Nika Rejto, acclaimed as one of the nation's finest jazz flutists, has graced the stage and stunned audiences with her "rich tone and technique that never descends into gimmickry" for the last 40 years (Leonard Feather). As a soloist, she has performed with many jazz greats, including Red Holloway, Hubert Laws, Lanny Morgan, Frank Wess, Jeremy Steig, Freddie Hubbard, Chick Corea, Benny Carter, Airto and Flora Purim, George Cables, Billy Higgins, Buddy Collette, and Horace Silver, to name a few. Downbeat Magazine wrote "... her solo brought the house down!" [referring to her guest appearance with Hubert Laws at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles.] Besides leading her own jazz band as both flutist and vocalist, she also performs with various orchestras and ensemble groups. Nika Rejto released her first album, Naked Emotions, on her own label, Unika Records, showcasing her multi-faceted talents as composer, arranger, and producer. Leonard Feather’s liner notes set in motion her climb up the ladder as one of the best flutists to hit the scene. "Rejto's flute is rich in long, affirmative phrases decorated by all manners of trills, tremolos, growls and other effects that never descend into gimmickry...Rejto, who was once introduced as a guest soloist with Hubert Laws at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, sounded like a good bet for records with this diversified display of her well honed talents." In 1998, Bridge Weaver, produced by Herb Wong, firmly established Nika on the jazz scene. Jack Bowers of JAZZ NOW wrote, “...there are only a handful of working flutists with whom to compare her - old hands Frank Wess, Herbie Mann, James Moody...” Herb Wong states, “Anyone hearing Nika is simply knocked out by her remarkably gorgeous tone - something from the angels.” Robert Tate of JAZZ NOW reviewed Nika’s performance with Red Holloway at Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, and had this to say about her; “Nika’s improvisation was beautiful, imaginative, swinging . . . anything but predictable; but what we were really hearing out in the seats was how much she meant every note of it. We got personally involved in her effort; it was as though we were making the journey with her, note by note.” In the summer of 1999, Nika once again produced and released her 3rd recording, Liquid Love, this time featuring 14 year old pianist, Taylor Eigsti. Midnite Kiss, (May, 2002) once again features her fine flute work coupled with eight of her own compositions. JAZZ USA says, “This is another one of those GEMS that pops up in the review pile every so often. This is a keeper.” Jazz Now writes, “If you don’t MELT to this one you need to kick-start your soul.” Nika resides in Lafayette, CA. On May 29, 2000 her band, Ode To Jazz, debuted at Yoshi’s Supper Club in Jack London Square, Oakland, as a Jazz In Flight presentation. Nika’s August 12, 2001 Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society gig was videotaped for Cable TV. In August of 2002, Nika performed at the Vallejo Jazz Festival, honoring women in jazz. August 9, 2003, Hubert Laws asked Nika to perform the musical tribute for at his Lifetime Achievement Award. On Dec. 1, 2003, Nika again performed at Yoshi’s. Best of all, Nika’s newest CD, Teazing Socrates is here. Reese Erlich of NPR Jazz writes, “Rejto’s flute tone goes straight to your soul. She’s one of our great contemporary flutists.” Buddy Collette writes, “great tunes, tasty arrangements, superb flute playing.” And, George Carroll, ejazznews.com writes,“So, as I listened to the immense musical soul of Nika Rejto, I proclaim that her flute playing, as well as her project, to be a study of finely woven melodic contrapuntal lines executed with great grace, clarity & elegance ...her talent is a true breath of fresh air.” Andrew Gilbert writes, “A luminous flutist with a gorgeous new album.” , “She had an audience of over 2,000 in her hand - it was very obvious that we had a major musician on stage.” Dr. Herb Wong, Producer of Bridge Weaver “A luminous flutist with a gorgeous new album. “Rejto is one of the most exciting flute players to stake a claim in the vast territory of mainstream jazz in recent years.” Andrew Gilbert “Such pristine flute playing it’s hard to imagine she’s not touring the world. all about jazz “Great tunes, tasty arrangements, superb flute playing.” Buddy Collette “Nika’s music explores jazz standards, original classical melodies, hints of Indian and Latin music and pieces that cross quite a few musical boundary lines. Rejto is consistently colorful and inventive making this both an explorative and an accessible effort.” Scott Yanow, All Music Guide (Teazing Socrates) “One of the nation’s finest flutists!” San Francisco Jazz Festival “She had an audience of over 2,000 in her hand - It was very obvious we had a MAJOR MUSICIAN on stage.” Dr. Herb Wong, Producer of Bridge Weaver "Rejto is one of the most exciting flute players to stake a claim in the vast territory of mainstream jazz in recent years.” “A luminous flutist with a gorgeous new recording.” Andy Gilbert, Midnite Kiss & Teazing Socrates “Nika Rejto’s flute tone goes straight to your soul. She’s one of our great contemporary jazz flutists. [Reese Erlich, Jazz Perspectives, NPR “One of the nation’s finest flutists!” San Francisco Jazz Festival "Nika Rejto brought the house down!..." Downbeat Magazine, re: Hubert Laws Concert at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion “Your playing is wonderful!!!!” Hubert Laws “A versatile flutist with a warm tone, impressive technique, and the ability to improvise with keeping the melody close by, Nika Rejto is the main star throughout this strong effort. The music explores jazz standards and ballads, original classical melodies, hints of Indian and Latin music, and pieces that cross quite a few musical boundary lines. Rejto is consistently colorful and inventive, making this both an explorative and an accessible effort.” Scott Yanow, All Music Guide (Teazing Socrates) “As I listen to the immense musical soul of jazz flautist Nika Rejto, my fears are assuaged. I proclaim that her flute playing as well as her project to be a study in finely weaved melodic contrapuntal lines executed with great grace, clarity & elegance...never obscuring the harmonic “voice” of the music she has chosen for this undertaking. Her talent is a true breath of fresh air.” George W. Carroll/The Musician’s Ombudsman (Ejazz News, Teazing Socrates

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