Well, today we are over in Three Oaks, Michigan, and music in the Park has already kicked off.

Happening every Saturday, all summer long, all the way up until the beginning of September.

They are offering free concerts and I have my new friend with me, Martha, who is going to be performing in one of the upcoming performances, which I'm really excited about because you guys get to perform on a particularly special day.

Yes we do.

Julyfourth.

Yes.

July 4th.

That's amazing.

Okay, so you have to tell me about this because I came in a little bit earlier and I saw some of your band practicing together.

You guys sound amazing.

Your ensemble.

It's a jazz ensemble, right?

Weird jazz?

Yes, a very eclectic.

A little bit of sophistication, a little bit of worldliness.

We're going to be touching upon numbers that kind of are continental a little bit.

Oh, okay.

We're we're doing some absolutely gorgeous bossa nova.

And for these now I'm accustomed to singing in Italian, French and German.

Oh my God.

And a little Sanskrit once.

But but for these they're Portuguese.

Really?

Bossa nova?

Okay.

Yes.

Okay.

Antonio Carlos Jobim and I am learning Portuguese along the way.

You are?

Yes.

It's the most beautiful romantic language to sing.

And they were written in this language.

So I have made it my my little goal to sing in the in the original, in the original language, I love that.

We just were talking to one of our other organizations here recently, and we talked about that, how you have to translate it first to help you really feel that emotion.

Now you have an operatic background to write.

Can you talk to you about that?

How did you get these two worlds together?

So this is an enigma.

But yeah, it's true.

So I'm a classically trained artist, and I have been singing mostly in the United States and internationally.

Wow.

I was.

Where's the where's one of your favorite places?

Italy.

I performed in Italy.

I was the grand prize winner of the International Bel Canto, and I was sent there.

And I love the Italian people.

I love to sing in Italian.

And I was working with the mystery of La Scala.

It's it's an unbelievable opportunity.

Oh, I can't even imagine.

So.

Yes.

Opera.

How did you hear jazz?

Yeah, it's a very.

I will try to segue this opera and then musical theater and a session singer.

So in Chicago, you've heard me, but you didn't know it because I'm one of the PaRappa Papa.

Are you serious?

So I kind of.

Yeah.

I can you kidding?

So I've kept a low profile on my studio.

Singers?

Yeah, on my studio music.

But I'm very proud.

Three of my my TV commercials.

One, Cleo.

So I was kind of a good luck charm for some of my producers.

And they told me from day one that they could hear the smile in my voice and the warmth.

So when I sing, the warmth and the smile seem to peak the interest of producers.

And I sang for many years, and so I could do, I could do pop and I could do opera.

And then I was in a Broadway show for three years, The Phantom of the opera.

Yeah.

And the other thing that I had discovered that I could do, there was an audition for how Leonard Publishing.

Now, if it sounds familiar, it's the largest music publisher and distributor in the entire world.

Oh, wow.

And they had a blind audition once in Chicago.

Blind?

Meaning they couldn't see you, but they would hear you.

Sure.

And they loved the clarity of my instrument and the tone and the.

My diction is very good.

And you still bring that into your performances now?

Today.

Now, I know you guys have been working together.

You're fairly new bringing this group together.

What are you looking forward to in bringing your ensemble to the music in the park?

Oh my gosh, I feel that I am so at home with this type of literature.

And I was introduced by Garth Taylor, the founder of the School of American Music, for for this type of literature and jazz.

Yeah.

And we were really blessed to open Jazz Fest 2025 last year at the Acorn, which was a fundraiser for for the school in Garth's honor.

So yeah, I love to communicate.

I love to express through artistry, through my music, and I feel like I am feeling that off of you now.

And I can't imagine seeing you perform and how the communication of music, how it translates to others.

Right?

Yes, I love it.

I love it's a very deep form of communication and I feel things.

If it's a highly emotional piece, I must work through it independently for a while so that I don't become overwrought with emotion because I, you know, I love to impart the message of the song to my audience, and I go into kind of a different aura while I'm doing.

I love it.

Well, this is going to be so special to have you guys here.

July 4th, you guys get this fantastic celebration, part of the 250th celebration too.

When does the performance happening that day?

630.

Okay.

And it's free and open to the public.

People are encouraged to become a little early.

Okay.

And it is outdoors.

It's outdoors.

So do we can.

And park so in the Three Oaks Pavilion.

Yeah.

And so when you bring your own chairs, you can bring a little picnic if you want.

And there's a little theme going through or a light motif going through our, our set list.

Oh, and it's kind of the theme of fire and flame, which is a great prelude to the fireworks that are really happening a little, a little after you enjoy the music.

Wonderful.

Well, can we maybe hear a little sample from you guys just to take us on out?

I think we could do that.

All right.

Well, thank you so much.

Martha, it's such a delight.

You.

I waited till I saw the sun.

Don't know why I didn't come.

I left you by the house and find.

Don't know why I didn't come.

I don't know why I didn't come.

When I saw the break of day.

Wish that I could fly away.

Instead of me in the sand.

Contained teardrops in my hand.

My heart is drenched in the wild.

You think on my.

Forever.

Out across the endless sea I would die.

Ecstasy.

By pain.

A bag of bones.

Driving down the road.

Alone.

My heart is drenched in wild.

You’ll be... On...my...mind forever Something to make you run.

Don't know why I didn't come.

I feel as empty as a drum.

I don't know why I didn't come.

I don't know why I did not come.

I don't know why.

I did come.

I say till the sun rises.

I corner times he.

What a magical time.

And as the time draws near.

Dreams lift my heart.

I sing while He plays the guitar.

I'll cling to this dream from afar.

Will true love come my way?

On this corner hotel.

Or will Love... Stay in my heart.