Biography
 photograph by Louise Maison |
The arrival of Bernadette Seacrest and her Provocateurs’ reads like a vignette from a 1950s issue of Detective Stories, its pages frayed and marked by the occasional cigarette burn….
Chapter One
First, Dear Reader, we observe the Tattooed Siren as she appears, seemingly out of nowhere, on stages across the Southwest. With her cronies, the Long Goners followed by her Yes Men, she begins the seduction of audiences who have accidentally stumbled into the nocturnal lairs in which she is crooning. The word spreads, nightclubs fill, the press fawns and the legend grows. Next, Europe calls, and it’s a straight shot across the Ocean to Paris and a whirlwind tour of France ensues. Then, suddenly, even as the audiences’ roars are still ringing in her ears, she disappears without a trace or whisper; the proverbial cat melting into the night. As fast as she has appeared, the girl with the Voice and the Look is gone.
Now the scene changes to the other side of the country, the Atlanta of the Deep South. Here we find that Charles Williams, (guitar), and Kris Dale, (bass), have been careening through adventures with their own twists and turns including negotiating the maelstroms of another legendary icon of national repute, Col. Bruce Hampton. Williams played with the infamous Aquarium Rescue Unit featuring Hampton, and now leads the Bonaventure Quartet. Dale is holding down the low end with Col. Hampton’s Quark Alliance. Both regularly log time with a veritable Who’s Who of the Atlanta music scene. Time rolls on.
Then, one night, Williams finds a cryptic note slipped under his door: “I want to sing again. Can you help? B. Seacrest” He calls Dale and says, “we need to talk…”
Yes, Dear Reader, the Sultry One had re-emerged and within a few short months, the Provocateurs are born. Next Bernadette wins the Creative Loafing’s Best New Singer 2007. Williams begins penning new tunes and in late 2009 Bernadette Seacrest and Her Provocateurs present their debut CD, ‘The Filthy South Sessions,’ a collection of songs that range from the All Mighty’s drinking habits to an epic lament about a Diner at the End of the World with stops in between…
A unique group, these Provocateurs and their Tattooed Siren are, with a lean sparseness distinguishing their sound from most other groups. With one guitar, one bass, and the Voice with the Look, they explore the soft underbelly of that which some call jazz, others may call blues, and still others may perceive as swing noire. It is a world they inhabit easily and decorate with that of their own tastes and beckon you, Dear Listener, to join them….
hello, sista how do you feel it’s your best french friends give me some news tchao bella
Comment by dao — April 4, 2007 @ 9:34 am
Hi. I just stumbled upon your website following links from The Hot Club of Cowtown. I love what you’re doing. Please come to Ontario, Canada really soon.
Comment by Jan — April 14, 2007 @ 11:12 am
Hi
I’m writing to know when will you came to Portugal for a concert.
Congratulations, by the way, for all your work you’ve done.
Keep the good work
Comment by Miguel — April 16, 2007 @ 3:01 am
hey bernadette -
don’t know if you’ll remember me, but we worked together @ 606? - i was friends with adam / jason / tim . .. anyway. i live in athens now, and just got back in town in time to notice your show the night befOre -
so
sorry i missed you.
just wanted to say hello, and best wishes, and nice to se your face!
Comment by jackie lyons — April 20, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
Bernadette - I just discovered your music at download.com and I love it. Best of all, I live in ABQ. I look forward to hearing your next hometown performance. Your schedule says you won’t be playing here until July. Is there anything planned here prior to that?
Comment by Don O'Neill — April 23, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
I’m slack! So it took me three months to get back at you. I want to hear more! JK>
Comment by jon kownacki — April 23, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
Woah woman! We walked into the Martini Grill in ABQ waiting for the happy wave and amazing voice–and damn–you’ve gone! Shows what happens when you have children–but you could have called
M’be I’ll have to travel to Bordeaux…. Love you, love your voice, and love your website! P/.
Comment by Pete The Book — May 27, 2007 @ 4:11 pm
I love its voice, its music!
you she is very beautiful!
att: I am of Brazil.
Kisses
Thays
Comment by Thays — June 15, 2007 @ 4:11 pm
bonjour de France !!
je suis tombé par le plus grand des hasards sur ton dernier album!
j’ai pu écouter quelques chansons et je l’ai acheté.
congratulation
thierry
Comment by thierry — July 16, 2007 @ 10:57 am
Hi Bernadette,
Greetings from Skopje, Macedonia! You don’t get much mail from here, do you? I have a weekly jazz radio programme Jazz Spaces on National FM Rdaio and would be interested to check posibbilities of presenting soem of your recent music material to jazz lovers in this part of Europe. In case interested, drop me a line.
Looking forward to hear from you.
