WELLINGTON, FL – Join us for a day of fabulous curb-to-classroom fashion at The Mall at Wellington Green! On Saturday, July 30, 2-4 p.m., scoop up fashionable finds and tax-free deals for the entire family. Kids can stock up on Instagram-able trends while parents’ cash in on wallet-friendly retail savings during the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday (July 25 through August 7). Fun family pursuits will include a high-octane fashion show, dance and musical performances, music by electric violinist DJ Lexey, and more. Plus, enjoy a chance to win exciting prizes, including gift cards and a $500 back to school shopping spree. Upcoming mall events: Back to School Sales Tax Holiday at The Mall at Wellington Green Starting July 25 through August 7, stock up on learning aids selling for $30 or less; school supplies selling for $50 or less; clothing, footwear and accessories selling for $100 or less; and computers and accessories (when purchased for non-commercial and personal use) selling for $1,500 or less. Kids Club “Fun In The District” Calling all Kids Club members and children who love to have fun! On Saturday, August 6, from 1–3PM, visit the mall’s new event space, The District, and partake in a variety of family-friendly programming, including kids’ yoga and Zumbini classes, and painting workshops (artwork will later be displayed around The District). The “littles” will also enjoy face painting, fun games, and a chance to meet their favorite costume characters. Mall hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Mall at Wellington Green is located at 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. For more information, call (561) 227-6900 or visit shopwellingtongreen.com.
About The Mall at Wellington Green The Mall at Wellington Green in Wellington, FL is a 1.2 million square foot, two-level regional shopping destination, and it features over 160 stores. Retail and restaurant favorites include Macy’s, Dillard’s, Apple, Brighton, Chico’s, Forever 21, H&M, Helzberg Diamonds, Zales, Tommy Bahama, City Furniture, Lemongrass, Cask + Shaker, Ford’s Garage, The Palm Beach Museum of Natural History, and more. For more information, visit shopwellingtongreen.com. About Spinoso Real Estate Group The Mall at Wellington Green is managed by Spinoso Real Estate Group. Since 2009, Spinoso has taken a creative, entrepreneurial approach to real estate development and management, delivering and sustaining successful projects across a wide range of property types and across the country. Spinoso’s robust portfolio includes work on hundreds of enclosed shopping malls, lifestyle centers, and large-scale retail projects from coast to coast. For more information, visit spinosoreg.com.
(West Palm Beach, Fla.) Thursday, July 21, 2022-Nonprofits First announces the Sixth Annual Hats Off Nonprofit Awards will be in the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Cohen Pavilion on Tuesday, October 11 from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm.
The Hats Off Nonprofit Awards celebrates and honors nonprofit organizations, professionals and volunteers in the Palm Beach County nonprofit sector who contribute to strengthening and serving our community. The event is chaired by Dr. Peter Cruise, Executive Director of the LeRoy Collins Public Ethics Academy at Florida Atlantic University.
The call for nominations opened July 11 and will close on August 22 at 5 pm. Nominations can be submitted by visiting www.hatsoffawards.org .
“We are so thrilled to be honoring our amazing, talented, and dedicated nonprofit organizations for their work during yet another challenging year! They deserve to be recognized now more than ever! Reuniting the nonprofit sector and celebrating the fortitude of our community leaders and volunteers is something we should all be excited about. Please nominate as many worthy nonprofit organizations, professionals, and volunteers as possible in any one or more of the categories, we will look forward to celebrating the nonprofit sector together and “in-person” said Jessica Cecere, Chief Executive Officer of Nonprofits First.
Nominations will be accepted in 10 categories: Nonprofit of the Year (small, medium, and large); Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year; Nonprofit MVP, Nonprofit Professional of the Year; Nonprofit Executive of the Year; and Lifetime Achievement; Community Collaborators Award, and Innovation Award. There will also be two “Live” awards for attendees to vote for that evening, “People’s Choice” and for “Best Hat.”
The Hats Off Nonprofit Awards will take place in the Kravis Center Cohen Pavilion and will feature a premium open bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Tickets for the Hats Off Nonprofit Awards are on sale now at www.hatsoffawards.org for $125 per person for early-bird pricing, ticket prices increase to $150 on September 10th, tables of ten are $1,500 and sponsorships are available at all levels. Parking is complimentary in the covered garage. The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
Hats Off Nonprofit Awards Calendar Listing: Tuesday, October 11, 2022, Nonprofits First Sixth Annual Hats Off Nonprofit Awards 5:30 pm-7:30 pm at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in the Cohen Pavilion. This fundraising event will celebrate and honor the nonprofit sector, professionals, and volunteers in Palm Beach County.
