Vocalist Natalie Douglas has a strong foundation in the traditional pop vocals of the American Songbook and an equally fierce devoti
on to the modern jazz, blues, rock and country influences of her childhood—all with lyrics that tell compelling stories no matter the genre. Douglas is a two-time Bistro, Nightlife, and thirteen-time MAC Award winner, whose international performances have taken her from concert halls to theaters to intimate clubs, considering Birdland her musical home where she’s produced innumerable 80 concerts, most notably her Tributes series, celebrating artists she especially loves including, Nina Simone, Elvis, Dolly Parton, Nat King Cole, Dame Shirley Bassey, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Barbra Streisand and many more. Her portrait also hangs on Birdland’s Wall of Fame.
As an actor, Douglas has appeared in 18 editions of The Atrainplays at the Neighborhood Playhouse, The Peter Sharp Theatre and New World Stages and Off-Broadway in The People vs. Mona. She appeared in the horror film, The Camera’s Eye, ABC’s “Cupid” ad most recently in the award-winning documentary, Sloane: A Jazz Singer, celebrating the late Carol Sloane. Douglas is also an educator, a Master Teacher for the Jim & Elizabeth Sullivan Foundation, the Eugene O’Neill Cabaret & Performance Conference, and the Mabel Mercer Foundation, of which she is Education Director. She also specializes in diversity workshops and masterclasses for public and private schools, as well as devoting attention to individual study.
Natalie is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of USC with a Magna Cum Laude Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, Theatre and Women’s Studies, and holds a Master’s Degree from UCLA in Psychology and Theatre.
NiteLife Exchange (NLE) asks Natalie Douglas (ND) Six Questions:
NLE: Your 25th annual New Year’s Eve concert, held at The Duplex in the past, plays at Chelsea Table + Stage this year. Do you anticipate that the experience will be very different (or not) and if yes, how?
ND: The NYE show tends to be a mixture of things we’ve made into traditions and always something brand new! For example, I always sing at least one song I’ve learned just for the occasion—’cause I think it bodes well for the year to start it with a new adventure! So, that’ll definitely be part of the night. We’ll also certainly revisit some of our favorite songs and preview a song or two from my upcoming album. I expect, in some ways it will be familiar to our early show regulars and in some ways a different experience—this time in a new venue. We began this tradition back in the ‘90s at the late, lamented, 88s Club in the Village. After it closed, Phil Geoffrey Bond invited us to continue the festivities at The Duplex where we remained even though lockdown 2020 and 2021 made us into a digital event. Since this will be my first solo show at Chelsea Table + Stage, I’m glad we’ll be celebrating this milestone in this gorgeous new space!
NLE: A hero of yours is the late jazz singer, Carol Sloane. What was it about her that caught your attention?
ND: I was lucky enough to grow up listening to Sloane recordings. As I’ve often said, my parents had a fantastic record collection and Carol Sloane was a part of it. I really loved working my way through their records when I arrived home after school. I remember thinking her album Out of the Blue sounded like she was sitting right next to me telling me the coolest stories! Having loved her for so long, you can imagine how thrilling it was to share a dressing room with her in 2008! She was exactly as cool, funny, smart and kind as I might have wished… and that glorious voice! It’s so groovy to discover an artist you admire is a person you can admire too!
NLE: Speaking of jazz, how do you differentiate jazz singing from cabaret singing? Is there more crossover in the two genres now, more than before?
ND: This is a subject endlessly debated. Since I define cabaret primarily in terms of connection between the artist and the audience, it’s clear to me a cabaret performance can incorporate any other musical genre. Of cours
e, a generic, broad definition of jazz would say it’s more concerned about the music (the notes and rhythms) and its variations, while cabaret would be more about the lyrics. In my opinion, the most successful performances give appropriate attention to both words and music! I think there are plenty of examples of artists who might fall into one category or the other or both all depending on who you ask.
NLE: A new album, Back to the Garden, will be released in 2024 and the new single “Trust in Me” is already out. What can you tell us about the content of the CD and why you chose the songs on it?
ND: I CAN’T WAIT! Seriously, this project has been so joyous and I couldn’t be happier with the recording! I have known producer, composer Wayne Haun for several years now, and I knew how talented he, Joel Lindsey (executive producer, A&R, and composer) and everyone else at Club44 Records is and yet, I’m completely blown away by how much fun we’ve had making this album!
Choosing the songs was a blast, but it wasn’t easy because, of course, I started with a list of about 60 songs! It all came together pretty seamlessly though—we were all on the same page about recording some of the fan favorite songs I’ve sung live for years, yet haven’t recorded till now, plus some unexpected tunes. Also, they surprised me with an original song Wayne and Joel wrote for me! It’s crazy good and sooo me! We’ve also got the first song I ever learned when I was four years old, (“You’ll Never Know”). And a few things I’ve never sung before, until these sessions! The title “Back to the Garden” refers, of course, to one of my favorite Joni Mitchell compositions that I’ve been singing for about 10 years now (“Woodstock”), but it also sums up the way these songs, old and new, reflect the musical influences and experiences that have shaped me from the very beginning.
NLE: Will 2024 see more “Tributes” shows at Birdland? Who would you next like to honor in song?
ND: I certainly hope so! I had such fun with those monthly shows from 2017-2020. Right now, the dates I’ve booked at Birdland
for 2024 are the CD release in February and a 3rd annual Juneteenth concert. I’ve got a bunch of travel this year, as usual, but I’d love to return to the “Tributes” series. I still have a looooong wishlist of folks, like Marvin Gaye, Dinah Washington, Rosemary Clooney, Ray Charles, plus several decades I can’t wait to explore, like songs from the ‘80s, ‘70s, and the ‘40s.
NLE: In a new year coming, what goals have you set? Do you have a career bucket list?
ND: Well, like a lot of actors, I’m superstitious enough to keep those plans close to the vest till contracts are signed, but I can say my new release will definitely be the focus. It’s my first project with a label and I want to give promoting it and performing these brilliant songs my all for myself and Club44. Of course, I have a bucket list, both career-wise and otherwise and luckily for me, lots of those dreams have come true! I’m always making plans for the future, but I think focusing on what’s right in front of me and doing that as well as I possibly can is how I can achieve as much as possible.
