Category: Concerts

NEXT WENDY GOODWIN SHOW:  THURSDAY, AUGUST 5th at Sherman Clay Moe’s Pianos  7-8:30 PM

I’m struggling to find the right adjectives to properly convey how much I loved singing and playing with George Mitchell, Kevin Deitz and Ron Steen last night at Wilfs.  For one thing, it’s as if these three gentlemen of jazz share a collective brain when they are playing-each giving authoritative pizzazz yet always playing as a team.  As a guest artist, it’s the musical equivalent of being supported by 3 pairs of strong arms… not so scary to lean out over the edge when you’re in such secure company!

I was also blessed to have such a great group of friends come out for the show.  Looking out and seeing the familiar faces dotting the landscape who support and encourage me in so many ways was awesome.

To top it off, some other fantastic jazz artists were at the show and performed a few tunes—the iconic drummer Dick Berk and smashingly talented vocalist and pianist Laura Cunard.

If you are just getting acquainted with me, and wondering why you haven’t seen me around town, it has to do with a few things-

1.  I tend to play in unrelated genres—right now, I’m working with Celtic/Contemplative Seattle based artist Jeff Johnson and Puck Fair Flutist Brian Dunning.  While these two gentlemen actually have plenty of connections to the Portland Jazz Scene, the Celtic trio performs in churches and concert venues and tours seasonally.

2.  I play a LOT of private events—after finishing school, I started Effesenden Music, a wedding and event music company.  Effesenden gives me the opportunity to play lots of styles of music with a variety of musicians.  It gives me an excuse to do a lot of arranging of pop music for strings, and it gives me the chance to help people with a special day in their lives.  And to be totally honest… I LOVE weddings! 

3.  I have played in bands and appeared as a side woman with many different artists including Rising Violet, Lori Willcuts, Drew Grow, Kelly Jones, Nate Macy, Michael Allen Harrison, Michelle Tumes, Laura Gibson, Tasha Miller, Adam Sweeney, Bryan Clark and more, but have only recently begun appearing under my own name.  Though I love performing, I have always been sort of embarrassed about drawing attention to myself.  In the past I’ve often appeared under the name Effesenden.  When I started writing music though, it seemed natural to start appearing… well…as myself!

I’m looking forward to what lies ahead—in a couple of weeks I’ll be at Sherman Clay Moe’s Pianos (August 5th 7-8:30 p.m.) If you’d like to be kept in the loop of future shows, drop me a line. 

There’s been so much going on lately, I haven’t had a chance to write.  But I hope that you’ll mark your calendars for a few particularly exciting shows coming up–

Wednesday, July 14th from 7:30-10:30  I will be playing and singing jazz for the first time at Wilfs Restaurant on the invitation of the amazing drummer and jazz community instigator Ron Steen.  I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to it!  You can check out the Upcoming Shows page here on this site for more details about parking and location.

Thursday, August 5th:  First Thursday at Sherman Clay Moe’s Pianos in the Pearl:  I’ll be joined by Aaron Pruitt on keys as well as special guests and friends.

 
As any of my former high school classmates who saw my “notes” in AP European History back in the day, can vouch, I’ve always loved to draw and create visual art.  As of last month, a dream that I thought I would have to set aside to fully pursue music came to be—I am now a published illustrator!  Check out Cocoa’s Collar, a very special book written to help special needs kids deal with grief—written by Garyanna Stalick.  I did these illustrations several years ago and had all but forgotten about it when this past winter, Garyanna called to see if it was okay to pursue publication…why yes, of course it was!  I have enjoyed picking up my sketch pad again of late.  Having a house filled with toys again certainly doesn’t hurt the inspiration factor!
Here’s the link:  Cocoa’s Collar Website

First off, let me say that Wine Unwind is a really cute little shop in Portland’s Pearl District.  The ambiance, the acoustics, the owner… it’s truly special.  Reminds me of the awesome independent book store in the movie You’ve Got Mail that Meg Ryan’s character lovingly tends. (side note, let’s make sure that some massive wine conglomerate does not move in and crush this little neighborhood gem!) 

Our set list included a number of jazz standards—Our Love is Here to Stay, But Beautiful, Solitude, If I Were a Bell, What a Difference a Day Makes, Moondance… plus a few of my original songs.  We used the little tiny Mackie amp you can see in the video and it was totally perfect for the space. 

It’s fun playing with a big group but it’s also awesome to be able to work with just Dave—he is a really great musician and friend. 

Here’s an mp3 clip of one of my favorite standards—hope you enjoy it!

Give Me the Simple Life

Earlier on Saturday, I played at Troon Winery’s tasting room in Carlton with two wonderful musicians and friends—Nate Macy (guitar & vocals) & Bill Nippoldt (super cool hand percussion.)  We’ve done music together off and on since 1996 under the name QLO.  Nate had organized this show and his set list was eclectic and fun.  We did everything from Miles Davis’s Four to some Celtic fiddle tunes like After the Battle of Aughrim.  The music was a big hit and I’m hoping the folks who grabbed our card will remember to e-mail me about their benefit event in August. 

All in all it was a really great day and I’m thankful for the chance to go out and play and sing and for all of you who support live music!

Inspired by the cosmopolitan sights and sounds of Europe’s old cities.

Saturday, May 1st, 2010  at 8 PM
Wine Unwind: NW 11th & Lovejoy, Portland
Wendy Goodwin & Dave Iula
www.wineunwind.com
503.946.8482 for more information.

This photo, taken of the Kleines Cafe in Vienna, Austria on one of our European jaunts has been a visual reminder for me over the years of the type of music I want to create.  Romantic…nostalgic…cosmopolitan…and good!  As a lover of musical styles ranging from Renaissance to Hip-Hop, I’ve had to learn by trial and error that just because I can play something doesn’t mean I should.

Not that I’ve ever attempted to rap in public… but even within the jazz, folk and classical genres, there are things that ring true and others that I must leave to another artist to perform.  2010 in particular has been a year of really vetting what I want to play, sing and say as an artist right now. 

This upcoming evening at Wine Unwind is going to reflect that.  Right now I am drawn to music that one might hear on a street corner in one of Europe’s big old cities… or in a cafe or a small concert venue.  I’m connecting more with beautiful melodies, romantic and witty words.  I want to play and sing Jazz—an American invention true but with that sense of romance that I associate with Vienna. 

I’m trying really hard too to make every single performance a total investment.  Life is busy and time is precious.  When someone takes the time out of their busy lives to listen to my music I want to brighten their lives just a little.  The only way to do that is by being really authentic and giving every song my best.