About Nonprofits First, Inc.: Since 2005, Nonprofits First, Inc. has been the leading resource for strengthening the administrative and operational capacity of nonprofit organizations in the community. Comprised of experienced professionals, consultants, and volunteers, the vision of Nonprofits First is a community in which all nonprofits achieve their highest level of desired impact. For more information, visit www.nonprofitsfirst.org.
Photos by Capehart Photography: Photos from 2021 Hats Off Nonprofit Awards
Life’s a cocktail party on National Tequila Day at
City Cellar, City Oyster, Josie’s Ristorante, and Ford’s Garage
SOUTH FLORIDA – Hustle up your happy hour-loving amigos for blue agave-drenched libations on National Tequila Day, July 24.
Here are four day-to-night holiday drinking destinations you can celebrate at in Palm Beach County.
City Cellar in The Square will be presenting its spirited Mezcalita ($13), loaded with Espolon blanco tequila, Recuerdo mezcal joven, lime, and fresh agave. Snag a seat at the inside bar and enjoy happy hour from 4-7 p.m. featuring $2 off drinks, and select half-priced appetizers and pizza.
City Cellar is located at 700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach. Visit citycellarwpb.com or call (561) 366-0071.
Enjoy en plein air cocktails and a conga line of people watching at City Oyster in Delray Beach. The Atlantic Avenue hotspot will be serving its Tequila Basil Smash($13), the perfect sip to enjoy after an afternoon of Olympic power shopping. Happy hour aficionados can toss back 2-for-1 cocktails along with beer, select wines, and $1 off oysters from 4-7 p.m.
City Oyster is located at 213 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Visit cityoysterdelray.com or call (561) 272-0220.
Happy Hour is the perfect time to toast a national drink holiday with convivial sips at Josie’s Ristorante. The family-owned Italian hotspot caters to a loyal craft cocktail crowd and its La Paloma ($8.50) is a popular, reached-for favorite. Make a b-line for the bar and tuck into happy hour bites and drinks from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close.
Josie’s Ristorante is located at 1602 S. Federal Hwy, Boynton Beach. Visit josiesristorante.com or call (561) 364-9601.
Tucked inside The Mall at Wellington Green, Ford’s Garage
will be pouring a trio of potions from its Ford Fusion menu, including the Backseat Driver ($12.99), fully loaded with Patrón tequila, Cointreau, honey syrup, and citrus juices. Pucker up with the Pedal Down Paloma ($9.99), featuring el Jimador tequila, Cointreau, and sparkling grapefruit soda. Or, opt for the delightful Don’s Mom ($12.99), constructed with blackberry purée, Don Julio blanco tequila, and Grand Marnier.
Ford’s Garage is located at The Mall at Wellington Green, 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. Visit fordsgarageusa.com or call (561) 805-3673.
Orlando, Fla. (July 21, 2022) – Brightline, the only provider of modern, eco-friendly intercity rail welcomes two more trains to Orlando, “Bright Green 2” and “Bright Pink 2.” Brightline’s two trains arrived together at Brightline’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility located south of Orlando International Airport, adding to the fleet of trains that will carry passengers between Orlando and South Florida.
Bright Green 2 and Bright Pink 2, six-car trains consisting of two locomotives and four passenger coaches each, left the Siemens Rolling Stock facility in Sacramento on July 8. In total they traveled 3,000 miles across 10 states en route to Florida.
“This is an exciting moment as we welcome not one but two brand-new trainsets, Bright Green 2 and Bright Pink 2 to our Vehicle Maintenance Facility site in Orlando. These trains, and our entire fleet, are built with the consumer in mind. They are modern, eco-friendly and equipped with conveniences such as hi-speed wi-fi and plug-in connections at every seat. All of which makes for a comfortable, seamless ride,” said Michael Cegelis, EVP, Development and Construction, Brightline.
