Wendy Luck
New York City, New York, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"See You in Rio is a unique and charming release from Wendy Luck. Luck displays a warm and soothing voice on many of the Brazilian-flavored selections. She also impressively provides excellent flute solo work on a healthy dose of instrumentals. With heavy and multi-layered percussion work as a backdrop, Luck’s embracing flute punctuates optimistic pieces like “London Samba,’ “Serrado,” and “Bachianas Brasilieros No. 5.” Luck can also change moods, as on the lonely “Café 1930.” Her lilting and well ranged vocals are relaxed and clear. With addictive guitar rhythms, she holds back and then breaks out on songs like “Fotografia.” She holds low notes easily and unstrained, just like a woodwind instrument, as evident on “A Man Who Loves.” Charming and embracing, Luck could easily make it as either a vocalist or soloist. Let’s hope she keeps combining the two as she does on her wonderful See You in Rio.” - All About Jazz-Los Angeles, by George Harris
"See You in Rio is a unique and charming release from Wendy Luck. Luck displays a warm and soothing voice on many of the Brazilian-flavored selections. She also impressively provides excellent flute solo work on a healthy dose of instrumentals. With heavy and multi-layered percussion work as a backdrop, Luck’s embracing flute punctuates optimistic pieces like “London Samba,’ “Serrado,” and “Bachianas Brasilieros No. 5.” Luck can also change moods, as on the lonely “Café 1930.” Her lilting and well ranged vocals are relaxed and clear. With addictive guitar rhythms, she holds back and then breaks out on songs like “Fotografia.” She holds low notes easily and unstrained, just like a woodwind instrument, as evident on “A Man Who Loves.” Charming and embracing, Luck could easily make it as either a vocalist or soloist. Let’s hope she keeps combining the two as she does on her wonderful See You in Rio.” - All About Jazz-Los Angeles, by George Harris
"Wendy Luck is a consummate musician. Her artistic skill and grace shine through whether she is playing flute on a jazz tune, a choro, or a samba…or singing a ballad or a bossa nova. See You in Rio, her first recording of Brazilian music, is a gem."
- KZUM, 89.3 FM, by Randy Morse
"Wendy Luck is a consummate musician. Her artistic skill and grace shine through whether she is playing flute on a jazz tune, a choro, or a samba…or singing a ballad or a bossa nova. See You in Rio, her first recording of Brazilian music, is a gem."
- KZUM, 89.3 FM, by Randy Morse
“Wendy Luck is a highly talented flutist, vocalist, and composer….backed by superb musicians. These Brazilian rhythms are intoxicating.” - WRHU, 88.7 FM, by Bob Collins
“Wendy Luck is a highly talented flutist, vocalist, and composer….backed by superb musicians. These Brazilian rhythms are intoxicating.” - WRHU, 88.7 FM, by Bob Collins
“These are the warm sounds of Brazil. Vocalist/flutist Wendy Luck is accompanied by Cliff Korman (p), Kiko Freitas (d), Ney Conceicao (b), Nelson Faria (g) and several guest artists; notably Cyro Baptista (percussion). Wendy and Cliff add a few originals to mostly classic Brazilian tunes. We really liked the instrumentals “London Samba”, “Café 1930”, Luck’s soft flute on “Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5” and “Serrado.” Wendy is passionate about samba music and it comes through on the session.” - By D. Oscar Groomes
“These are the warm sounds of Brazil. Vocalist/flutist Wendy Luck is accompanied by Cliff Korman (p), Kiko Freitas (d), Ney Conceicao (b), Nelson Faria (g) and several guest artists; notably Cyro Baptista (percussion). Wendy and Cliff add a few originals to mostly classic Brazilian tunes. We really liked the instrumentals “London Samba”, “Café 1930”, Luck’s soft flute on “Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5” and “Serrado.” Wendy is passionate about samba music and it comes through on the session.” - By D. Oscar Groomes
“It’s a WONDERFUL disc! I like everything about it…. She has a beautiful voice, and her playing is top-notch.” - KZUM, 89.3 FM, by Randy Morse
“It’s a WONDERFUL disc! I like everything about it…. She has a beautiful voice, and her playing is top-notch.” - KZUM, 89.3 FM, by Randy Morse
“Wendy Luck’s See You in Rio…sweet voice…good control…pitch centered…good expression…believable…excellent flutist.” - By Dr. Michael E. Matheny
“Wendy Luck’s See You in Rio…sweet voice…good control…pitch centered…good expression…believable…excellent flutist.” - By Dr. Michael E. Matheny
