Yearly Archives: 2017

Back: Joshua Steele & Adam Wheeler. Front: Charlie Harper, Matt Croy, Jeff Grooms & David Baum. Photo by Leslie Goddard.

CINCINNATI, OH – Somehow amid a career running the revered Maisonette & La Normandie restaurants and serving as Executive Vice President of Sibcy Cline Realtors, Nat Comisar found his way into playing concerts with a-list musicians including Steve Winwood, Kenny Loggins, Jim Messina, POCO, and famed novelty a cappella ensemble, The Bobs. After one listen to a rising vocal jazz group, Comisar eagerly sheds his business mantle again to thrill local audiences with his exquisite bass voice.

Nat Comisar joins NO PROMISES Vocal Band for the “Christmas With NO PROMISES” tour, December 7 – 21 at venues across Cincinnati, Dayton and Covington. Featuring the ensemble’s signature blend of jazz-infused seasonal favorites and everyday classics, including selections by The Manhattan Transfer, John Coltrane, Blondie, Joni Mitchell, Alicia Keys and Harry Connick, Jr., the tour consists of five appearances:

A Very Merry Christmas
Thursday, December 7, 7:00pm
The Carnegie 1028 Scott Boulevard | Covington
$25 – $40; Reservations Required (859.957.1940)

Christmas with NO PROMISES
Friday, December 8, 7:00pm
New Thought Unity Center 1401 McMillan Street | Walnut Hills
Free Admission; Freewill Donations Accepted

Holiday Live at the Uni
Sunday, December 10, 4:00pm
Montgomery Universalist Church 9467 Montgomery Road | Montgomery
$5 Suggestion Donation
Reservations Required (513.891.2424)

Christmas with NO PROMISES
Thursday, December 14, 7:30pm
Saint Andrew United Methodist 250 N. Fairfield Road | Beavercreek
Free Admission; Freewill Donations Accepted

Christmas with NO PROMISES
Thursday, December 21, 7:30pm
Community of the Good Shepherd 8815 E. Kemper Road | Montgomery
Free Admission; Freewill Donations Accepted

NO PROMISES popular annual Christmas offerings have been attended by more than 3,000 patrons since the group’s 2015 debut.

Nat Comisar.

Renowned Businessman, Guest Vocalist to the Stars
After viewing NO PROMISES’ popular summer video recording of Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You,” Comisar reached out to the group for an audition, and was quickly invited to join the vocal jazz ensemble for their holiday concert tour. But his musical talents, and national-caliber performance resume, would likely surprise many Cincinnatians familiar with the prominent businessman.

Perhaps best known for his ownership and management of the much-missed Maisonette & La Normandie restaurants, Comisar has parlayed his tutelage in the family business into a sterling career in real estate and development. Amid other business interests, he serves as Executive Vice President of Sales for Sibcy Cline Realtors, where his current projects include adaptation of the Norwood Baptist Church and Allison Schools into affordable condominiums.

During his years as a restaurateur, Comisar kept up his musical chops playing guitar and singing whenever possible, including on 700 WLW as guest host for legendary Cincinnati radio personality Gary Burbank.

“My favorite part of that gig was a bit called ‘Stump the Band,’” recalls Comisar. “It was me, Gary, and the Goshorn Brothers Band [formerly of Pure Prairie League]. People would call in with obscure songs for us to sing. If we didn’t know the tune, we would make it up on the spot (which is what we wanted to do anyway) and we would laugh our heads off for an hour once a week.”

Comisar’s performances on the nationally-syndicated program earned him a standing invitation to perform at a Dallas, TX benefit, where over the years he had the opportunity to perform with the likes of Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield), Steve Winwood, Jim Messina, Kenny Loggins and POCO, among many others.

Maisonette also allowed Comisar to rub elbows with the musical elite during their stops in Cincinnati, including Bono, Cyndi Lauper, Tony Bennett, and the world-renowned novelty a cappella ensemble, The Bobs. After inviting the vocal group to dinner, Comisar suddenly found himself co-producing a live concert recording for WCET. The Bobs invite Comisar to perform with them whenever he attends a concert.

Comisar has a special love for a cappella music. At the age of 15, he joined Cincinnati’s Southern Gateway Chorus. During his college years, he led Cayuga’s Waiters: a well-traveled vocal ensemble from Cornell University. He presently sings with the award-winning Roaring 20s Barbershop Quartet.

Guest Tenor Joins NO PROMISES On Break From National Tour
NO PROMISES Christmas engagements will also feature the exception talents of Dayton native and professional actor, Noah Berry.

Berry is a recent graduate of Northern Kentucky University, where he studied Musical Theatre and took voice lessons from NO PROMISES leader Joshua Steele. Among his post-collegiate professional regional and children’s theatre credits, Berry joined the national tour of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story in the role of rock drummer Jerry Allison. Before returning to the tour in January, Berry will lend his soaring tenor to the NO PROMISES concerts on December 14 and 21.

NO PROMISES Christmas Album
NO PROMISES will travel this holiday season with their Christmas record “A No Promises Christmas.” The 2016 release was mixed by Ed Boyer, who has been responsible for the studio sound of NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” Universal Pictures’ “Pitch Perfect” and groups including Pentatonix and Home Free.

Comprised of all original arrangements, “A No Promises Christmas” includes fresh interpretations of sacred songs like “Silent Night” and “In The Bleak Midwinter” along with popular favorites like Andy Williams’ “Sleigh Ride,” Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” and selections from Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

CDs are available at performances for $15. Digital downloads are available on iTunes, Spotify and other major digital distributors.

About NO PROMISES
NO PROMISES is a professional a cappella ensemble bringing exhilarating vocals and breathtaking harmonizations to popular favorites of jazz, Motown and adult contemporary music. Hailing from across Ohio, the men of NO PROMISES are Broadway veterans, theater managers, hair stylists and dads, with a passion for fine a cappella singing.

The Men of NO PROMISES

• Joshua Steele (Pleasant Ridge) – Venue manager, voice instructor, performer, dad
• Charlie Harper (Anderson) – Actor, stagehand, project manager, dad
• Adam Wheeler (Miamisburg) – Drummer, multi-instrumentalist, digital music producer, dad
• David Baum (Blue Ash) – Broadway veteran, clinical psychologist, dance instructor dad
• Jeff Grooms (Cold Spring, KY) – Chorister, hair stylist, dog dad
• Matt Croy (Findlay) – Performer, producer, property manager, dad

Special Guests:

• Nat Comisar (Indian Hill) – Singer, realtor, developer, dad
• Noah Berry (Oakley) – Singer, actor, parkour enthusiast

Full bios available at: http://www.nopromisesvocalband.com/lineup/