Dandy Wellington: ‘Life Is an Occasion’

The Harlem-based Bandleader Ruminates on Music, Performance, and Style William Shakespeare once famously asked “What’s in a name?” That line from Romeo and Juliet could be asked of Dandy Wellington, a Harlem-based bandleader, singer, songwriter, and choreographer because, in his case, his name is everything. It represents his outlook on life, how he approaches jazz, and how he dresses. Of course, he wasn’t born with that moniker. Wellington chose it just as how he chooses the music he plays, the clothes he wears, and the attitude he puts forward on the bandstand. What's in a Name? Wellington jokes that his real name “need never be published or written down unless it’s on a check.” “Dandy Wellington” was born in 2010 at the suggestion of his friend, after a discussion about music and clothing. Wellington had always been a flamboyant dresser—mixing vintage pieces with modern colors. There’s no way one would miss seeing him on the streets of New York City. He’s always decked out in a suit and tie often sporting a top hat, straw boater, or fedora. There’s no changing into his “work clothes” when he gets to the gig. Wellington shows up stage ready. His style even earned him a place in Nathaniel Adams and Rose Callaghan’s epic book about dandies “I Am Dandy” and a related feature on CBS’s “Sunday Morning.” [caption id="attachment_16284" ali