Suat Gulec loves jazz. The Turkey-born, now Durango local and self-proclaimed “jazz freak” loves jazz music so much he’s moved beyond just being a fan of the music and jazz pianist.
His latest foray into the genre is as concert promoter; Gulec along with his wife, Donna, recently founded “Durango Cool Jazz,” a local concert booking organization that hosts monthly performances in “The Lift” at Cascade Village North of Durango. More than concerts, this dinner and a concert event are intimate performances with limited seating, a series of shows that Gulec created with the intent of making Durango a “jazz destination of the West.”
The next Durango Cool Jazz performance is Feb. 4t and 5 and will feature vocalist Catherine Russell.
The New York City-based Russell is a powerhouse vocalist dropping up-beat jazz classics and knock-out ballads while backed by a stacked band. But she wasn’t always a jazz singer. Growing up she heard a healthy dose of music played around the house, with Russell absorbing everything from the “Great American Songbook” that featured Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald to classical, blues and Motown.
Professionally, she started as a background vocalist, singing a variety of genres, which included performing in the early ’90s with Donald Fagen, and then again with Fagen in 1993 with the reunited Steely Dan. Her last gig as a background vocalist included spending a few years backing David Bowie both on stage and in the studio. Post Bowie is when she started singing jazz.
If you go
WHAT: Jazz with vocalist Catherine Russell.
WHEN: 5 and 8 p.m. Feb. 4 and 5.
WHERE: The Lift at Cascade, 50827 U.S. Highway 550.
TICKETS: $150 includes dinner. Available at https://bit.ly/3g1HDZ8.
MORE INFORMATION: www.durangocooljazz.com/Catherine-russell/.
NOTE: A negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination is required to attend the performances.
“I was doing a lot of session work, TV work, all kinds of work that happened for a singer in New York City,” Russell said. “I would say that I was aware of a lot of jazz standards from listening to the radio while I was growing up, but I didn’t really pursue and do what I’m doing now until I finished with David Bowie.”
Jumping from backup vocalist to leading lady at the front of the stage didn’t come easy, with Russell at times questioning herself as to why she wanted to be out front – it’s a whole different vibe when it’s your name on the marquis instead of a band name, but it turns out it was a natural progression for the vocalist.
“That’s the key when your name is finally on the ticket. That’s a different mindset, and it took me some time to get used to,” she said. “At first, I thought, ‘Why did I do this to myself?’ Then as I started doing it more, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Because now I’m having a good time doing it, and I have, of course, full creative control of what I do, and it enables me to continue to do research, it also enables me to stay in shape, because I have to take care of myself. It’s been a good thing all the way around in that regard.”
The Durango shows will feature Russell and band dipping into some bouncy and swinging jazz classics and will also feature cuts from her forthcoming record “Send For Me,” which will drop later this year.
Russell admits that she just likes to sing for people, and it doesn’t matter if the venue is a large concert hall or in this case, a cozy club.
The cozy-club vibe is something that was critical to Gulec when putting together Durango Cool Jazz, as he’s trying to create something more than just a performance.
“I wanted to an intimate, cabaret setting,” he said. “So it’s not just about seeing this artist, but the experience of people interacting with each other. I want it to be an experience, and a learning experience for the people of Durango.”
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. Reach him at liggett_b@fortlewis.edu.
