Temps 
Knock on wood-Floyd 
Let's get it on-Marvin Gaye 
Let's groove-EWF 
Let's stay together- Al Green 
Love and happiness- Al Green 
Love won't let me wait- M. Harris 
Mery Mercy Me- Marvin Gaye 
Mustang sally -Mack Rice 
My Girl -Temps 
Outstanding -GAP Band 
September -EWF 
Share my life -Kem 
Shot gun -Junior Walker 
Shout -Isley Brothers 
Signed Sealed -Stevie 
Soul Man -Sam and Dave 
Walking the dog -Rufus Thomas 
What you won't do for love =Caldwell 
What's going on -Marvin Gaye 
When a man loves a woman -P. Sledge 
World is a ghetto -War 
You send me -S. Cooke 
You're on my mind -Kem 

Optional Female vocal set 

Best of me- C. Michelle
Boogie Oogie Oogie -Taste of Honey 
Brown Skin-India.Arie
Car Wash-Rose Royce
Don't ask my neighbor- Emotions
Feel like makin' love- Flack
Feeling Good-standard
Happy Feelin's- Maze
I feel good- JB
Killing me softly- Flack
On and On- Eryka
The way -Jill Scott 
Bag Lady -Eryka 
Tyronne -Eryka 
Caught up in the Rapture -Baker