Wendy Reed is a jazz vocalist with experience spanning all octaves
— she toured in the Bob & Tom Band for 10 years with the popular syndicated
radio show; she’s done some voice-over work; she played with a jazz fusion band
called Decoy; she sang with a dance band as well. (And her day job is working
with students at the Indiana School for the Blind.)
Reed has performed far and wide, including about two dozen
times at French Lick Resort over the years. But she never fails to be awed by
singing front and center in West Baden Springs Hotel. She's back again at
Jazz Under the Dome Weekend, which is going on now through midday Sunday with
top regional musicians playing over 20 hours of live jazz with no cover charge.
We caught up with Reed right before her set for a little Q&A about jazz and
what to expect this weekend.
Q: West Baden is
probably unlike any venue you play in terms of the acoustics. How does that
change things for you as vocalists and instrumentalists?
A: It’s great for jazz, because you can get very intimate and
you can hear a pin drop in here — you can stand across the room and hear
somebody whisper. For jazz, it’s great. The acoustics are amazing, it’s always
fun to play in here.
Q: I’m sure you have
something you like about each venue where you perform. Anything else that’s
distinct or unique about West Baden that you like?
A: It’s fun to look out and see people come off their balconies
when they hear the music, and I’ve actually had people come down the stairs and say, “I
thought that was a recording,” because the acoustics do sound like a stereo
recording. I’ve had people say, “We were in our rooms getting ready for dinner,
and we literally thought that was a record playing.” That’s pretty cool to hear
as a vocalist. Or we’ve had a lot of people come up to us from out of town,
like “Gosh, we’re from Chicago, we had no idea Indiana had such a jazz history
and so many great players. We’re hearing people here that we’ve heard in Chicago.”
That’s kind of cool too, because Indiana is really one of the birthplaces of
jazz with Wes Montgomery and Indiana Avenue (in Indianapolis), and (West Baden)
saw its share of big, big stars come through with music. It’s pretty cool to
keep that tradition going.
Q: Tell us a little bit
about the Jazz Trivia Session that you’re playing on Saturday night. (9:00-midnight
in the library right off the lobby)
A: It’s a real intimate setting because it’s in the library, it’s
a jazz trio live. And then I ask the audience to be interactive — I’ll ask them
historical questions about Indiana or the hotel, but jazz as the whole overall
flavor of it. They get real competitive and have a lot of fun with it. Last
year we kind of winged it, if you will, and people loved it so we’re bringing
it back stronger this year.
Q: Jazz has always been
appreciated in the American South and in Europe. Overall, where is jazz right
now in American culture overall?
A: World music and jazz have kind of joined hands, so
you’re hearing a lot more of a contemporary sound, like Norah Jones or Kat Edmonson.
The American songbook, though, the standards are still relevant. People always
want to hear that. People still need their love song, their first dance song,
the song they have their cocktail and listen to; that’s always going to be
there. And that’s what jazz services so well, especially this kind of
atmosphere when people still want to talk but they want to hear something cool
in the background. You can’t really do that with just any music. And I think,
too, the writing is always going to be timeless with jazz. You listen to
something that was written in 1920 and have an artist like Diana Krall take it and
put a whole new spin on it, and it’ll sound fresh and modern again.
Q: Who are your favorite jazz artists? And last jazz song you downloaded?
A: My absolute favorite is impossible to say! The last thing I
downloaded was Blossom Dearie on a tune called “Lucky to be Me” — it’s a very
minimalist sound, very beautiful. I love Blossom Dearie for her minimalism, but
I love Anita O’Day for her raucous (style), and Dinah Washington, and of course every
singer loves Ella (Fitzgerald), she’s up there at the top. I love Jane Monheit,
she’s kind of like a modern Ella. Kat Edmonson I love; I would see her anytime.
Michael Bublé … but I listen to all music. We did some Joni Mitchell and
a David Bowie tune with jazz changes, so I try to listen to about everything.
Q: If people don’t know much about jazz but are going to be here this weekend, what sort of things should they watch and listen for?
A: I coined it a world-class event at a world-class hotel, because really they are getting amazing musicians for this. Monika Herzig’s bringing her SHEroes group and Monika’s toured all over the world. Her husband is Peter, who’s playing (guitar and bass) with me. They’re both very successful in their own rights in jazz. Of course Sarah Stivers, the consummate performer, and Sarah’s been performing here since Day 1. She’s a tour de force — she’s got a great following, great voice, stage presence; she’s got the whole package.
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If you don't get the chance to drop in for this weekend's Jazz Under the Dome, be sure to catch the next one August 17-19 at West Baden Springs Hotel — there's plenty more going on that weekend as well, with the Wine & Dessert Soiree, a Twilight Tour and the West Baden Paint Out with work from Indiana Heritage artists on display.
* * *
If you don't get the chance to drop in for this weekend's Jazz Under the Dome, be sure to catch the next one August 17-19 at West Baden Springs Hotel — there's plenty more going on that weekend as well, with the Wine & Dessert Soiree, a Twilight Tour and the West Baden Paint Out with work from Indiana Heritage artists on display.