Smooth Jazz Reno: Kendall Hoopes At Nautilus
Photo by Sam Ray-Johnson.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt motivated to go out for my needed dose of Reno music shows. The first half of this year just wasn’t the vibe for me and I feel like I’ve been off my blogging game for a minute. This last weekend I forced myself to gather up some energy and get my ass back out there to experience some good ol’ Reno concerts again — and I wasn’t disappointed.
Most of the Reno shows I cover get a decent turn out and are at walkable, easy to find venues. This time, I wanted to find a hidden gem, something tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Midtown, away from the noise. And don’t get me wrong, bigger concerts in Reno are a blast for me when I’m in the right spirits, but for this night, I wanted something intimate, something cozy, something calmer. Somewhere I didn’t have to worry about someone recognizing me or approaching me, where I could just chill and be up close and personal with Reno music again, without interruptions.
Let me tell you about my latest find: Nautilus Reno. The small speakeasy located behind Rum Sugar Lime is the Reno jazz location I’ve been craving for so long. With a great selection of cocktails, beautiful decor but warm, secluded and quiet atmosphere, this is probably going to be one of my new favorite bars to escape to for a while. Perfect for private events, I sat down with a drink to think about nothing except one thing: smooth jazz.
Accomplished pianist Kendall Hoopes definitely set the mood of the rest of the room, seamlessly blending from song to song with a graceful air I would expect of any jazz musician, flawlessly leading us from upbeat tune to slower tracks throughout the evening. It’s been about four years since my last excursion for jazz in Reno NV, so I was excited to see what Hoopes would come up with. Jazz is very much a free-flow art once you reach a certain skill level, and it thrills me to see each artists’ unique creativity with it.
“Jazz is whatever I want it to be, whenever I want it to be,” Hoopes said. “A lot of people think jazz is one thing but really it’s so many different things.”
What I love about smooth jazz the most is it seems to hit this part of us in between happy and sad, organized and chaotic, contemplative and flippant. There’s thoughtfulness in every note, yet you never know what to expect next. Hoopes surprised me in that way with a cover of “The Sound Of Music’s” ‘My Favorite Things,’ and a wave of nostalgia swept over me, the kind that brings you back to good times long gone. It reminded me of why I love the Reno music community so much, when I get to experience talented artists like Hoopes.
“Everyone is just very nice and once you're in, you’re seen like you belong,” Hoopes said. “I was fortunate enough to have a lot of mentors in my life be able to hook me up with a lot of the opportunities I have now, and if not I wouldn't be here.”
Hoopes said there’s another side to the Reno jazz scene though — that there’s a marked difference between independent jazz musicians and the University of Nevada, Reno. While he says it’s easier to network in the Biggest Little City, he wishes there was more of a connection between the two groups of jazz artists here in town. Hoopes says it’s hard to be noticed as an individual jazz player here, but he still thinks the genre has something to offer regardless of your walk of life.
“This music is Black American music… I don't care what your race is, you still have to give it justice because it deserves that,” Hoopes said. “The truest American art form of music is jazz, and this is specifically to jazz musicians… be true to the music and appreciate the heritage of where it comes from.”
Hoopes says he’s not sure how much longer he plans on doing solo jazz shows and he would like to transition into funk and blues, but his humble spirit made speaking with him a joy, and made the show a pleasure to witness. His advice to up-and-coming artists?
“Keep creating your own voice. Because people are not going to hire you to play like other people, they’re going to hire you to play like you,” Hoopes said. “Always be willing to learn, to not judge yourself too hard and keep making music.”
To catch Kendall Hoope’s next show, visit his Instagram here.
