Wendy Waller

Wendy Waller’s unique and creative approach to melody and lyric embodies the vast rich landscape of American Roots Music. She tells her story with her dynamic multi-ranged voice. There is no compromise with Wendy. She is unyielding in her quest to take the listener on a musical journey. Every performance is a new and provocative experience. Born into an artistic family of musicians, painters, and writers, Wendy spent her young years cultivating her multiple abilities, singing, acting and dancing in musical theater. As a multi-instrumentalist Wendy studied piano, guitar, french horn, trumpet, trombone and flugelhorn. Her primary musical influence was her father who played trumpet and sang. His influences became hers: Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Bix Beiderbecke, Cannonball Adderley, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday. Wendy was also influenced by the popular artists of the 1960's including Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Richie Havens, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Moody Blues, Quick Silver Messenger Service and Joni Mitchell. As a result Wendy's music grooves with an undercurrent of improvisation flavored with bits of New Orleans Jazz, Folk, Psychedelic Rock, Soul and Gospel. Wendy's formal education includes attending the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts where she arrived as a classically trained coloratura soprano and left a Jazz / Country / Soul- influenced rocker. After her stint in Boston Wendy returned to her native California and completed her degree in Jazz Studies at San Jose State. She also began assembling an impressive group of musical mentors, including Patti Cathcart, Bobby McFerrin, Joe Henderson, David Baker and Wayne Wallace. Wendy's career flourished. She fronted several successful bands, worked as a freelance singer, and contributed her talents to a number of projects including Chris Isaak's “Speak of the Devil.” Wendy preforms at a wide variety of venues through out the Bay Area including, The Little Fox Theater, The Throckmorton Theater, and Tateuchi Hall at the Finn Center. Recently Wendy performed in Great Britain as one of 10 finalists selected from over ten thousand entries for the Rising Star 2009 competition which was part of British Music Week. A top-notch vocal Instructor, Wendy has taught and assisted at, U.C. Berkeley, San Jose State University, Foothill Junior College and the Community School of Music and Art in Mountain View, California. She also teaches private voice and jazz lessons to children and adults.