Soul Train award-winning vocalist Nicole Henry returns to Arts Garage with her theatrical concert-event “I Wanna Dance with Somebody:  The Songs of Whitney Houston” for a night of jubilant celebration.  In this stunning Cabaret award-nominated show, Ms. Henry will go on a joyful, storytelling journey weaving in the classic songs of one of the best voices in American music history while putting her stamp on some of Whitney’s greatest hits, including “The Greatest Love of All,” “Saving All My Love for You” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” along with other timeless Whitney classics.  Written and directed by acclaimed theatre and concert director Will Nunziata (Platinum recording artist Jackie Evancho, Tony Award-winner Lillias White), this highly lauded concert event will take place on Sunday, March 13, 2022, at 7 pm.

PERFORMER BIOs

Since her debut in 2004, Nicole Henry has established herself as one of the jazz world’s most acclaimed performers, possessing a potent combination of dynamic vocal abilities, impeccable phrasing, and sincere, powerful emotional resonance.

Her passionate, soulful voice and heartfelt charisma have earned her a Soul Train Award for “Best Traditional Jazz Performance,” and three Top 10 U.S. Billboard and HMV Japan jazz albums. Heralded by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Japan Times, El Pais, Jazz Times, Essence and more, Ms. Henry tells real stories through unparalleled interpretations of repertoire from the American Songbook, classic and contemporary jazz, popular standards, blues, and originals.

She has captivated audiences in over 20 countries, headlining in cities including New York, Tokyo, Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, and Miami. Ms. Henry has also performed in more than 30 music festivals worldwide and in some of the world’s most famous venues including Blue Note; Jazz at Lincoln Center; Blues Alley; Arsht Center; Feinstein’s; Green Mill; Jazz St. Louis; Madrid Jazz Festival; the Regattabar; and Catalina Jazz.

She has recorded with some of today’s musical greats including Kirk Whalum, Julian Lage, Gerald Clayton, and Gil Goldstein, and has performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, and Michael Feinstein. In late 2019, Ms. Henry returned to the theatrical stage and garnered critical praise in the musical “The Bodyguard,” and in late 2021, she will perform in the new musical “A Wonderful World,” the story of Louis Armstrong.

A longtime resident of Miami, Henry has been actively committed to supporting community non-profits such as Miami Children’s Initiative, YoungArts, and Miami Music Project. She was recognized by the City of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County, proclaiming “Nicole Henry Days” in 2011, 2016, and 2017. She also served two terms on the Board of Governors of the Florida Chapter of the Recording Academy.

Pete Wallace is an accomplished keyboardist, producer, and composer who resides in South Florida. After graduating with a degree in Studio Music and Jazz at the University of Miami, he has gone on to work with some of the top artists in the music business including P!nk, Herbie Hancock, Alejandro Sanz, Cher, Phil Collins, Richard Marx, Laura Pausini, Jon Secada, Julio Iglesias, La Ley, Jessica Simpson, Carlos Vives, Ricardo Arjona and the Backstreet Boys to name a few. As a songwriter, Pete has cuts with artists such as P!nk, Sabrina Starke (Blue Note), Teddy Geiger, and Ryan Cabrera. He is currently the musical director for Jon Secada and tours with Latin superstar Diego Torres. Pete is also busy in the local Miami scene playing a variety of gigs from jazz to Latin pop. In addition, he is a governor on the Florida Chapter Grammy board and an adjunct jazz piano instructor at Broward College.

David Chiverton is a Miami native and drummer extraordinaire. He attended Florida International University (F.I.U.) on a full academic scholarship with a position as a key player in the university’s BigBand. While there, David linked up with the super-producer of Miami, Florida, “Bigg D,” where he was the featured drummer every Wednesday night at Miami L.I.V.E. at Santos Miami, sharing the stage with artists ranging from John Legend to Lil Wayne. He is currently touring and recording with various talents and has been highlighted as one of South Florida’s most sought-after musicians.

DWayne “Saint Orbin” Bennett was born into a family comprised of songwriters, producers, musicians, and singers, with his first music teacher being his mother, who also sings and plays multiple instruments. Starting out on the drums, Saint Orbin began to also hone his skills on the keyboard, bass guitar, lead guitar, and as a singer.  Since 1998, he has been the founder and a lead vocalist in the urban-inspirational singing group KING and co-founder of DNA MusicBoyz. He has recorded music for greats such as Jennifer Lopez, Betty Wright, Jagged Edge, and Bootsy Collins. He has also performed with Yolanda Adams, Kanye West, Flo Rida and Kim Burrell and has played on national television shows like ABC’s “The View,” “Good Morning America,” and MTV’s “Video Music Awards.”  In 2017, he released his solo album entitled “Soul of a JAmerican.”

Nikki Kidd is an international jazz vocalist who started singing at the age of four in Miami Beach. She earned her Bachelor’s at the University of Miami in Studio Music and Jazz Voice, as well as a Minor in Music Business. At UM, Nikki studied with world-renowned jazz artists such as the late Kevin Mahogany, Kurt Elling, and John Secada. She has worked with acclaimed artists Gloria Estefan, Michael Bublé, KC and the Sunshine Band, as well as having the opportunity to sing background vocals for Aloe Blacc (on Disney’s 2018 Christmas Special), Thelma Houston, Mary Wilson, Cory Henry with the Nu Deco Orchestra, and on Prince Royce’s track “Really Real.”  Nikki also directed the Gospel Choir behind The Wailers’ new song “One World, One Prayer” that was featured on “Stand By Me” (Celebrating Our Nurses). Nikki has also performed with the Florida Grand Opera in their production of the opera “Aida” at the Arsht Center and previously held a residency at the Mandarin Oriental’s Historic Bamboo Bar in Bangkok, Thailand.  In 2018 she was voted Miami New Times “Best Jazz Act,” as well as Legacy Magazine’s 40 Under 40.

Lenora Jaye is an NYC native, currently based in South Florida.  She began her musical career as a featured vocalist for the funk-rock band Rhythm Republik where she performed at NYC venues including B.B. King’s, House of Blues, The Blue Note NYC, and many others.  In 2016 she released her TransPhatt Records EP “FORCE OF LIFE.”  She is currently performing as “Ella” for the South Florida Sammy Davis Jr. & Ella Fitzgerald tribute show and is also currently a weekly featured performer at Georgie’s Alibi-Wilton Manors.  She is also one of the lead vocalists with the renowned South Florida Motown/Supremes musical tribute group “The Ladies of Soul” and through South Florida Legends Incorporated, she is all three of the new 3-act “Icons of SOUL” tribute show featuring the legendary music of Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle & Chaka Khan. She was voted BEST NEW ARTIST 2011 by SoulTracks.com for their Annual Reader’s Choice Music Awards.

Ellison Kendrick was born in Miami Beach of Jamaican American descent and was raised in a church where he was the lead vocalist of the choir.  As a teen, he was the lead singer of a group, which released an album and 2 singles, one reaching #21 on the R&B charts.  He was eventually signed as a solo artist by R&B legend Betty Wright (Ms. B Records) and toured as a backing vocalist for her, then later became the male backing singer for Grammy award-winner Joss Stone.  He has worked with various int’l artists such as Enrique Iglesias and Hip Hop artist DMX. He wrote and released his single “BLACK SUIT,” which charted on Billboard single sales chart at #11 and has become the name of the band that he now fronts.