nicole HENRY

Nicole's Show at the Performing Arts Theater in Palos Verdes. It was a beautiful, intimate venue. She had a very close interaction and connection with the audience.

- Ronda Dixon

They truly appreciated her artistry and her beauty. This was my first-time seeing Nicole live and I was blown away by her artistry. She introduced her band, most of whom had been with her for many years. She's tall and statuesque with the build of a dancer or an athlete. The audience reveled in her voice and her every movement. I had an opportunity to interview her and ask her some questions about her career.

SJM: What initially drew you to jazz music, and how has your perspective on the genre evolved throughout your career?

Nicole: I did not listen to Jazz growing up. I loved music and when I performed in front of an audience for the first time, I knew this was my calling. That's when I knew I was on the right track in my life. I fell in love in 2002. Performing around Miami I heard a live trio. I realized; I want to learn this style of mussic. I want to study this. I had been singing at weddings etc., mostly uptempo songs. Once I started singing ballads I fell in love with ballads.

SJM: As an African American woman in the jazz industry, have you faced any unique challenges or obstacles? How have you navigated those experiences?

NICOLE: I became an entrepreneur, by setting up my own record label and releasing my debut LP as a Jazz singer and producer.

SJM: In addition to your music, you I have been involved in theatrical productions such as "The Bodyguard" and "A Wonderful World." How does performing in musical theater differ from your experiences as a jazz artist, and what do you enjoy most about each medium?

NICOLE: What I love about theater and acting is the psychological aspect. Live theater is live, you never know how much your body will respond. I love the challenge of getting; inside of the character. I love playing Shug Avery in "The Color Purple."