Seattle Jazz Vespers: Nicole Yvette

Sunday, December 6 at 6:00pm

Nicole Yvette—vocals, Shawn Schlogel—piano, Mark Ivester—drums, Grace Caste—bass, and Martin Budde—guitar

Nicole Yvette is a Seattle-based jazz singer, songwriter, and bandleader. Her music carries the harmonic sophistication and improvisational spirit of jazz, shaped by a life spent listening deeply, writing honestly, and performing with intention.

Raised in Southern California, Nicole Yvette began singing in church — including her father’s — where she developed a musical foundation grounded in spiritual intimacy, community, and emotional truth. In high school, she expanded into musical theatre and began writing songs, discovering early that composition would become central to her artistic voice.

In college, she formed His Beloved, an acoustic ensemble performing her original music throughout Denver. She went on to serve as a worship leader in some of the city’s largest churches and became a founding member of Dave LeMieux and House of Soul — a 14-piece jazz ensemble that toured nationally and internationally and recorded multiple projects. She was also featured as a vocalist with Denver Brass.

After relocating to Seattle, Nicole Yvette built a place for herself in the city’s jazz community through study, performance, and consistent presence. She has headlined sold-out shows, held residencies at beloved local venues, and performed for corporate and cultural events including Seattle Arts & Lectures and Microsoft.

Her debut solo album Say Yes — produced by three-time GRAMMY® winner Sara Gazarek and featuring Kurt Elling, Terri Lyne Carrington, Joel Ross, Larry Goldings, Keyon Harrold, and Paul Cornish — is a fully realized jazz statement. Nicole Yvette’s original songs anchor the album, meeting the tradition on its own terms while bringing something new to the conversation. As Gazarek shares: “I knew the first time I heard Nicole Yvette’s music that this was a voice that needed to be heard. There was an unmistakable clarity in her sound, not just of tone, but of intention.”

Nicole Yvette is stepping fully into her own artistry — creating boldly, leading with intention, and choosing this moment because it is the right one.

Keep up to date with the latest concert information or changes by visiting: https://www.facebook.com/SeattleJazzVespers.