Fort Worth, Meet Ricki Derek

Originally appeared on WestAndClear.com on Oct. 29, 2007.

Fort Worth, you may not know Ricki Derek yet, but you will. That’s because the Dallas-based jazz singer is coming to Fort Worth in a great big way.

In December, Derek is bringing jazz back to Sundance Square, filling the void left when the old Caravan of Dreams club closed its doors in 2001. His club — the Scat Jazz Lounge — located in the basement of the Woolworth Building, will bring sophisticated cool to the heart of Fort Worth.

But who is Ricki Derek? In Dallas, you can catch his show at the Cavern on Sunday nights or the Library Bar on Mondays. Maybe you can see him at one of the many private shows he plays for the hip hipsters — weddings and such. His sound is Vegas cool swinging Mid-Century jazz. It’s east to say he’s a little bit of Frank Sinatra, a dash of Tony Bennett. But he really succeeds at being Ricki Derek — a local original.

So take a few minutes to get to know him before he opens in Fort Worth. Drop by his Web site and listen to his music. And read on to learn more about this guy’s vibe.

West and Clear: At what point did “Lounge Singer” sound like a realistic career option?
Ricki Derek: I’m sure some would say from junior high on, but for me it was somewhere after college. I went to UNT and was surrounded by great musicians. I was studying film at the time, but I really opened to the possibilities of jazz and what an amazing experience it can be. I was always a fan of the greats, but this was “touchable” and stuff I was seeing in tiny little college bars. I had sang in rock bands and choir back in the day, but the music that really stuck and was challenging was the stuff I am still doing today. That career option just kind of happened by sticking with it and loving what I do. I always strived to do “a show”, but I knew that element wouldn’t matter if the music part wasn’t right.

W&C:Your act has many different forms — the Big Band, the Vegas Six, the Trio from Mars, solo, the Cabaret. Why so many variations?
RD: It keeps it interesting and fresh. I dig’em all. The power of the big band is awesome, especially since I do a lot of the Basie-style Big Band. When you get down to the trio, you can really experiment. I always try to surround myself with good players that have a good attitude and that opens a big door to anything happening. I guess I figured if I did the same show with the same set up day after day, like anything, it would get a little played.

W&C: You play a lot of songs from the Great American Songbook, songs that anyone who listens to Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin or Dean Martin would know. But you also throw in some curveballs — like your cover of “Under The Milky Way” by the Australian 80s alt-rock band The Church (which I think is lounge-a-rific). How do you decide if a song in appropriate for the lounge treatment and do you ever get people ask you “What the hell was that?”
RD: First off, I really want to be my own thing. I love doing the Standards, but I also want to try and have my own stamp and personality. I mean the greats have already done it but I think it’s much more interesting to try and give it your own take, but respect where and who it came from. I do get people wondering why I chose this and that, but usually I get it in a positive way. I am going to keep trying to shake it up a bit. Thanks for the props on “Under The Milky Way.” I get a lot of good feedback from that one.

W&C: I heard something somewhere that there was once a Ricki Derek TV show. Is this true and if so, what was the deal?
RD: There was a pilot. When we shot it, it was kind of before the YouTube craze. So, you had to shop it and really work hard to get it seen. I got too busy to push it like it needed. It was supposed to be kind of a take on the old school interview variety shows with me as the host. It kind of went nowhere, but it was an execution thing and I think we will try it again soon. I’ve got a lot of material now.

W&C: When did you decide to open a jazz club and why did you choose downtown Fort Worth and not somewhere in Dallas?
RD: I have always wanted a place and from the shows that I have put on/produced I found myself being like the guy who greets Ray Liotta in Goodfellas, you know, just really wanting the people to feel comfortable and like they were a big shot. I really think Fort Worth is ready for this and can handle the kind of club I envision and am putting together. Not that Dallas can’t, but we are really in an incredible spot and area. There really isn’t an area like Sundance Square in Dallas. I love Fort Worth. I lived over by the Wreck Room for a bit and really dug it. The lay out, the culture, the scene it’s all here. The bar biz can be weird, so location is a big deal.

W&C: What’s the club going to be like and when is it opening?
RD: I like to describe it as the kind of club that we romantically think of when we think of an old school jazz club in New York City or Chicago. The weird thing is very few of those kind of clubs actually exist. I don’t mean jazz clubs, I mean places with the swankiness of what I see in my mind. It will be cozy as it is in a basement. The lights will be low, some curtain accents with a few booths and small tables scattered throughout. Rich wood will make the bar and tables, some candles on the tables. A nice little stage with good sound system. I am actually getting Johnny Reno in on some of the sound design and he’s been great. I have done shows with him and in addition to being a killer performer, he knows how to get great sound. We are looking at the first week of December. The only issue is that some of the major equipment needs we have are being specially built for our location and if they get held up, so does out schedule. But Things are moving fast now.

W&C: What kind of acts can we expect to see at the Scat Jazz Lounge? Will they be local, regional, national or all of the above? Will you be playing a regular gig there? Or will you just sit at the bar like Rick Blaine in Casablanca?
RD: We will have local, regional, national, and international. I am trying to stay with traditional, old school jazz that would also include the standards, Great American Song book stuff that I do. I will probably have a night. That part is exciting for me because I really don’t perform in Fort Worth nearly as much as I would like, but every time I do, it has been amazing. But let me be clear, I will certainly be sitting at the bar too!

W&C: Where do you find your ties? They look vintage but you don’t have to wear your pants up to your armpits to make them work. What gives?
RD: I am a clothes freak. I am always on the look out for good cuff links, ties, etc. I hit the stores both vintage and high brow. I have most of my stuff made by a guy who swings though a couple times a year. Some people can get away with 20s pants look … but I find myself more with the 60s Sands look mixed with the modern vibe. When I do have the shorter ties, I always feel like I gotta talk like I am from the Twenties. “Operator, get me Chicago! Hello, Chicago — get me Klondike 432!”

Thanks for your time, Ricki. We’re looking forward to your new place. Don’t be a stranger!