Yvette Norwood-Tiger Jazz Ensemble

My repertoire covers jazz songs including jazz standards, the Great American Songbook, Bebop, and Latin jazz. Some of the artists that I cover are Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf, and Celia Cruz. Although, most of my songs are uptempo, they are not typically considered dance music (i.e., R&B, Pop, or Rock).

YVETTE NORWOOD-TIGER - Award-winning jazz vocalist, recording and international touring artist, songwriter, the Recording Academy voting member, and founder/director of the Palm Beach International Jazz Festival ((link hidden)), Yvette Norwood-Tiger, is a Detroit, Michigan native who hails from a family of musicians. Yvette performs with vocally clean and pure interpretations, while emphasizing intonation and storytelling. Her vocal styling and texture are often compared to that of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. In addition to jazz standards, her repertoire includes the Great American Songbook, standards, bebop, and Latin jazz. She also performs jazz songs in other languages.

In addition to her original jazz compositions, her recordings feature music from great composers such as Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, the Gershwins, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, and others. Yvette’s CD, LOVE IS, stayed on JAZZWEEK'S charts for over sixteen weeks. Yvette's newest CD, AUTUMN SUN, is a grand tribute to the forefathers of bebop, including Wayne Shorter, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and others.

Yvette resides in south Florida where she performs extensively, including performances at the Raymond F. Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, the Arts Garage in Delray Beach, and the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County. Yvette performs in Europe, South Africa, South America, the UK, the Caribbean, as well as various venues in the US including Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Michigan. Yvette has performed internationally at historic jazz venues and has sat in several times with jazz orchestra The Cotton Club All Stars at the famous Cotton Club in Harlem, NY. She has also sat in with the late saxophonist David Fathead Newman, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, family members of Celine Dion, Tito Puente, Jr., and Jay Beckenstein and Tom Schuman of Spyro Gyra.

Yvette is a recipient of the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County 2022 Artist Innovation Fellowship Program Awards. Yvette was also nominated for the South Florida Indie Awards 2022 - Best Jazz Vocalist. In 2021, Yvette was interviewed and featured in the PBS South Florida "On The Town - Black Voices" segment. She was also featured in a short film titled “Art Meets Jazz on J Street”, a film produced and directed by south Florida film maker, James Venable. Art Meets Jazz on J Street is the winner of the 2018 Wavelengths Awards.

Yvette is a true vocal natural in any setting from jazz festivals to intimate jazz clubs. She captivates the audience whether she’s singing with an ensemble featuring piano, bass, drums, trumpet, and saxophone; with a piano or guitar accompanist; or with a full orchestra. Yvette's mission in music is to uplift, inspire, and entertain her audience through song, lyrics, and storytelling of her personal journey.

According to press clippings from the Two River Times, "the swingin’ and groovin’ singer’s career is on the fast track. Whether she is backed with a full jazz ensemble or with a piano accompanist, she sets an authentic jazzy mood for true jazz listeners."

AFFILIATIONS-
The Recording Academy (GRAMMY) - Voting Member

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) - Member

Cultural Council for Palm Beach County - Performing Member

Women in Jazz South Florida - Member/Past President

AWARD-
2022 Artist Innovation Fellowship Program Awards

PRESS
Susan Frances – Modern Jazz – 2019
Tiger’s moving rendition of Irving Berlin’s timeless tune “Blues Skies” on her CD, Love Is demonstrates her ability to connect to the story being told. Her expressive voice gives the song relevance in a modern age.

Palm Beach Post - March 25, 2019
To paraphrase the question about directions to New York City landmarks: “How do you get to Birdland? Practice, man, practice.” Of course, it takes practice, but it also takes talent, determination and faith, all of which Palm Beach County songbird Yvette Norwood-Tiger possesses in abundance, as well as a little bit of luck.

Joey Fourie, Cape Town South Africa - October 15, 2017
The romance that jazz brings, Yvette Norwood-Tiger, celebrating the music of Ella Fitzgerald. engaging, consummate professional and oh ... her side-men, of the best that brought us under the influence. The ensemble entranced, romanced and finally mesmerized us ... bewitched, bothered, then bewildered us. I had arrived in 5th heaven, resting place of jazz romantics.

Denise Tuggle, Tuggle Advertising - 2016
The performance (Yvette Norwood-Tiger Presents Jazz At Kravis Center) was one that legends are made of and the evening so magical that if you missed it, you missed perfection”.

Palm Beach Post - December 8, 2016 Billie Holiday comes back to life.
Palm Beach Post - Bill Meredith - November 06, 2015
Transplanted Detroit jazz vocalist Yvette Norwood-Tiger transcends standards from "Summertime" to "Besame Mucho" on her debut CD "whY NoT...Love, Peace, Joy, Jazz”.

(link hidden) (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) - Al Kanovsky - March 27, 2015
...Members of Celine Dion's family are in the audience and Celine's sister is invited up by Yvette to sing "La Vie En Rose" in French. Her name is Claudette and she can sing. Yvette joins Claudette to sing it in English and the emotion in Yvette’s voice has me and a couple of other "tough" guys with me, tearing up--- someone have a tissue?...Blue Jean Blues – May 25, 2015: Yvette returns to do a request. "La Vie En Rose". Eric announces it as a Louis Armstrong hit. It was. But it was Edith Piaf who made that song famous. Yvette didn't do it like Louis or Edith. She did it like Yvette. It was emotional and absolutely perfect.

Asbury Radio (Asbury Park, New Jersey) - Maureen Nevin
...Ms. Norwood-Tiger is the kind of accomplished voice one associates with the classically trained female singers of the 30s and 40s. This woman sings the standards the way they were meant to be sung.

Two River Times (Rumson, New Jersey) - Phil Dorian, November 18, 2005
It didn't take long for jazz vocalist Yvette Norwood-Tiger to develop a following. After just a few area appearances, the Long Branch resident can count on a large turnout of jazz enthusiasts whenever she's on the bill. Her recent sold-out gig at El Lobo Negro, Asbury Park's jazz and performance hotspot, generated enthusiastic buzz among musicians and fans alike.