I have to devote some time to the remarkable young musician I worked with last night, Danielle Wertz. I first met Danielle when she enrolled in my vocal workshop about 4 years ago. She’s now studying jazz at University of Miami. She has gone from being a remarkably gifted student to a genuinely accomplished performer. It’s so gratifying to see a young singer who has so much respect for the material she’s singing, such integrity in her approach, and yet still maintains the ability to enjoy herself while she performs. It seems like many college jazz programs produce performers who, while knowledgeable, fall into a strictly academic and intellectual approach to music – every performance becomes an exercise in music theory, odd meters, and overly complex arrangements designed to show off what they learned in class. While I have no doubt Danielle has mastered the academic side of today’s jazz world, she performs much more like the musicians of the past – she’s flexible and spontaneous, and she’s obviously enjoying every second. Most importantly, she clearly loves and respects these songs in a way that is rare among young musicians. It’s so impressive, and such a joy to see and hear her perform. Thank you, Danielle – look forward to the next time!
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 14:22:13 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015