Black Or White - Michael Jackson (Arranged by Hadrien Feraud & Nicki Gonzalez)

HAPPY 2018, EVERYONE! "Thank you" just doesn't cut it. I owe this video to the talents, loyalty and dedication of Kamil Rustam and Hadrien Feraud who rallied a band of elites, whipped up charts and edited every second of this video. 2017 sidelined me with some curveballs but in loving fashion, these two gentleman picked up this gem that I dropped, polished it, propped it up and elevated it beyond anything I could've imagined.
Nicki Gonzalez - Vocals
Hadrien Feraud - Bass
Vinnie Colaiuta - Drums
Kamil Rustam - Guitar
Matvei Sigalov - Guitar
Dennie Hamm - Piano
Ruslan Sirota - Organ
Engineered and Mixed by Thai Long Ly at Bell Sound, Los Angeles
Filmed by Daniel Hodge
Video Editing by Kamil Rustam & Hadrien Feraud

[@Cspags007]

That Vinnie outro brought MJ back to life.

[@dray4393]

VINNIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had to pull over when he flipped the beat😂😂. OMG!!!!!!!!!!

[@TheNickiSessions]

I write this with tears of gratitude. No show, no performance is ever perfect but throughout a lifetime, there are moments that come damn close, that are magical and unforgettable - and you know for that shining moment you were the absolute best you could be. For me, this session was it. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU, Hadrien, Kamil, Vinnie, Matvei, Dennis, Ruslan and Thai. Happy New Year, Everyone! And thanks for tuning in to The Nicki Sessions!

[@RorroBass]

From Chile (Island Chiloe), I say wonderfull music. Thanks

[@joshuawalden4929]

Beautiful and awesomely magical!!!!

[@joshdrums37]

This is just fantastic! Will this be on an album I can buy?

[@LysgaardLightning]

This session brought tears to my eyes. Just the whole thing. Wow

[@jorgevirgilio190]

Hi Nicki, the session was magical, the arrangement is amazing, the band is awesome and your performance makes me cry everytime, thank you so much for this wonderful gift.

[@876jonop]

Hadrien Feraud...absolute beast

[@samuelsalins8309]

🎸🎶👍

[@funkslave9425]

love vinnie, but all of them are amazing, what a crazy arrangement for a classic pop song

[@johnnyfivefivefive]

It’s been 4 years I am listening to this version and I am still blowned away! The voice of Nicki, the drums of VC, the bass and arrangement of Hadrien! Just incredible! Another level!

[@SvetlanRaketSpringfeldt]

That outro is just insane! Vinnie! :-)

[@king-manu2758]

Only Vinnie can be so confident and so daring to push the envelope so much and pull it off leaving everyone astonished. Most musicians wouldn't venture so far out in a situation like this because not only you could just lose yourself (not Vinnie though) but you could lose the rest of the band too. I always find it funny how when Vinnie plays with herbie Hancock herbie can't nail the hits in the solo vamp sections but Vinnie is always on the spot. I think Vinnie is always playing as if he was reading the music in a music sheet knowing exactly where the one is and that's why he can just warp the metric like that and never losing it

[@JoEsp]

yeah, good thing James Genus is on the spot w/ Vinnie during those solos..

[@drummerjeroensimons]

If people play with master Vinnie, they know they need to have their shit together...He will go deeeeppppp...:)

[@danielspiegel268]

Hadrien bass playing is the best...love it

[@messacontato]

I love It...I love to see Vinnie improvising on drums!!!

[@lorenzmuller3542]

And he's MEANING it. Not just shredding around without saying or expressing anything. Love it.

[@instroless]

an intellectual but deeply emotional cover. can't stop listening

[@johndiraimo1444]

That's just a fantastic arrangement. Awesome. The V-Man just doing his thing. Thanks Vinnie ... you are such an inspiration.

[@kenmarshall7680]

Love the vocals over the solo the chords are glorious

[@terazjuzwiem]

Vinnie's drumming is a pure love. Fantastic session! Thanks:)

[@KittWakeleyMusic]

I can never get enough of watching/listening to this version. All of it. Her voice, the bass playing, the drums, keyboards, etc... So much color and musical IQ.

[@samuelsalins8309]

🎶👍

[@jameswood4344]

We drummers notice that Vinnie, having completed a flawless double stroke fill round the kit at 2.50, calmly turns his left stick round, end to end, as if it's nothing...

[@jameswood4344]

actually, it might be a single stroke fill...even more impressive.

