Nicki Leighton-Thomas sings Fran Landesman

Nicki’s most recent album ‘One Good Scandal’ is intimate, intelligent, sensual and literary paired with music that crosses the boundaries between jazz, blues and pop. The album is her second focusing on the lyrics of Fran Landesman and music of Simon Wallace who wrote over 300 songs together – two of them about Nicki! The title track was the featured song on Jazz FM’s ‘Dinner Jazz with Mark Walker’, on it’s release in October and the album has received much critical acclaim as well as two sell-out dates for it’s launch.

Legendary lyricist Fran Landesman – friend and mentor to Nicki until her death in 2011 – was known for being part of the Beat Generation in 1950’s New York, hanging out with Jack Kerouac, Lenny Bruce, Alan Ginsberg and Miles Davis and had her songs recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Roberta Flack and many others.

Photo Credit: Sammy Adams

“…Pithy, insightful observations on human nature… biting humour, hot sassiness and WTF attitude, both singer and band with it’s alternation of bluesy languor and spiky aggression, capture that convincingly.” – Kevin Le Gendre, Jazzwise

“… devastatingly impressive… Nicki’s song choices are impeccable… pathos, joy, sorrow, optimism and levity… spellbinding… a compelling listen… a triumph.” – Nicki Lea, Jazz Views