Jazz pages

 

Debut album 'First Flight'
Now signed by First Hand Records

"Definitely one of the best singers in an overcrowded field." **** (4 stars) UK Jazz Radio - Martin Bright.

"Her versatile and highly recommended debut album ought to establish her in the front rank of contemporary jazz vocalists"

"A star in the making? On the basis of this evening, don’t doubt it." Richard Whitehouse - Classical Source

www.firsthandrecords.com

 

Live at Pizza Express, Soho

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Jazz biography

Southend International Jazz Festival
with Dame Cleo Laine

Wendy is a versatile, sophisticated vocalist with a wide vocal range, a strong stage presence and is a gifted scat singer. Long before training her voice as a classical soprano Wendy was singing and improvising Jazz. In fact from around the age of 10 she would improvise along to Ella Fitzgerald's improvisations!

Recently she released her album First Flight, signed by First Hand Records, the album launch of which received a sold out performance at the Pizza Express Dean Street, Soho, was featured on BBC Radio 3's In Tune and was reviewed by Classical Source as "A star in the making? On the basis of this evening, don’t doubt it." The album was also featured CD of the month by UK jazz Radio, and is distributed world wide. Wendy has recently performed with many of the country's leading jazz musicians including performances in London with Digby Fairweather and Denys Baptiste, at the Southend International Jazz festival with Dame Cleo Laine, at the British Jazz foundation in Harlow, the Jazz Cafe in London, and the Stables in Wavendon. Wendy works regularly with singer-songwriter-guitarist Valentin Gerlier, touring in Italy, Austria & the UK, including a performance at Florence's beautiful Theatre Del Sale and she performed Ollie Fox's jazzy score in the Royal National Theatre's recent 3 month production of 'Women Beware Women'.

She first made a name for herself as a local jazz artist in Birmingham in the 90's while studying classical singing at the Birmingham Conservatoire. On moving to London she joined world renowned jazz a cappella group The Swingle Singers, with whom she recorded five albums and performed at jazz festivals, concert halls and venues across the globe including La Scala Milan, Chatelet Paris and Ronnie Scotts in London.

Wendy coaches jazz scat singing and vocal technique for individuals and jazz choirs, please see her tuition page for more information.

Valentin Gerlier & Wendy Nieper


"These two musicians wooed the audience with their close harmonies and inventive interpretations of both the familiar and new repertoire. In each performance, Wendy and Valentin explore the many possibilities that two voices and one guitar offer - Valentin's exquisite own songs to Brazilian ballads and from soft, haunting jazz melodies to virtuoso solos and complex harmonies. There is an honesty and naturalness about their performance and an energy that can't fail to delight."

Gerlier and Nieper have most recently performed with guitarist Fred Vislander from Sweden. Fred comes from a blues rock background and has stunned audiences with fantastic soloing and sensitive accompaniment.

 

 

 

Jazz reviews


BBC Radio 3 Presenter Claire Martin, features 'Empty Beach' and describes Wendy as "an extraordinarily versatile vocalist" on Jazz Line-up.
Jazz Line-Up, BBC Radio 3

"Nieper is a very accomplished vocalist... I am sure she could turn her hand to just about any genre she cares to perform in"
Music Web - International.com

"Nieper demonstrates her ongoing versatility in an intimate jazz setting" ***(3 stars)
Jazzwise Mag

'Singer Wendy Nieper’s voice, interpreting Olly Fox’s slow jazz score, adds a sultry sexiness.'
Official London Theatre Guide

'...while Olly Fox’s lounge-jazz score and sultry singing from Wendy Nieper adds to the insidiously seductive ambience'.
Music OMH - Neil Dowden

'Wendy Nieper's scatting is gorgeous and heartstopping'
Recorded A Cappella Review Board, USA

'Finally, - the dashingly beautiful Wendy Nieper had her chance to prove her fabulous vocals'
Inkpot reviewers, Singapore

'What a triumph last Saturday! It was just an amazing evening for us all'
Nieper/Gerlier/Vislander - Edenbridge Music and Arts Trust 2009

'Their presence in the music was something of a gift'
Nieper & Gerlier - Arbogast Jazznights, Austria