SHELLY RUDOLPH is a maker of soul music, as a fine and sultry singer and songwriter with a sense of adventure and a desire for emotional truth.
Growing up in Eugene, Oregon, Shelly spent much of her time in her mother’s art gallery surrounded by visual and performance artists of all types. She soaked up the creative energy and experimented with many forms of media – from drawing, to painting, to writing, to dance, to music, and found her bliss in song. The freedom, intimacy and beauty of jazz & blues captured her spirit and unleashed a powerful and soul filled voice that was hidden within this soft-spoken girl.
Inspired by the likes of Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Shelly quickly went from listener to performer sharing the stage with local favorites Don Latarski, Emmett Williams and Warren Rand and soon had her own weekly gig at Jo Federigo’s, the hottest jazz club in town.
She followed musical pursuits to New York City, Portland and Los Angeles where she began to write and perform her own material as well as unfold her interpretations of favorite jazz standards and soul ballads.
Her classic yet fresh sound - sweet and sultry, subtle and rich – has garnered invitations to tour Japan, Korea and the West Indies and made her a feature in jazz venues on both coasts of the U.S. Since moving back home to the Northwest, Shelly has received the warmest of welcomes and has been thrilled to play regularly with some of Portland’s great musical talents including Tom Grant, Ron Steen, Ramsey Embick, Scott Steed (of Diane Shure) and Phil Baker (of Pink Martini) as well as New Orleans native and recent Oregonian, Devin Phillips.
Shelly is also enjoying the (long-awaited) release of her new album, Water in My Hand, which she wrote and produced. It is a culmination of her travels, geographically, musically & emotionally: a journey that is jazzy around the edges, unabashedly romantic in spirit and filled with soul.
Recorded while attending graduate school in Mythological Studies in Santa Barbara, CA, the album features David Piltch (bassist for KD Lang and Madeleine Peyroux), Ken Stange (Musical Director and keyboardist for Joe Cocker and Dennis Quaid) and Tom Lackner (former drummer with Flora Purim and Airto) among others.