The trains are among five new trainsets to arrive in Florida in preparation for the opening of the Brightline station in Orlando. Brightline’s Orlando extension project will reach substantial completion in early 2023. The first train, Bright Red 2, arrived in October 2021 traveling through Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach Counties to its destination in West Palm Beach. The second train, Bright Blue 2, arrived in Orlando in February 2022. The final trainset is expected to arrive in Florida later this year.
In partnership with Siemens Mobility, the newest train sets represent Brightline’s commitment to invest billions in American infrastructure, creating the country’s first and only private high-speed rail network. The stainless-steel coaches are made with components from more than 160 suppliers across 27 states. They are designed for luxury and comfort, featuring special ergonomic seating, contemporary communication systems and enhanced Wi-Fi. Thanks to wide aisles, wheelchair storage and fully accessible restrooms, the Venture train set exceeds ADA requirements from end to end.
Brightline’s Orlando extension project is currently 80 percent complete and is expected to be complete in late 2022, carrying passengers in 2023.
About Brightline
Brightline is the only provider of modern, eco-friendly, higher-speed rail service in America. The company currently serves Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, with stations in Aventura and Boca Raton opening at the end of 2022 and its Orlando station beginning service in 2023. Brightline was recognized by Fast Company as one of the Most Innovative Companies in travel, offering a guest-first experience designed to reinvent train travel and take cars off the road. Brightline plans to bring its award-winning service to additional city pairs and congested corridors across the country that are too close to fly and too long to drive, with immediate plans to connect Las Vegas to Southern California. For more information, visit www.gobrightline.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Free health services will be hosted at the Palm Springs location for school-aged children
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.– It’s back to the books, but not without a checkup first! On Saturday, August 6, FoundCare is returning with its free back-to-school health fair at its 2330 South Congress Ave, Palm Springs location. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., school-aged children can receive hearing and vision screenings, school physicals, vaccines and a backpack filled with school supplies.
Kicking off National Health Center Week, parents or guardians can register their children on site between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. or can pre-register online. FoundCare’s pediatric specialists and support team are ready to serve young patients in English, Spanish, Creole and French. Patients will be seen on a first-come first-served basis.
“Every child deserves a healthy start to the new school year,” said FoundCare CEO, Chris Irizarry. “It is our calling to give children and families the best shot at a healthy and successful year without the financial strain. Kids should not subsequently find themselves absent from the classroom because they didn’t have access to quality healthcare.”
Sponsorship, underwriting, and vendor opportunities are available for this event and can be coordinated by emailing communications@foundcare.org.
To help further its mission to provide quality healthcare and social services for all individuals and families, FoundCare offers pediatric, adult, and geriatric primary care, chronic disease management, behavioral health services, dentistry, laboratory services, women’s health (including screening mammography), X-rays, and an on-site pharmacy. FoundCare’s services are accessible throughout their locations in Palm Beach County, with their Palm Springs health center conveniently offering all services in one location.
FoundCare accepts most insurance plans, Medicaid, Medicare and self-pay on a sliding fee scale based on household size and income. For more information about the free event and general information about FoundCare’s services, please call 561-HEALTHY (561) 432-5849 or visit http://foundcare.org. For pre-registration, visit https://foundcare.org/Back2School.
Help Downtown Palm Beach Gardens “Load the Lockers” with school supplies for The Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, which facilitates student achievement by supporting high-quality public education through partnerships, grants, events, and public awareness. Supplies needed are backpacks, color pencils and markers (8-12 count), composition books (wide-ruled), construction paper, dry erase markers, wedge erasers, glue sticks, highlighters, scotch tape, small student dry erase board, pencils, crayons, flip chart markers and student headphones / earbuds.
WHERE: Downtown Palm Beach Gardens – In between Yard House and Voodoo Bayou by the South Valet loop
To spotlight Hunger Action Month, Downtown Palm Beach Gardens will partner with the Palm Beach County Food Bank for Empty Bowls in the Gardens. Empty Bowls invites the public to “eat simply, so others can simply eat.” Local restaurants will donate signature soups, and freshly baked bread all served by local community leaders.
The national grassroots event serves as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the community. All money raised will support the Palm Beach County Food Bank in its mission toward hunger relief.
