NICOLE HENRY | DECADES OF DIVAS

World-renowned, award-winning jazz vocalist Nicole Henryreturns to 54 Below for the NYC debut of her new show Decades of Diva, celebrating an array of music made famous by THE Divas we know and love: Diana, Ella, Barbra, Donna, Celine, Mariah, Chaka, Whitney, Shirley, Sarah, and more.

Henry’s versatile and emotionally driven performances have wowed 54 Below audiences since 2016, including with her BroadwayWorld nominated show I Wanna Dance with Somebody: The Songs of Whitney Houston (Best Tribute Show). Henry also remains a vocal leader in the jazz world with her latest album, Time to Love Again, reaching #4 on the U.S. JazzWeek Radio Chart and remaining in the TOP 40 for 20 weeks.

Among her numerous accolades, Henry received the Soul Train Award for “Best Traditional Jazz Performance,” “Best New Jazz Artist” by HMV Japan, and “Best Solo Musician” by the Miami New Times. Henry has enjoyed four TOP 10 CDs and has headlined stages in 20 countries throughout her career.

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The Jazz Voyager

The Jazz Voyager is leaving the Big Apple by way of JFK is crisscrossing the country once again to check out a new venue called the Mississippi Studios in Portland, Oregon. Situated in the Boise neighborhood of the city it is both a recording studio and a music venue presenting not only local but national talent.

Tonight I’m going to see a long time favorite who I met when she was emerging as an artist and I played her on the air. She is saxophonist and composer Hailey Niswanger. After graduating in 2011 with a B.A. in Jazz Performance from Berklee College of Music this Texas native who grew up in Portland, Oregon returns home to perform. She leades her own band and has shared the stage with Esperanza Spalding, Terri Lyne Carrington, Harvey Mason, Mike Clark, Michael Wolff, Ralph Peterson Jr., and others.

Mississippi Studios is located at 3939 N Mississippi Avenue 97227. You can get more information at https://notoriousjazz.com/event/hailey-niswanger.

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PETE ESCOVEDO

Pete Escovedo toured internationally with the legendary guitarist, Carlos Santana, for five years and performed on three Santana albums:  Moonflower, Oneness, and Inner Secrets. Mr. Escovedo left Santana to follow in the musical footsteps of his mentor, the late Great Tito Puente who influenced his music and decision to form his own orchestra consisting of a five-person horn section with strong rhythm and percussion personnel.

Mr. Escovedo finished working on his last CD released in April 2018 a labor of love musically titled ” Back to the Bay ” which received a Grammy Nomination in November 2018. Rhythm of the NIght released September 21,2021 could be his last recording project stay tuned .

In 2013 Pete Escovedo was honored with a Jazz Tribute Award at the Los Angeles Jazz Society 30th Anniversary. In 2009 Mr. Escovedo had the honor of performing at the White House for President Obama and was requested to return for a repeat performance. A proud native of Pittsburg California he remains the humble person he is.

In, 2023 Escovedo celebrated 67 years in the entertainment business and his 86th birthday and has received a lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Grammy’s in Las Vegas Nevada at the MGM Grand Hotel in the Grand Garden Arena.

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MARIA HOWELL

Mere words can only capture the refrain of Maria Howell’s awesome talent. She is the ballad of beauty and elegance. The melodies flowing from the petite vocalist are truly amazing. While casting a spellbinding smile, she mesmerizes her captive audience with incredible harmonies and rhythms. Best known for her role as the choir soloist in the 1985 Oscar-nominated film The Color Purple, Maria Howell is the perfect combination of artistry and entertainment.

A song stylist in her own right, Maria has shared the musical stage with such legendary artists as Nancy Wilson, George Benson, Ray Charles and Earl Klugh, and Ronnie Laws. After a very successful 6 year stint in Asia, Maria relocated back to the U.S. and performed at Sambuca Jazz Café for 9 consecutive years. She and pianist Bill Wilson (son of legendary jazz pianist Teddy Wilson), held the distinction of being the longest running act at the Atlanta, GA location. As of 2017, Maria hosts her live Hollywood music series called #DUETS, featuring “songs to soothe your soul.”

Maria is not only a song stylist and actor, but a very devoted supporter of her charity of choice, Students Without Mothers, where she has served as a board member for over 8 years. As the leader of the Noel Freidline Quintet for the last 26 years, Freidline has recorded 8 CDs, performed at jazz festivals as diverse as the Jacksonville (FL) Jazz Festival to the Bethlehem (PA) Musikfest to the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, served as artistic director for the Columbia Museum of Art jazz concert series, Jazz on Main, launched a new jazz concert series in Jacksonville, FL called Jazz with Noel Freidline and Friends, held down a three-year house band position at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and performed for actress Julia Roberts’ surprise 35th birthday party.

Show Ticket :$55 | New Year’s Eve Gala Prix Fixe  Dinner: $155++ includes 4-course dinner, champagne toast, party favors

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KEITH DAVID

 A classically trained, multiple Emmy award winning actor and voiceover talent, he is  also a remarkable singer. He has presented Too Marvelous for Words, in which he portrays the legendary singer Nat King Cole, at venues around the country. He is developing a show about the legendary blues singer Joe Williams, Here’s to Life.

Born and raised in New York, Keith became interested in the arts at a very young age. After appearing in his school’s production of The Wizard of Oz, he knew this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He enrolled in New York’s High School of the Performing Arts and continued his studies at The Juilliard School. After graduation, he was immediately hired by Joseph Papp as an understudy for the role of Tullus Aufidius in William Shakespeare’s Coriolanus. His work with Mr. Papp and the New York Shakespeare Festival launched his incredible career.

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