“Wendy Waller looks like a 40’s movie star and sings like a sassy songbird who saunters into a crowded room just to tell it like it is. Twangy blues chords back Waller’s powerful voice, which is as comfortable with easygoing songs as it is with belt-it-out numbers.” -Kall, listen.com |
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Wendy Waller’s creative approach to melody and lyric embodies the rich landscape of American music. She sings her story with her multi-ranged voice and is unyielding in her quest to take the listener on a journey. Every performance is a provocative experience. Born into an artistic family of musicians, painters, and writers, Wendy spent her early years cultivating her multiple abilities, singing, acting and dancing in musical theater. Wendy studied piano, guitar, french horn, trumpet, trombone and flugelhorn. Her primary musical influence was her father, who played trumpet and sang. His influences became hers: Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Bix Beiderbecke, Cannonball Adderley, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Wendy was also influenced by the popular artists of the 1960s, including Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Richie Havens, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Moody Blues, Quick Silver Messenger Service and Joni Mitchell. As a result, Wendy's music grooves with an undercurrent of improvisation flavored with bits of New Orleans Jazz, Folk, Psychedelic Rock, Soul and Gospel. Wendy's formal education includes attending the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where she arrived as a classically trained coloratura soprano and left a Jazz/Country/Soul-influenced rocker. After her stint in Boston Wendy returned to her native California and completed her degree in Jazz Studies at San Jose State University. She also began assembling an impressive group of musical mentors, including Patti Cathcart, Bobby McFerrin, Joe Henderson, and David Baker. Wendy's career flourished. She fronted several successful bands, worked as a freelance singer, and contributed her talents to a number of projects, including Chris Isaak's “Speak of the Devil.” Wendy has performed at a wide variety of venues throughout the Bay Area including The Little Fox Theater, The Throckmorton Theater, and Tateuchi Hall at the Finn Center. She performed in Great Britain as one of 10 finalists selected from over 10,000 entries for the Rising Star 2009 competition, which was part of British Music Week. A top-notch vocal instructor, Wendy has taught and assisted at U.C. Berkeley, San Jose State University, Foothill Junior College and the Community School of Music and Art in Mountain View, California. She also teaches private voice and jazz lessons to children and adults. ENSEMBLES: Wendy Waller and Her Fine Band (original compositions) Wendy Waller and the Natural Wonders Wendy Waller Jazz Quintet, Quartet, Trio and Duo (standard jazz repertoire and esoteric gems) Lead Vocalist, The Duo (guitar/vocal duo) Lead Vocalist, Kambuwa (jazz quintet) Vocalist and Composer, Equinox (multi-media production produced by David Gilbert) Lead Vocalist, Silver (Top 40/Country Western band) Vocalist and Songwriter, The Process of Production (multi-media production written and produced by Lucy Edwards, co-produced by Daniel Wyman) Hackney & Waller (piano/vocal duo) ACADEMIC ENSEMBLE EXPERIENCE: San Jose State University: “Jazz Singers” directed by Michael West New England Conservatory of Music: “Jazz Improvisation Combo” directed by Mick Goodrick and “Concert Choir” directed by Lorna Cooke-DeVaron Tanglewood Institute of Music: “Young Vocalist Choir” PRIVATE STUDY: Patti Cathcart, Bobby McFerrin, David Baker, Joe Henderson, Geraldine Martin RECORDINGS: Wendy Waller: “Traces of Grace,” Auggie Dog Records Wendy Waller: “Beauty Queen,” No Barking Records Wendy Waller: “Dance of a Thousand Fools,” No Barking Records With Chris Isaak: “Speak of the Devil,” Reprise Records |
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