Before heading over to Broad Street Market Thursday nights for Jazz from the Underground, students can now join their peers in Conrad Recital Hall at 6:30 p.m. for a vocal jazz club.
Sophomore Gianna Marchese is founding the club under the direction of music faculty. The college has a thriving jazz program, but the singing side needed an organizational push. Marchese said that the purpose of the group is twofold: to foster interest in jazz singing and provide the opportunity for more students to practice the style, and to prepare students for the master class with Sunny Wilkinson.
Wilkinson, a Michigan native and renowned jazz singer, has recently become a part-time faculty member and artist in residence at the college. She comes to teach voice lessons and a master class a few times a semester. Marchese said that, because Wilkinson’s time and talents are so valuable, they wanted to make sure the students came prepared to the class.
“She’s a very famous, well-known singer and we weren’t respecting her time,” she said. “We decided to implement this vocal jazz master club type deal, name pending, to allow the opportunity to perform more in a really casual setting.”
Junior Dani Adams is one of four main jazz vocalists for the campus jazz combos. She said that the club is for those who want to be involved, but are not sure where to begin.
“Just because you’re not in a combo doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be involved somehow,” she said. “Part of that was there wasn’t a big sense of community between people who were interested in jazz on campus.”
Wilkinson taught a master class last Thursday. Four vocalists performed, and they said the intimate setting provided for an excellent learning experience. Adams said that as the club becomes more organized, they will manage time more effectively and allow more vocalists to sing.
Freshman Sarah Schutte, a student in the master class, performed “Fly me to the moon” on Thursday. Though she takes private voice lessons with Wilkinson, she said the master class allows her to focus on different skills, such as stage presence and working with a microphone.
“You go in and do it for Sunny, and she takes it to the next level in the master class,” she said.
She said WIlkinson even worked with her on stage, sang with her, and helped her to loosen up.
“It was a very relaxed atmosphere,” Schutte said. “We really learned from each other. Each of us sang really different songs.”
Sophomore Amelia Stieren, another of the four combo singers, sang “When Sunny gets blue” last week. She said that even inexperienced singers can learn about jazz. The club is a safe place for people to come and sing, play instruments, or just listen.
“The most useful tip for people who don’t know is just start listening to stuff, because there’s so many types of different jazz,” she said.
The club hopes to have performances later in the semester, and possibly even credited jazz classes.
Adams said she loved the dynamic element of jazz singing.
“I love the freedom of it and the fact that you’re singing stuff that people can relate to a little more, she said. “You have a lot more ability to express yourself.”
Schutte also shared her love of the descriptive aspect of jazz.
“You really have to feel the music and dig into it,” she said. “It’s very soulful. You’re telling a story, and you want to tell that story well. I love being able to tell that story to someone and doing it to the best of my ability.”