[@xmav0065]

Man worth the wait!!! I'm without words!!! Great arrangement and interpretation, just incredible

[@eliassantos1334]

Simply musical, simply fantastic!

[@lucianocarlospaiva74]

Absolutely Amazing 😮

[@BeandOut]

Thats the one. Hadrien is the best !!

[@mattthegreeter9074]

This is one of my go-to shares when it comes to showing people what true musical communication looks like. It's a killer version and I haven't gotten tired of it yet.

[@johninis]

Amazing, creative drummer. Always a joy to watch!

[@michaelanthony9068]

Holy moly Nicky Gonzalez ! Hadrian est un monster !!!

[@RieksSchreuder]

Oooh, absolute amazing! So glad I discovered this 3 years later. Never too late though! Your voice! Two of my absolute favorite giants playing here Hadrien Feraud and Vinnie Colaiuta! Oh (wo)man, I play it EVERY day! So many thanks!

[@FrankBriggs]

Thank you for this. Absolutely beautiful and inspiring.

[@TheJoergenDK]

I hope for more of this genuinely superb rendering, whic I'll bet my life MJ would have absolutely loved exstaticly, seriously! I am so pleased, the new generations of musicians have learned all the tricks, and thus are free to delve into the depth of classics, that so deservei it! Thanks, bless you, I so love it!

[@maxworld100]

Amazing talent! Awesome arrangement! Happy New Year!!

[@cliverobins]

Wow! What a great arrangement and performance! Wow!

[@DavidBriot]

Fabulous, this version, and the arrangements, great musicians, great singer, when the music is played to such a level as to say apart Many thanks, and happy new year to you.

[@spectrumwiz]

Oh ya! Nice number!! gave me the chills up my neck....sick bass and drums but everyone was on spot. And you Miss Nicki! cheers!

[@reydavid77]

VINNIE COLAUITA, EL MEJOR BATERISTA DE LA GALAXIA.

[@cristopherrivera2381]

Finally a new song Happy new year nikki Please, keep doing more covers

[@Basslessonsmelbourne]

Awesome! Really enjoyed this, thanks!

[@crackers472]

I came for the brilliance of Vinnie, but stayed for the amazing band and vocal performance. Well done!

[@jeniblessman]

Wow Nicki...this is so amazingly cool and brilliant...LOVE it!

[@MananMehtaOfficial]

Wish I could like this video more than once!👍🏻

[@PeterWeissink]

Wow nice arrangement of an awesome song. Stellar playing and singing by you Nicki, top notch!

[@robbokeys]

2024 still in awe of this version ❤️ so glad this was created

[@mitchzimmer9432]

Over Christmas I showed a friend your arrangement of PYT and her jaw hit the floor. "Aren't they incredible?" I said, "I wish they would release more covers." And now I'm blessed with this gift. Ask and you shall receive! Thank you!

[@jorgekarkalius]

Tremendous arrangement....!!!!

[@samtartaga]

Vinnie rules!! great version!

[@fcrespin]

Nicki, seriously, you are awsome. What a performance! The band in perfect conection, Hadrien delivered the solo impressively and Vinnie, OMG no words to complement what he did!

[@LEVALmusic]

🔥🔥🔥 love this arrangement!

[@michalzenca]

Magic ! Thanks Nicky !!

[@RieksSchreuder]

Ohhh, the happiness afterwards!!

[@janekrapid]

Absolutely amazing performance ! You are great singer.

[@99DAYSINDAHOUSE]

best cover ever!!more please 🙏🙏🙏

[@louisamulligan435]

Wow - just wow!

[@WileyLulfs]

Great arrangement and wonderful vocals!

[@jeffreystaley5266]

Nicki, that was an amazing performance! I think listeners will be appreciating this piece far into the future. I am an amateur drummer and I long ago latched onto Vinnie as one of my guiding lights....at the end, so glad you all felt such elation over that wonderful performance. That kind of synergy and magic does not come around very often. As Ringo says, " Peace and Love."

[@asanna01]

fantastic one of the best singers

[@Shuzies]

Touching perfection

[@itadrummer1]

KING Vinnie runs the show. As always. HE is in great company though , everybody in the session is at the very top notch level possible !!! A++++etc.

[@DJHealingHands]

Nicki Sessions and everyone who contributed on this project, what a beautiful and passionate rendition of this classic. Job well done.

[@wernerhoppen7622]

Fantastic music, thank you from Germany for this masterpiece !!

[@Riddim4]

Simply exquisite.