WHERE: Downtown Palm Beach Gardens – at the Interactive Water Feature
WHEN: September 17 – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $30 each – Tickets can be purchased at www.pbcfoodbank.org/ebgardens
These outstanding LGBT books, featuring characters who identify with one or more of the identities covered by the acronym’s rainbow, demonstrate to us that the worlds of literature can—and should—be just as strikingly diverse as our own. Everybody deserves to see their own lived experiences reflected in the stories they enjoy, but young people and others who find it difficult to fully express their identities in daily life should place a specific emphasis on this. Additionally, LGBTQ+ books are available in all genres, much like the rest of the literary canon. You can either buy a handful of them as the ideal presents for book lovers in your life or add them all to your personal TBR list.
Julie, a graphic artist, is the main heroine of The One Woman, LGBTQ romance book by Laura May. Regrettably, we know little about Julie’s life or her partnership with Mark. That is, until she meets Ann. Web developer Ann is a kind and outgoing person. It is obvious that Julie has affections for Ann. The spark is genuine as their history and present converge in Barcelona. Julie will have to choose between her love for Ann and her allegiance to Mark when catastrophe strikes. Will true love last the distance? Read in Laura May’s book.
Mickey James III is the next in a long line of legendary NHL players, but when his teammate Jaysen Caulfield also starts to vie for the top draft place in the league, their competition heats up and gradually develops into something more. In addition to the main gay romance in this book, “Icebreaker” also includes characters that are polyamorous, bisexual, and lesbian.
Eve is a queer New Yorker in her 20s. Her rash decision to publish anonymous nude photos online causes her to become involved with Olivia and Nathan. The rest is anything but straightforward. Acts of Service is a brazen, perceptive, and seductive book that explores contemporary sexual dynamics with a candor I rarely see. Olivia starts to struggle with the concepts of what society tells her she should desire versus what she actually wants as she grows more and more sexually liberated. The solutions are seldom simple in this novel, as in real life.
In Kit Mayquist’s gothic fever dream debut, Lena, a medical school dropout, gets a job working for one of Boston’s wealthiest families out of desperation despite the position’s hazy, ambiguous description. Warning: This section contains spoilers. Things take a very dark turn, especially after Lena understands the family is to blame for her father’s job loss. Stay for the developing queer romance; come for the vengeance plot.
When Mallory develops an obsession with a persona known as “the woman,” she is a college freshman mourning a recent loss. A covert romance between them grows as the plot progresses. Mallory soon begins to doubt if she genuinely wants to be in a relationship with the woman or whether she only wants to change into the woman. Michelle Hart addresses issues of vulnerability, attachment, and the function that relationships serve in our increasingly solitary lives in her debut book.
Wallace is black, queer, and pursuing a biochemistry degree at a university in the Midwest. He is surrounded by people who, at times, seem just as remote from him as his family back in Alabama. Wallace is forced to face his own weakness and desire when inter-friend group attraction develops amongst a few odd possibilities.
Kaylee Beaumont, a fanfic author, is eagerly anticipating the next small but incredibly exciting fandom gathering where she intends to meet online pals, experiment with new pronouns, dress in masculine cosplay, and have her first kiss with a girl. However, Kaylee’s intentions are completely sidetracked until she meets another contender for a beauty pageant with whom sparks immediately fly. Miss North Carolina, the bully from her community, comes up at the same hotel for a beauty pageant on the weekend of the convention.
Share your LGBTQ books suggestions with us at: aroundwellington@gmail.com
The Wellington Art Society (WAS) is thrilled to announce their new art exhibition: “Elegant”. The public is invited to experience “Elegant” in the upper and lower floors of the Wellington City Hall Gallery located at 12300 Forest Hill Blvd, Wellington. The exhibition will be open weekdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm from July 19th to November 15, 2022.
“Elegant” features sixteen artists and 55 original artworks including painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, mixed media, digital art, and more. The 16 artists that will be exhibiting are:
Emily Bergstrom × Susan Mosely × Heather Bergstrom × Susan Oakes ×
David Ciofalo × Leslie Pfeiffer × Audrey Freedman × Janine Sabinsky × Laura Jaffe ×
Raymonde Talleyrand × Carol Krenkel × Cindi Taylor × Lou Ann La Bohn ×
Elaine Weber × Charles Moses × Tammy Wolfson
All artwork in the exhibition is for sale and a portion of the proceeds goes toward WAS Scholarship and Outreach Programs. To arrange the purchase of artwork hanging in the exhibition, please email presidentofwas@gmail.com. For more information about the featured artists and the exhibition, please visit the Wellington Art Society’s website at www.wellingtonartsociety.org.
