bio

Household Ink Records is proud to present Nate Birkey’s luminous fine new album Rome, his tenth release on the label. The Colorado-born and long NYC-based jazz trumpeter and vocalist has covered many angles and approaches during his career, reflect on unique albums such as his gospel/hymn-themed Just a Closer Walk (2015), 2001’s Ballads, and 2008’s Christmas. Other titles in the discography: Indelibly You (1998), The Mennonite (2001), Shortest Day (2004) and Almost Home (2008).

Rome was recorded last year in Rome, Italy, a place where Birkey has been drawn back to on many occasions, and found a natural alliance with the cultural temperament. A mix of originals and custom-chosen classics add up to a glowing, romantic yet thoughtful musical occasion. Joining Birkey are Italian musician friends--Roberto Tarenzi and Manuel Magrini on piano, bassist Luca Bulgarelli and drummer Alessandro Marzi.

The press notes:

Re: Just a Closer Walk

“Over the course of his career, which spans nine releases as a leader, trumpeter and vocalist Nate Birkey has consistently cleaved to a less-is-more ethos, whether by virtue of his West Coast cool vibe or specific technical choices that prioritize feeling and lyrical expression. Birkey, having put aside his usual mix of playing and singing for this all instrumental album, virtually transforms his trumpet into a human voice, complete with ranges of emotion that taper off into a diaphanous whisper at the song’s end. Albums like this suggest Birkey is on his way out from under the shadow of all those early Chet Baker comparisons; his musical ideas deserve to stand on their own.”

--Jennifer O’Dell - DownBeat, April 2015

“Birkey’s trumpet chops are strong, his playing is lyrical and passionate his singing voice is soft and sensitive, making the ballad format the most appropriate for his style. Birkey seems to me to be an enigma. As was once queried of Chet Baker, is he a trumpet player who sings, or a singer who plays trumpet? Birkey is adept at both.” --Frank Rubolino, Cadence

Re: Christmas

"With his muted trumpet and hush-a-bye vocal style, Birkey recalls a healthy Chet Baker. …Without question, this is one of the gems in this year’s batch of holiday releases."
                                                            --Lee Mergner - Jazz Times

“Birkey exemplifies in music what the American poet, James Wright, called ‘the pure clear word’—honest, heartfelt expression that never lapses into sentimentality or self-pity.”

                                                           --Victor Schermer, All About Jazz

"Nate Birkey, he of mysterious charisma, subtle gossamer trumpet lines and understated voice, hunches over the microphone and leans into his phrases, shutting out the world."

--Josef Woodard, LA Times

nate birkey quintet, christmas  (2008)

 HI-143= $15 (postage paid) to buy

bio

Songs: 1. silent night  2. o tannenbaum  3. have yourself a merry little christmas mp3  4. we three kings  5. christmas time is here mp3  6. what are you doing new year's eve?  7. i'll be home for christmas  8. the christmas waltz mp3  9. hanukkah, oh hanukkah  10. i heard the bells on christmas day mp3

Musicians: Nate Birkey, trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals; Jim Ridl, piano; Steve Rudolph, piano; Tony Marino, bass; Marko Marcinko, drums; Vic Juris, guitar

nate birkey quintet, almost home  (2008)

 HI-142= $15 (postage paid) to buy

Songs: 1. Bianca  2. All of You  3. Falling  4. I'm Falling in Love Again  5. The Promise  6. Little Boy Lost  7. Tuesdays on the Ridge  8. Sing to Me  9. Cinema Paradiso

Musicians: Nate Birkey, trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals; Sal Giorgiano, tenor sax; Jim Ridl, piano; Steve Rudolph, piano; Tony Marino, bass; Marko Marcinko, drums; Vic Juris, guitar

  nate birkey quintet, the mennonite 

   (CD) 2001, HI-128= $15 (postage paid)

1. The Fool in the Tree (Birkey) 2. Delirio (Birkey) 3. Penelope (Birkey) 4. Before She Goes Away (Birkey) 5. Northern Lights (Roney) 6. Hollow (Trotter) 7. Song Without Words (Birkey) 8. Prohibition (Trotter) 9. The Mennonite (Birkey) 10. What'll I Do? (Berlin)

Personnel: Nate Birkey, trumpet and vocals; Jamieson Trotter, keyboards; Cougar Estrada, drums; Jim Connolly, bass; also with Joe Woodard, guitar

  nate birkey Quintet, ballads

    (CD) 2001, HI-129= $15 (postage paid)

1. I'll Be Seeing You (Fain/Kahal) 2. Nature Boy (Ahbez) 3. For All We Know (Coots/Lewis) 4. Dreaming of Memphis (Birkey) 5. Hi Lili, Hi Lo (Deutsch/Kaper) 6. But Not For Me (Gershwin/Gershwin) 7. I'll Be Around (Wilder) 8. My Ship (Gershwin/Weill) 9. I Will Wait For You (Demy/Gimbel/Legrand) 10. You Don't Know What Love Is (DePaul/Raye)

Personnel: Nate Birkey, trumpet and vocals; Jamieson Trotter, keyboards; Cougar Estrada, drums; Jim Connolly, bass; also with Ruben Estrada, piano and vibraphone; Dan Zimmerman, electric guitar, Joe Woodard, guitar

     nate birkey quintet, indelibly you

     (CD) HI-122= $12 (postage paid)

"His biggest, boldest, most original statement as a musician yet."