[@eleazarberacierto5313]

Absolutamente increíble, mágico. Cada quien haciendo su trabajo con calidad máxima, conciencia y arte. Lo más cercano a la perfección, la música hecha con pasión

[@zmogusGiedriusS.]

OMG....speechles...

[@kenwoodsmusic]

This is kinda epic!! Wow!!

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

wow, now this is a reimagining of the song 🤔👍🏽👍🏻

[@GabiFernandesOficial]

Wow! Amazing!

[@daglohmann9019]

Whoow, this is really good. I was almost 20 years ago lucky to have played with her band.

[@rmmccarthy1240]

I love this.

[@cesarbetances8684]

Awesome!

[@oskardoe]

Holy crap!Sooo Beautyful!!!

[@lobo7ful]

Niiice! OMG. .. I love Vinnie (:

[@angelogcb77]

Maravillosa...!!! 🥰

[@jessenelson2589]

this was just beautiful. and that vinnie and company outro - nutritious, delicious, and darn good for ya! a sincere thanks

[@medec021]

Exceptional. Awesome, guys

[@tommarko9983]

yikes- talk about top shelf! Whoo! Doesn't get better than this. Sooooo good!

[@KaitsuDrums]

Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy New Year!

[@johnnyfivefivefive]

94k views? It should be 94 million! The last 3 minutes of this song is pure ecstasy!

[@custino22]

sublime

[@agst2006]

Beautiful arrangement ...

[@aryammarcosvaronahernandez5997]

NICKI U ARE GREATTTTTTTT !!!! AND THE BAND ITS AWESOME !!!!!

[@99DAYSINDAHOUSE]

best of the best!!!more please 🙏🙏

[@DavidePettirossi]

Non ci sono parole per la bellezza di questa performance...una voce pazzesca e Vinnie...vabbe, si sa! YO!!!

[@fabioprota]

I’m crying!

[@MultiProductor]

Same here.

[@michallysek6996]

Me too. Crying so much.

[@MySynthDungeon]

Big Digs!! Tight!! Excellent !

[@tihinter]

Reminds me quite a bit of the incredibly great Tim Akers (R.I.P.). Great work, for sure you are some of the best musicians of our days. Vonsidering myself a huge MJ fand, I really love how you brought this song back to life in your own interpretation.

[@MudancadeForma-rh7hj]

Great performance!

[@anastasiyafleitastartseva4437]

Great music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank youuu!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rustovichful]

Bravo!!!

[@JcRichardLopez]

monster vinnie!

[@tonytyrone88]

Jesus Vinnie ! Will we ever hear something not divine from you ??

[@-akanet3218]

Fanntastic！please upload more works. And I wait for Nikki and Hadrien show of the vomit heartily in Japan.

[@bittermany]

made me cry

[@juin54]

Trop beau

[@rerewere2990]

Greattttttttttt

[@kendrumschool1261]

親方すごすぎて目眩する。最高だ

[@michelmauricefortin6554]

Great !

[@JerryT21]

This is so damn good 👏👏👏

[@sarahconnor709]

Ruslan Sirota is a Grammy Award winning pianist, composer, and producer.Ruslan was born in Uman, Ukraine to a Jewish family on November 4, 1980. His father, Yefim, who was an active local guitarist, had introduced him to music at an early age. Picking up guitar around the age of four, Ruslan had transitioned to piano around the age of seven. In 1990, his family moved to Israel, where he continued to study piano at the Bat-Yam music school. At approximately 14, Ruslan discovered jazz, instantly showing imminent interest. By the age of 16, he was the "wunderkind" keyboardist for the then-popular Israeli jazz fusion band, "Confusion". With Confusion, he toured Israel and made several appearances at the Red Sea Jazz Festival. At 18, Ruslan auditioned for the Berklee College of Music, where he received full tuition scholarship, and moved to Boston in January 2000. During his studies at Berklee, Ruslan displayed growing interest in R&B, funk and soul music, playing with local artists and eventually becoming the resident keyboardist in a club called "Wally's Jazz Café".

[@juanignaciomaccarone7974]

Exceptuando "Fields of gold", en todos los temas que escuché a Vinnie aprendí algo. Increíble tanto Genio.

[@arturmanukyan8862]

Owwwww yeeessssss bravooooooo

[@adamtews6876]

There aren't enough likes to give this performance!

[@ninefingerbass]

I love these arrangements. I know people in the past had many negative comments but haters gonna hate and (bass)players gonna play.

[@griss69]

nice work!

[@tomohasebe2491]

Best of 2018 already hahaha