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The Wellington Art Society is a non-profit charitable organization in its 41st year. It is open to visual artists of all mediums and art enthusiasts, allowing both local and regional artists to display their artwork in local galleries and venues, interact with other artists and serve the community through their art. For further information about the Wellington Art Society, please visit www.wellingtonartsociety.org or email presidentofwas@gmail.com.
Garden Party by Heather BergstromElegant Diversity of Life by Lou Ann LaBohn
GREENACRES – Temple Beth Tikvah, 4550 Jog Road invites families with children, individuals and couples to an Open House for prospective members, to enroll children in Religious School, register for the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Registry and drop off items for the shredding truck – all can be accomplished on Sunday, August 14, 2022, 12:00pm – 2:00pm.
For further information, please contact Temple Beth Tikvah at (561) 967-3600, templebt@bellsouth.net.
Temple Beth Tikvah is a multi-generational, egalitarian and conservative Synagogue.
My music tastes are predominantly eclectic in nature; I can go from Classic 70’s to 80’s dance to Motown within minutes of each other. However, one genre of music that I have always found to be refined and extremely relaxing is Jazz. This particular genre of music can be lovely acoustically, and when accompanied by sublime vocals, it just hits that sweet spot for me!
Equinox, performed at the PB International Jazz Festival on April 30, 2022
The first time I heard Yvette sing, was when she was with a jazz band called The Jazz Cats. In the past, this band played at Wellington’s Village Music and Café every second Thursday of the month. I can recall not just falling in love with her smooth yet robust voice when she sang the Classic “At last” by Etta James but also captivated by her peaceful and graceful smile-a smile that she displayed so graciously with band members and her audience. Yvette’s smile is reminiscent of a warm embrace and a bond or seal with which she connects with the public, both domestically and abroad. Looking back, I realize, that I had longed to interview her one day. At last, that “one day” has come to fruition…
Jazz vocalist and founder of the PB International Film Festival Yvette Norwood-Tiger
Getting to Know Yvette Norwood-Tiger
AW: Tell us about yourself. Where did you grow up? Was music ALWAYS your passion?
YNT: First of all, thank you so much for the interview. I appreciate your interest in local South Florida artists. I was born in Detroit, Michigan, home of Motown. I was surrounded by music as a child; my mom played drums and my dad played guitar in church. My five sisters who are older than me, had a singing group in the church and also sang in the church choir. I have loved to sing since I can remember. Although, I had that passion and listening to music since childhood, I did not sing in public until many years later, due to my shyness. It took the love of God to bring me out of my shyness and to feel comfortable being on stage. I truly know it was God, because now I feel comfortable on stage. The bigger the audience, the more loving energy I feel, and more at home I feel.
AW: At what age did you realize that you were meant for “great things” in the jazz world? Who or what inspired this “revelation”?
YNT: Very interesting question. At my first gig which was in 2005 in Asbury Park, NJ at art gallery called El Lobo Negro, Gary Smerillo, the contrabassist who accompanied me that night, said to me (as were leaving the gig), “you are going to be great!” I never really thought about it, until I saw your question. I really don’t consider myself “great”, I just hope that I am doing my part to make a positive impact in music, which includes uplifting, entertaining, and inspiring my audience with my testimony; and inspiring other vocalists and young jazz artists to follow their dreams.
AW: Who are the people in your jazz ensemble? They are excellent, and their personalities definitely shine through in their performances. What was your process in picking them and how would you define your relationship with them?
YNT: One of the beautiful things about jazz is that it is universal between jazz musicians, making it easy to select local musicians who can perform with me. For the most part, the musicians that I have accompany me interchange from concert to concert. I am blessed to have a wonderful selection of accomplished musicians, whether I am performing in the U.S. or abroad, whom I hire to perform with me. My choice of musician depends on the location of the event, availability, and theme of the concert/event.
(Side note: at the Palm Beach International Jazz Festival I was accompanied by Trenton Klaz on piano, David Einhorn on contrabass, Gary Palmer on saxophone, Jose Roman Duque in drums, and Miles Hoyt on guitar).
AW: Do you play mostly covers and a few originals? I just listened to a very funny song you wrote about your memory foam mattress after being “triple doggy dared” by a close friend/musician. Please elaborate on this-I cannot get the song out of my head and it is a wonderful story!
