Jazz Cafe Presents: Wendy Luck

“Solid and clear notes flow from her lips and caress your ears with the full range of her emotions…Gets our most highly recommended!” -Improvijazzation Nation

“High octane spirit. Utterly original.” -Adriana Trigiani, New York Times Best Selling Author

“Wendy Luck is a highly talented flutist, vocalist, and composer.” -Bob Collins, Jazz Café on WRHU, 88.7 FM

The Jazz Cafe at Ethical welcomes Wendy Luck, a heartland girl and consummate musician who conquered New York and much of the world “playing flute on a jazz tune, a choro, or a samba, or singing a ballad or a bossa nova.” (Randy Morse, “The Best of Brazil” KZUM, 89.3 FM)

Since launching her career with a four-year engagement as lead vocalist and flutist with the NYC’s Rainbow Room Big Band and the Latin jazz ensemble Southern Exposure, Wendy Luck has built a fascinating career performing with some of jazz/avant-garde greats, including Don Cherry, Dave Holland, and Ornette Coleman.

Performances range from orchestral/chamber music at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, to big band music as lead vocalist/flutist at NYC’s Rainbow Room for a four-year engagement, to jazz at the Blue Note, to avant-garde at The Knitting Factory, Roulette and The Kitchen, to Ireland’s Grand Opera House for Eamonn McCrystal’s PBS Special, to recording her own meditative compositions in Egypt inside the Great Pyramid and in the temples along the Nile.

Wendy has won numerous awards for her compositions and can be found in Scott Yanow’s book, The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide. She recently published her research on music, healing, improvisation, and performance art. For more, visit WendyLuck.com.

Doors at 6:30. Following our featured artist is an Open Mic hour.

$10 Members, $15 non-members, includes snacks and a beverage (wine, beer, soda)

The Jazz Cafe is curated by John Wilmeth and Steph Walker. Music Director pianist John Wilmeth is a multi-instrumentalist with experience in many genres. He has worked with the likes of Jerry Garcia, Boz Scaggs, Al Jarreau, James Moody, and Jon Hendricks. Open Mic Emcee Steph Walker is a singer of many genres, and a poet, and has performed at such popular jazz venues as Silvana’s, Flute Bar, The Metropolitan Room, and The Triad.

The John Wilmeth Jazz Trio includes: Dave Meade, renowned drummer/percussionist.  Dave has worked with a wide spectrum of artists and musicians, including Nancy Wilson, Keely Smith, and Tony award winning singers Leslie Uggams, Paulo Szot, and Diahann Carroll. Meade has toured with Aretha Franklin, The Mamas and the Papas, and the Arturo O’Farrill Afro Cuban Orchestra, to highlight a few.  Back in the day, Dave played nightly at the world-famous Rainbow Room; and bassist Ratzo Harris, a Thelonious Monk Competition semi-finalist, has worked with such musicians as Les Paul, Charles Lloyd, and Betty Carter. “Ratzo Harris plays bass that’s living root and steel girder.” (blogcritics).

“Wonderful! A step back in time.” -D. Berkowitz, Asheville, NC

“Totally delighted the whole evening! Classic intimate place, delightful people, and energy the whole time!” – W. T., Brentwood, New York, NY

“The venue for the music was wonderful. There were round tables complete with table clothes and nice mood lighting. The chandeliers were dimmed and it was a nightclub atmosphere. The music was excellent and then there was an open mike so I got to see a number of talented neighborhood folks get up and do their thing. Some people even felt moved to dance. I loved it!” -G. Walsh, Fair Lawn NJ