Nicki arrived in New York in May 1994 on an Arts Council grant from Australia to study with the internationally acclaimed bassist, Rufus Reid. Since June 2000, Nicki has played on Monday nights at the Iridium Jazz Club with the legendary guitarist and inventor, Les Paul. Nicki and her sister, Lisa Parrott headlined at the prestigious Tribute to Mary Lou Williams festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in May 2002, which was broadcast on National Public Radio. She is also the resident bassist with the Kitchen House Blend which premieres and performs new music by New York composers.
Since coming to New York she has performed with such notable musicians as Clark Terry, Michel Legrand, Billy Taylor, Dick Hyman, Terri Thornton, Holly Hoffman, Diva, Marlena Shaw, Monica Mancini, Patrice Rushen, Skitch Henderson, the New York Pops Orchestra, Florida Pops Orchestra, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli, Warren Vache, Jr., Harry Allen, Red Holloway, Rebecca Paris, Kenny Davern, José Feliciano, Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, Bernard Purdie, John Tropea, David Krakauer, Howard Alden, Randy Sandke, Greg Osby, Jack Wilkins, Ken Peplowski, Johnny Frigo, Joe Wilder, Houston Person, Wycliffe Gordon, Rachel Z and Johnny Varro. Nicki has also performed in several Broadway shows such as Avenue Q, Imaginary Friends, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Summer of '42 and Jekyll and Hyde.
Nicki has performed at such major festivals in the USA as the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Jazz in July at the 92nd Street Y, Litchfield Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival, and the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. Overseas, she has performed at the Berlin Jazz Festival, the Cully Lavaux and the Ascona and Berne Jazz Festivals in Switzerland, the Edinburgh and Grimsby Jazz Festivals in the UK, the Krakow Music Festival in Poland, the Ottawa Jazz Festival in Canada, and various Australian festivals.
Background
Born in Newcastle, Australia, Nicki started her musical training with the piano at the age of four, and soon after took up the flute as well. She continued to play flute and piano throughout her school years, but switched to double bass at the age of 15 because her sister Lisa, who plays alto sax, wanted a bassist for her group. After completing high school, Nicki moved to Sydney to study jazz at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music and shortly after began to play with well-known Australian musicians such as Mike Nock, Dale Barlow, Paul Grabowsky, Bernie McGann, and Ten Part Invention. She also toured Australia with Russian musicians Daniel Kramer and Alexander Fischer and American trumpeters Bobby Shew and Chuck Findley.
Nicki studied with various bassists in Australia, and when visiting bassists such as Ray Brown and John Clayton were in town, Nicki would take a lesson with them. She is also the recipient of two awards, the first being a scholarship to Pan Pacific Music Camps at the age of 16, and first place in the 1992 Jazz Action Society’s Annual Song Competition for her composition "Come and Get It", which is the opening track of Nicki and Lisa’s debut CD. She was also nominated for the annual Australian Young Achievers Award by the Arts Council of Australia who granted her the funds to head to New York to study with Rufus Reid.
www.nickiparrott.com
Besame mucho
Nicki Parrott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Besame, Besame Mucho
Each time I cling to your kiss,
I hear music divine,
Besame, Besame Mucho,
Love me forever and say, say that you'll always be mine.
This joy is something something new,
Never felt this thrill before,
Whoever Thoth I've been holding you close to me.
Whispering is you I'll adore.
Dearest one,
If you should leave me,
Each little dream Would take wings and my life would be through,
Besame, Besame Mucho,
love me forever and say, say: "you'll always be mine".
This joy is something new,
My arms are holding you,
Never felt this thrill before,
Whoever Thoth I've been holding you close to me.
Whispering is you I'll adore.
Dearest one,
if you should leave me,
Each little dream Would take wings and my life would be through,
Besame, Besame Mucho,
love me forever and say,
just love me forever and say,
love for ever and say, say: "you'll always be mine"
Say: "you'll always be mine".
