Andrea Hopkins and HAPPY TALK
Jazz

A beautiful voice with simple, elegant backup is the classic jazz lounge combination. Andrea Hopkins and HAPPY TALK will be creating that intimate lounge atmosphere at the FCCJ this Saturday.
Andrea Hopkins started her singing career in Atlanta where she made a name for herself before hitting the Asia hotel circuit, finally landing in Tokyo. The busy singer has performed at virtually every major live house, club and hotel from Tokyo to Kyoto and has recorded with artists ranging from Japanese pop idol Ayumi Hamasaki to rock icon Elvis Costello. She handles dance songs, funk, and hip-hop. But her first love is jazz. “When I am doing Jazz, I feel like I am so free,” she says.
HAPPY TALK comprises pianist Jonathon Katz and bassist Brent Nussey. Jonathon is a ubiquitous feature of Tokyo's music scene, leading his own trio, performing with the likes of Ray Brown, Lew Tabackin and Joe Lee Wilson, and more recently heading up his own big band. In addition to cutting a lengthening list of acclaimed CDs he has toured North America, even appearing at New York's famed Blue Note. Brent graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston and then for a graduate course moved to New York to play with such jazz greats as Diana Krall, James Williams, Javon Jackson and Eddie Henderson. Since moving to Japan he has performed both jazz--appearing with Yoichi Kobayashi, Yoshihiro Arita and others--and classical music. He regularly sits in with such visitors as Lew Tabackin, Benny Powell and Angela Stribling.
Andrea and HAPPY TALK will be playing a selection of jazz and pop standards, including Over The Rainbow, Misty, It's All Right With Me, Cherokee, The Nearness of You and Time After Time. It will be sophisticated jazz the way it's supposed to be.

The Entertainment Committee
Coming up!
August 2: Peter Montgomery (Jazz)
August 9: Jim Butler (jazz)
August 16: Hiroko Williams (jazz)