Wendy Murray - singer, songwriter, dancer, instrumentalist, band manager - dedicated her life to music and has made her career in Brisbane and overseas as performing artist, composer and contemporary vocal teacher.
Described as soulful, heartfelt, Wendy’s original songs are inspired by her background in jazz, blues, Cuban music and cabaret. Wendy gives herself entirely to the music. She sings with passion, beauty and conviction.
Wendy is currently the lead singer and driving force behind both Latin Jazz Orchestra Hot Mambo and her Jazz ensemble The Wendy Murray Quintet
Wendy has performed overseas in UK, Italy, France and Cuba.
Some performance highlights
Woodford Folk Festival
Brisbane Energex Festival
Jupiter’s Casino Sunday afternoon Jazz
Maggie Black’s
Bayside Jazz Festival
Valley Fiesta
Valley Jazz Festival
Radio NAG Valentine’s Ball Yeppoon
Mackay Entertainment Centre Sound Lounge
Brisbane Jazz and Blues Festival – Roma Street Parklands
Mackay Festival
Riverfestival Riverfire
Riverfestival Seafood Festival
Italy Meiso Shiatsu Conference
France Jazz Summer School
Hotel Vanuatu
Casa De La Musica Santiago de Cuba
The songs burst into life with Brisbane’s most highly esteemed musicians –
Chris Poulsen (piano)
Clint Allen (trumpet)
Josh Hatcher (sax)
Jeremy O’Connor (bass)
Sacha Kloostra (drums)
Songwriting
Wendy’s song writing is unique. Her talents have generated an album comprising her original compositions in collaboration with Brisbane guitarist Jamie Clark which was recorded live in 2004 at the Brisbane Powerhouse in the Visy Theatre.
Her songs are lyrical poems inspired by the complexities of a woman’s experiences of motherhood, human relations, the search for love, freedom of expression and for identity. Although taken from Wendy’s own experience they have the capacity to speak to a broad audience who may also suffer the pressures of modern life, loneliness and the struggle to be heard and understood.
Wendy was nominated as a finalist in the 2006 Q-Song Awards for Angel Wings, the first song she ever wrote in 1993. Wendy’s music has been included on 2 AIR samplers this year in 2006 - one for Lagrimas Negras with Hot Mambo on the World Sampler and Angel Wings on the Jazz Sampler.
Please listen to Angel Wings written by Wendy and performed here together with Brisbane guitarist Jamie Clark.
Wendy’s influences are eclectic and she has always had a deep connection with jazz. She graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in 2000. In 2001 she undertook a course of study under composer, bandleader, bassist Jose Joaquin Alayo Mulen in Santiago de Cuba to learn the traditional music, songs, dance and culture. Ever broadening her horizons, she is currently studying Shakuhachi (Japanese end blown bamboo flute) and traditional Japanese music.