The song "Besame Mucho" is a romantic and passionate love song, originally written in Spanish in 1940 by Consuelo Velázquez. Nicki Parrott's rendition of the song is just as enchanting as its original version, and is an evocative expression of deep and intense love. In the first verse, the singer urges their lover to kiss them deeply and passionately, as each kiss they share is like a divine melody. They want their lover to love them forever and always be with them, promising never to leave their side.
The singer continues to express the overwhelming joy they feel, holding their lover in their arms, and experiencing an intense thrill that they have never felt before. They adore their lover's presence and whisper words of love, vowing to love them forever. The singer becomes vulnerable in the second verse, admitting that they cannot imagine living without their lover, as their love is the very essence of their life. They beg their lover to stay with them forever and love them endlessly.
In conclusion, Nicki Parrott's rendition of "Besame Mucho" is a beautiful and enchanting expression of deep and passionate love, where the singer cannot imagine living without their lover, and seeks to hold on to them forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Besame, Besame Mucho
Kiss me, kiss me a lot.
Each time I cling to your kiss,
Whenever I hold onto your kiss tightly,
I hear music divine,
I feel an intense pleasure and heavenly sensation.
Besame, Besame Mucho,
Kiss me, kiss me a lot.
Love me forever and say, say that you'll always be mine.
Promise me eternal love and assure me that you'll always be mine.
This joy is something something new,
This happiness is a unique and unprecedented experience.
My arms are holding you,
I'm embracing you tightly in my arms.
Never felt this thrill before,
I've never experienced this excitement before.
Whoever Thoth I've been holding you close to me.
I don't know how long I've been holding you close to me.
Whispering is you I'll adore.
I'll cherish and adore you softly by whispering sweet nothings.
Dearest one,
My beloved,
If you should leave me,
If you ever decide to leave me,
Each little dream Would take wings and my life would be through,
All my hopes and dreams would come crashing down and my life would be meaningless.
Besame, Besame Mucho,
Kiss me, kiss me a lot.
love me forever and say, say: "you'll always be mine".
Promise me undying love and declare that you'll always be mine.
This joy is something new,
This happiness is a unique and unprecedented experience.
My arms are holding you,
I'm embracing you tightly in my arms.
Never felt this thrill before,
I've never experienced this excitement before.
Whoever Thoth I've been holding you close to me.
I don't know how long I've been holding you close to me.
Whispering is you I'll adore.
I'll cherish and adore you softly by whispering sweet nothings.
Dearest one,
My beloved,
if you should leave me,
If you ever decide to leave me,
Each little dream Would take wings and my life would be through,
All my hopes and dreams would come crashing down and my life would be meaningless.
Besame, Besame Mucho,
Kiss me, kiss me a lot.
love me forever and say, just love me forever and say,
Promise me eternal love and keep saying that you'll love me forever.
love for ever and say, say: "you'll always be mine"
Love me endlessly and assure me that you'll always be mine.
Say: "you'll always be mine".
Say that you'll always belong to me.
Contributed by Ruby V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@perhartmannpetersen6658
Absolute honey for the ears, world-class charisma and craftsmanship, I simply love it❤️
@harlan054
Beautiful arrangement ! Thank you for sharing your love of music .
@fernandocerro5142
Excelente interpretación 👏👏👏
@DonLam
I love both your singing and bass playing! Hope you will upload more live performance here
@EricMugambi
Wonderful sound!
@SeanVplayer
Nicki Parrott singing So beautifully and playing so wonderfully with the incredible Bucky Pizzarelli and Rossano Sportiello.
@bennyjazzful
WOW
Wonderful version of a classic tune played by 3 musical giants,or should be.
From a 71yo Aussie fan.
@patrickchiata1828
Magnifique mélodistes, on est envouté par la voix de Nicki ,merci pour ce moment divin.
@snleitej
Linda música! linda cantora, muito charmosa..... grande beijo.
@roberttemple2521
Violao com sete cordas, nao? voces, muito bom.