YNT: My friend and colleague Dr. Joan Cartwright, who is the founder of Women in Jazz South Florida contacted me one day and asked that I write her a blues song to put on a CD that she was going to release. She is aware that I shy away from blues music and prefer to listen to and perform jazz. I find blues songs to have, for the most part, a sad or troubling theme to them, with a repetitive arrangement, which I do not usually care for. However, she wanted to challenge me. So, I decided to write a blues song that, although it’s somewhat troubling, it has humor to it. I took a common blues arrangement and added lyrics to it, which the title came to me immediately after speaking with Joan. After having the title in my head, lyrics followed to me that fit the title of the song. It was quite timely, because at the time, I was setting up a small recording studio in my home office and I wanted an easy song to record that would help me learn the recording programs that I used to make the song. With my recording, I was able to send it to my musician friend, Marty Gilman (who plays multiple instruments), so he could add some instrumentation to the recording. The organ and saxophone were performed and recorded by Marty.
AW: What are some of your favorite songs to sing and which are the hardest ones to sing (either emotionally or instrumentally)?
YNT: My husband calls me a human juke box. Although, on stage, I sing Jazz, I truly enjoy singing songs from most music genres, with some exceptions. It is somewhat hard to pick a favorite. There is one song that I sing at all of my concerts called, “A Song for My Father,” which was written by Horace Silver. I sing it as a dedication to my Heavenly Father for saving me from a brain tumor nearly ten years ago. Although, the tumor was non-cancerous (benign), my doctors told me to get my affairs in order, even after surgery and radiation due to the size and location of the tumor. After recovering from this ordeal, I now sing and perform more than I did before I was diagnosed. That is why I give God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) all the praise because I know I could not have survived it on my own, in addition to becoming more involved with my career in music.
AW: I have heard one of your songs that I believe was sung in Portuguese. What other languages do you know, and can you sing in all of them?
YNT: I sing several Portuguese songs, the one you might have heard me sing is called Mas Que Nada (which is written by Sergio Mendes). Although I do not fluently speak any language other than American English, I perform songs in six other languages including French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Xhosa (one of the official languages of South Africa and Zimbabwe), and Mandarin. I am working on composing a song in Hebrew.
With Eric & The Jazzers (Yamin Mustafa-Trumpet, Ken Burkhart-Keyboard) at Kreepy Tiki – Ft. Lauderdale, FL. – 2015
AW: Share with us some details and information on the International Jazz Festival. What have been some of the highs and lows of being part of the festival?
YNT: Thankfully, there are not many lows with producing the jazz festival. It is surreal, as I watch each band take to the stage and give a spectacular performance and as I watch the audience enjoy what they are hearing. I pray that the festival will gain more publicity and a larger audience and appreciation. Denise, I truly appreciate your interest and effort by conducting this interview to help make the dream come true!
AW: Has your music/singing career ever put you in any “interesting situations”? Please share a story or two.
YNT: A few years ago, my husband and I went on a transatlantic cruise. The first thing I always look for anywhere we travel is live music, especially jazz bands. The first evening on the ship, we went to listen to a jazz trio. After the first set, I introduced myself to the band and told them that I am a jazz vocalist and that I would like to sit in for a song or two on their next set. One of the band mates asked if I could perform with them throughout the cruise because their vocalist developed a sore throat and couldn’t sing. It was a wonderful experience to perform with them.
AW: Going to get up close and personal for a few minutes. Would you like to share the life-altering experience that you have dealt with and how it has affected your music career and inspired others as well?
YNT: In September of 2012, I began to experience numbness and tingling in my extremities, along with other symptoms that I could not explain. Then one day, after working out, I fainted, which I have never done before. At this time, my husband strongly suggested that I go to the hospital. After three days, my doctors diagnosed me with a brain tumor. Although it was benign, the size of it posed an imminent threat to some very important functions in my brain. Although I went on to have surgery and radiation to reduce it, the doctors could not remove it all and they told my husband I could die at any second or suffer a stroke. I had quite a physical and spiritual battle during this time. My hearing was severely affected to the point where I could not stand to hear noises let alone sit and listen to music. I also had loud ringing in my ears from which I would cry myself to sleep over it. My throat was affected as well, I couldn’t talk for long periods of time, let alone sing. These were some of the many symptoms that I suffered, including depression. The doctors could not explain any of it. The results of my Google search of my symptoms suggested that I would have to deal with these symptoms for the rest of life, however long or sort my life would be.