“Vocalist Wendy Luck offers the sounds of Brazil on a fourteen track new album of beautiful light jazz with a bossa nova and samba flavor recorded in Rio with several Brazilian masters. Luck not only provides the lush vocals but also plays flute on the session of percussive Brazilian jazz.” (Ed’s Pick) - WDNA, 88.9 FM, By Edward Blanco
“Vocalist Wendy Luck offers the sounds of Brazil on a fourteen track new album of beautiful light jazz with a bossa nova and samba flavor recorded in Rio with several Brazilian masters. Luck not only provides the lush vocals but also plays flute on the session of percussive Brazilian jazz.” (Ed’s Pick) - WDNA, 88.9 FM, By Edward Blanco
Discography
See You in Rio
The Ancient Key
The Ancient Journey
Photos
Bio
Wendy Luck (www.wendyluck.com), internationally recognized flutist, vocalist, and composer, has concertized in Italy, Poland, Germany, Budapest, Morocco, Portugal, Greece, Egypt, Israel. Her array of artistic venues range from orchestral/chamber performances at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, to Big Band music as lead vocalist/flutist at the Rainbow Room in NYC, to avant-garde and jazz at the Knitting Factory, Roulette, and The Kitchen, to recording her own compositions in Egypt inside the Great Pyramid and in the temples along the Nile. These CDs are entitled The Ancient Key and The Ancient Journey. A third CD, See You in Rio, which was recorded in Brazil, features Brazilian jazz.
Wendy's earlier incarnation includes orchestra and chamber music performing in New York (Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall), the Rome Festival Orchestra in Italy, France, the Aspen Music festival, studying flute at the Conservatory in Nice, France with J.P. Rampal, and composing music. Other significant flute teachers were Julius Baker, Sam Baron, Ransom Wilson, Alain Marion, Tom Nyfenger, Harvey Estrin.
Her interest in jazz led to venues in New York including a four year engagement as lead vocalist/flutist with the Rainbow Room Big Band, while continuing to perform with Latin ensemble Southern Exposure, created by Argentinean legend Rodolfo Alchourron. Various performances include appearances at Windows on the World, The Waldorf Astoria, The Knitting Factory, Roulette, the Kitchen, Cornelia Street Cafe and many other clubs in Manhattan. Performances also include the Tropicana, Resorts International, and Caesar’s in Atlantic City as the opening act for David Brenner, Julio Iglesis, and others.
She has worked and recorded with jazz/avant garde greats that include Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman, Oliver Lake, Marion Brown, Ed Blackwell, Dave Holland, Karl Berger, Wallace Roney, Anthony Braxton, Bob Moses, Jack DeJohnette, Sam Rivers, Tyrone Brown, Joe Lovano, Rodolfo Alchourron, Cyro Baptista. A series of concerts featuring her music with Allen Ginsberg reading his poetry, took place at Naropa Institute in Colorado.
Wendy Luck has appeared in theater, and on television and radio. She has also performed regularly at New York’s comedy clubs, The Improv, Catch a Rising Star, The Comic Strip, and Dangerfield’s, combining music and comedy. As an eight-year member of the zany, all female, musical comedy group The Outcasts, she performed the NYC comedy club circuit on a regular basis.
Wendy has performed with the 20th & 21st Century New York Composers Ensemble led by Dinu Ghezzo, the group has premiered many original works including Songs of Sorrow/Songs of Hope, dedicated to the events of 9/11. Ms. Luck has also worked with the New Music groups Mad Coyote, created by Jerome Kitzke, Carmen Moore’s Sky Music Ensemble, as well as participating co-creator with Jerome Kitzke of the improvisation duo, Breath and Bone.
Ms. Luck has released two CDs of her own original music -The Ancient Key, recorded inside the Great Pyramid, and The Ancient Journey, recorded in the temples along the Nile. In performance, she utilizes the uniquely edited video footage taken during her experience in Egypt. This unusual performance piece integrates her playing live with the footage, creating a multidimensional musical experience. She has been asked by the Egyptian Embassy to become a “Music Ambassador of Peace”, performing her music at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. A third CD entitled See You in Rio, recently recorded in Brazil, features Brazilian jazz. She is presently in the doctoral program in composition at NYU.
Links
