Shelly Rudolph, Dan Gildea, and Bill Athens: Swank Soul! perform at the Jazz Station - Eugene
Hometown return of singer Shelly Rudolph & guitarist Dan Gildea: a sultry, tumble, rise up evening of sassy struts and soul serenades.
- Shelly Rudolph vocals
- Dan Gildea guitar
- Bill Athens bass
Infusing jazz, blues and her own “powerfully romantic” material with sultry sweetness and soulful swank, singer-songwriter Shelly Rudolph has long been a favored voice around her hometown of Portland, Oregon. Her ”honey-glazed throat" (LA Weekly) has taken her on musical travels throughout the West Coast, West Indies, Japan, South Korea and SE Asia.
“Imagine a smoky, sonic concoction with equal parts sugar and whiskey, and you've got something close to Shelly Rudolph's voice... Whatever the material, Rudolph has enough bluesy grit and diva class to carry the day." - All About Jazz
Former, but forever in their hearts, Eugenians, Dan and Shelly have been creating music and an ever-deepening friendship together for over three decades. Their love for one and another and the music that they share is palpable and delicious.
Effortless, intuitive communication sets them free to follow the muse both on-stage and in the studio, resulting in a sound that is at once grounded and adventurous; classic and fresh; and always ever soul filled.
Bill Athens is an accomplished performer on both double bass and electric bass, having worked as a professional musician for over 20 years in the Pacific Northwest. He studied with Ken Baldwin (Oregon Symphony), Glen Moore (Oregon), Dan Schulte (Jazz Bassist), and Dave Captein (Jazz Bassist). Bill is a music graduate of Portland State University and he has performed in a diverse range of genres, from Classical and Jazz to Rock and studio recording.
Currently a member of the eclectic chamber music group 3 Leg Torso and the funky Jazz power trio Trio Subtonic, Bill has performed with the Rose City Chamber Orchestra, the Tacoma Symphony, Bel Canto Northwest and with local Jazz luminaries such as: Michael Raynor, Chris Brown, Dan Balmer, Mel Brown, George Colligan, Nancy King, Tom Grant and a host of others. He has also performed and/or recorded with international artists: Dominique Eade, Seamus Blake, Byron Stripling, Dave Pietro, Ben Wendell, Greg Ward II, Laura Veirs, Stephen Malkmus and Sleater-Kinney.
Bill has been a long-time music educator, teaching at George Fox University, Clark Community College, University of Portland, The Great Basin Jazz Camp, and Lewis and Clark College.