Best regards,
Vasja Ivanovski
Jazz Spaces 94.1 FM Rdaio 2
Comment by VASJA IVANOVSKI — July 23, 2007 @ 2:31 am
Hi
Is there any chance of seeing you in England?
Your voice is like honey cutting mustard.
The best I have heard, you have a new fan.
Comment by Eddie — September 2, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
Hello.
I’m a admirer from your voice, bernadette.
Adored your first cd and the last one two.
They’re are perfect.
I’m from Brazil.
I don’t know who’s your public here.
But someday, if you come to Brazil, please, let me know about it!
Comment by Gustavo Apache — September 10, 2007 @ 11:35 am
Okay.
I’ll wait it.
Every single news you could tell me about new records or shows near from here [in Brazil], don’t forget to remind me, ’cause it will be a great pleasure listen to you, live.
Take care.
Good luck.
Comment by Gustavo Apache — September 11, 2007 @ 9:35 am
COME TO GUELPH ONTARIO. FIND A CLUB, AND IT’LL BE BOOKED WITH YOUR VOICE. I KNOW I’LL BE THERE. JIMMY JAZZ ON CARDEN. LOOK IT UP AND PUT UP POSTERS.
Comment by Johnny from guelph — September 20, 2007 @ 11:13 am
Your mother in ABQ misses you.
Comment by Dorothy P. — September 28, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
your music is divine, how do I get in touch for a show before you’re off to Europe? 10-07-07?? Please call 404-521-3737 thanks
Comment by Ria's Bluebird — October 1, 2007 @ 11:05 am
I heard you are giving a concert in Paris on 17 October 2007. Is that correect ? If so, where exactly ?
Susan Owens, Paris
(sister of Alison Owens, Albuquerque)
Comment by Susan Owens — October 7, 2007 @ 3:24 am
hi dear bernadette
i just pass by here to know more about you…it’s reallly few time i’ve discoverd your fantastic music and your delicious voice.
“money” it’s such a wonderful song
i wish you really the best
good luck dear
Comment by bluefingers — October 7, 2007 @ 8:25 am
Hey, I just found out about you, I LOVE your music, Your now my FAVORITE artist.
Comment by Craig — October 8, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
Miss Bernadette,
I don’t want to sound trite but your voice is smooth as a deliciously spiked latte. Please come to Toronto so I experience you live. Or maybe I need to hop on a flight to Sante Fe and see you perform at the Swig Club.
B
Comment by Brandon Steen — October 12, 2007 @ 7:31 am
I’m a fan and a jazz songwriter. I write standards…okay they may not be standards yet, but that’s only a matter of time. I’m in search of the proper channel to submit a couple of songs to Bernadette that I feel would be perfect for her style/voice.
Please advise.
Ken Morrison
morrisonmusic@comcast.net
206.999.7917
Comment by Ken Morrison — October 23, 2007 @ 10:58 am
So, any concert or touring soon (november or december 07)? In Paris, maybe?
Where could we find the dates?
for information:
11/03/08 BEAUVAIS (60) Festival Blues Autour du Zinc
29/03/08 BONDUES (59) Festival Jazz en Nord
Comment by Le Sage — November 8, 2007 @ 3:37 am
Whoah!!
What a voice.
I’m not even sure how I ended up on this site. LOL!
Lovely Lovely…
Coming to Miami anytime soon?
Beautiful beautiful voice!
Eva
Comment by Eva — November 21, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
Hello, Bernadette, I’d been here before, and now I came back to know about your cds, here in Brazil is such hard find them, so I would like an information if I can get them by mail, you know, a bank account information to send the money and then recieve the cds?
If you have another possibilities or information how I can find a cd of yours here, I’ll be glad.
Thanks.
See ya.
Comment by Gustavo Apache — December 5, 2007 @ 10:35 am
Your voice is unbelievable! You’re amazing
big kiss from Brazil
Comment by Alice — January 14, 2008 @ 7:38 am
When are you planning on playing in Vancouver next???
Comment by Brandon — January 23, 2008 @ 7:22 pm
Such a voice.
Hope I can find some of your videos on youtube?
(crossing my fingers)
Thank you for making the world a more beautiful place
Comment by Birgitta — January 29, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
Bernadette (Laura) I heard your first DVD at your Aunt’s house in Porland. It was terrific.
From your St. Paul second cousin (your Mom’s first cousin). By the way one of my names is Bernadette. If you come here you have a place to stay!
Comment by Marianne — February 2, 2008 @ 2:56 pm
Many years ago Charles Aznavour told me that …’ some artists are great…but you will know ‘ I have heard and felt some who meet that criteria…you are one.
John
United Kingdom.
Comment by John Fradley — July 31, 2009 @ 1:15 pm