Rudy's Jazz Room
Ladies of Jazz
A singer in a smokey room
a smell of wine and cheap perfume
for a smile they can share the night
it goes on and on and on and on
While these lyrics are from a vastly different genre and period in music, they beautifully encapsulate the atmosphere of Rudy’s Jazz Room for their “Ladies of Jazz” night: cozy, comfortable, warm, intricately decorated and very amicable. The room itself is small, smaller than any performance hall I’ve played in or sat in, but in that smallness lies the communal nature of jazz. I made acquaintances with a New York songwriter sitting next to me, and after each set, the singers came to us to talk and thank us for coming.
The first performer we, the audience, had the pleasure of meeting was named Brooke Bryant. A longtime singer, February 23 was her debut performance for the Ladies of Jazz show. And as if there weren’t enough bubbly lights strung around the room, her voice added ten times more light and color than I’ve ever seen. She projected well, sang every note perfectly in tune, and stood with confidence. She inspired even my uncoordinated self to dance a little, in my chair. Accompanied by piano, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass and drums, she sang classics in both English and Italian, including “Istanbul (not Constantinople)” and “Secret Love.” In between songs she engaged with the audience, asking us about our days and opinions, and entertaining us with stories of her own.
Next came Johnnie Baltimore, who I believe to be the personification of grace itself. She was dressed in a beautiful long dress that looked like something straight out of a 50s movie. A self-proclaimed “ballad girl,” her voice was ethereal, light and flowy with excellent projection and articulation throughout her range. What I found most impressive were her melismas; each note was perfectly placed and in tune. Accompanied by piano, bass, drums, and trumpet, ballads, including “S’wonderful,” were certainly the hallmark of her set, which I later learned to be her first full set. I would not have known this had she not said so; the way she held herself and sang was already so full of poise and confidence, I’d assumed she was as experienced as Bryant. Aside from ballads, she sang multiple bossa nova songs, her favorite style of jazz. At the end of her set, the audience cheered the loudest of all that night. I hope to see her perform again.
Last but not least of the singers was the one and only Wendy Burns, who organizes each Ladies of Jazz night. As NIMA’s 2024 Jazz Vocalist of the Year, she closed out the show beautifully with her lyrical, mezzo-soprano voice. Much of her set consisted of songs from her album “Flutopia,” including “Hey Mr. Someone,” a romantic ballad that truly moved me. Her voice fits this romantic style of jazz like the final piece in a thousand piece puzzle. Much like the aforementioned singers, she engaged with the audience, laughing and telling stories. Accompanied by piano, bass, drums and trumpet, her voice pierced over the instrumentation in an unforgettably beautiful manner. Once the show ended, she too embraced the crowd and thanked us individually for coming.
Overall, Ladies of Jazz was a spectacular show that I believe everyone in this city should have a chance to witness. Strangers should be waiting up and down the boulevard to attend. To Wendy and Rudy’s Jazz Room, I want to sincerely thank you for the hard work you put into this slice of magic in Nashville, and for allowing me to review it. I hope to return soon.
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Geneviève graduated from MTSU class of 2021 with a major in Music Composition and a minor in Criminal Justice. She currently works in music industry royalties. Geneviève has played the cello for 17 years and applies her compositional studies to the role it plays in contemporary music. Outside of work, she is a painter and published author.
