Manx singer Nigel Walton has released a new album that shows off his smooth, mellow tones.
Night and Day, recorded at the Gighouse recording studio in Leamington Spa, features covers of a range of songs in his favourite musical styles of light jazz and blues as well as some pop classics.
The track list includes everything from For Once In My Life, written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden, and covered by the likes of Stevie Wonder, to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Some Enchanted Evening.
Nigel started singing as a pupil at Ballasalla School as Prince Birdsong performing Greensleeves. He later took to the Gaiety stage in a production of ‘The Man Who Came to Dinner’.
Nigel later moved to the Netherlands, where he was discovered singing in a Haarlem jazz bar by Jose Koning, a professional Latin American singer who invited him to a private audition. She encouraged him to pursue his love of singing which led him to train and work with the Amsterdam Podium Kunst in 2000 with Dutch singing giants Annelisa Post and Alexandra Van Marken.
He later secured his first professional engagement with the Glenn Miller Tribute Orchestra at the Amsterdam Hilton, later appearing in the Elvis Presley Exhibition at the Rai, Amsterdam, followed by an appearance in the Dutch news media singing in Memories from Elvis.
Nigel has also had two candlelight concerts in his then home town of Hillegom accompanied by Christan Grotenbreg, the celebrated Dutch pianist.
Christan is writing Nigel a new song to be performed and recorded in Amsterdam with Christan and his band by one of the Netherlands’ top producers.
Christan and his band are also keen to play for Nigel in the island this year and they are looking for sponsors.
‘I would love to perform at the Gaiety Theatre or other large venue with Christan and his band,’ Nigel said.
Nigel is now back in the UK, based in the Midlands, and being professionally tutored by Chloe Jean Bishop, at the Digbeth Music Academy in Birmingham. He is also studying in London with TV and voice coach and West End musical producer Robert Bicknell.
The track list for Night and Day: For Once In My Life, Blue Moon, It Had To Be You, I Get A Kick Out Of You, Night And Day, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Some Enchanted Evening, The Summer Wind, Let There Be Love, Summertime and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.
Listen to Nigel’s work on Manx Radio’s Sundown on Sunday from 10.45pm.