Jazz Jottings January 2018

Even from an early age, Nicole Pesce took to the piano like the proverbial duck takes to water: ♫ Beginning at the age of 7, she was classically trained by her late father (who worked with artists ranging from Liberace to Lennie Tristano). ♫ It wasn’t long before she broadened her repertoire to include jazz, blues, country, Latin and Broadway show tunes while learning 100 songs. ♫ At 10, she had memorized 500 tunes and won the Discovery National Television Competition. Shortly after, she landed a steady gig at the prestigious Phoenician Resort, becoming the youngest pianist ever hired to play for “high tea.” ♫ She began composing at age 11 and has since written 300 songs, including being commissioned to write the title track for a CD and documentary produced by the Susan Koman Breast Cancer Foundation. Her Symphony in D Major is a favorite, although Nicole is seldom completely satisfied with her work, calling it “in a perpetual state of evolution.” ♫ Sixty million television viewers saw her on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon when she was 12, which led to an extensive tour of the United States with the legendary comedian and a 16-piece orchestra. ♫ At 13, she had a year-long residency in Las Vegas where she performed on stage with stars like Debbie Reynolds, Rich Little, Buddy Greco, Pat Boone, and Lew King. She has performed for two presidents of the United