Through many prayers from my family and friends and the church that I grew up in Ecorse, Michigan, I was able to overcome and heal not just in body, but in mind and spirit as well. Eventually, I recovered from the symptoms, and I started back singing, but with a life purpose. To Show God’s (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) light and how He performs miracles.
After my recovery from surgery and radiation, I started back singing in a restaurant after the owner contacted me and said that he saw me at a jam session a few years back. While performing the restaurant as a duo with a keyboardist, I prayed that I would go on to perform in concert settings and with a full jazz band. A keyboardist that I hired to accompany me introduced me to a band that he performed in called Eric & the Jazzers. After sitting in for a song with them, the band leader, Eric Trouillot, hired me to perform with them as their lead vocalist. In addition to my bookings and productions, I continue to work with Eric & the Jazzers to this day. I have gone on to meet and work with many highly acclaimed jazz musicians and perform in venues around the world, including Royal Albert Hall in London, England; Berlin, Germany; Cape Town, South Africa; Italy, France, Cuba, Argentina, and Belgium. This year (September 2022), I will start a worldwide tour to celebrate my ten years of survival from the brain tumor. The tour will start in Italy.
AW: All music evolves over time, especially genres like Jazz. Do you feel like your music has remained constant and current, or have there been many instances where specific tributes have been mandatory? Please enlighten us.
YNT: Yes, jazz has evolved over time and one of the aspects of jazz is that I enjoy performing many of its sub-genres, including the Great American Songbook, Standards, Bebop, and Latin Jazz. Within those genres, I have done tributes to jazz artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Nina Simone, Edith Piaf, and Celia Cruz. While I don’t consider the tributes to be mandatory, I do think they help the audience identify with the music.
In addition to performing covers of those genres, I also write and record original songs, which are mostly in the vein of jazz. I also take previously recorded instrumental jazz songs and add my lyrics to them.
AW: Has jazz music and the industry been any different for you as a woman than it would be for your male counterparts?
YNT: Unfortunately, it is typically more difficult for a female jazz artist to be as successful as her male counterparts in the music industry. It has been that way for many years, and it is one of the main reasons that motivated me to start and produce my own jazz festival (Palm Beach International Jazz Festival) and to produce other jazz events. I see it as one of the surest ways for women to gain a greater audience in jazz-to produce and host their own events.
AW: Where can we see and hear you perform? I know you have a lot of amazing stuff on YouTube. Do you currently have anything in the works?
YNT: I was asked by Rudy’s Pub in Lake Worth Beach, Florida to produce jazz concerts there, titled “Wednesday Night Jazz on the Patio Concert Series”. It is a wonderful place to hear live jazz performed by local jazz artists. Featured artists have included Mickey Smith Jr., a 2020 Grammy Music Educator Award Recipient and saxophonist with his wife and two children; vocalist Meri Ziev; and vibraphonist Nathan Skinner with saxophonist Sean Devivo. They were all great shows, with more to come to come!
August 14, 2022, I will be performing at the Mandel Public Library in West Palm Beach, Florida. My following concert will be at Elegance Café in Rome, Italy on September 2022. You may view dates on my website:
YNT: My plan is to continue to write music, record CDs, perform, and to share my testimony.
I am a recipient of the 2022 Palm Beach Cultural Council Artist Fellowship, which I will use to produce a CD, that will be a tributed to a sub-genre of jazz called Bebop. I will also start a world tour in September 2022 to celebrate ten years of survival from the tumor. I am looking forward to producing Palm Beach International Jazz Festival 2023.
AW: You have such a bubbly and charismatic personality; have you ever done any acting or has your music ever been showcased in a “Hollywood-like” arena?
YNT: Thank you so much for that wonderful compliment! I do not have any acting experience. However, my inspiration for performing with passion and storytelling stems from my love of opera, where the performers sing with grand aplomb.
Last Notes
If Jazz is not your “cup of tea”, maybe, possibly, one day you will tune in for a few seconds to listen to Yvette singing (whether is live or online). I promise you that those few seconds or even minutes will be worth it and that you might even find Yvette to be “all that jazz” and more because your first impression will be pure bliss. It might just be time for you to fine tune your listening or update your genres-remember the name, Yvette Norwood-Tiger. You’re welcome.
