JAM: April/May 2004 Issue: Folly Jazz News

by Doug Tatum

Rene Marie, Ramsey Lewis Round Out Series
Back by popular demand following her electrifying performance at the Folly in November 2002, singer René Marie will once again appear on the Folly stage with her Quartet on Saturday, April 17 . As she so artfully demonstrated, René is a true, improvising jazz singer, destined to take her place among the greatest jazz singers of all time. (Yes, I really think she is that good.) I am confident that it is only a matter of time and exposure before this feeling is shared by anyone who hears her.

Writing about her in The Chicago Reader, Neil Tesser had this to say: “[René] Marie has unerringly accurate pitch. She nails every note, which gives her music an effortless authority and validates her sometimes audacious note choices. Her voice has a lovely translucency, slightly sunny with a hint of sweetness and can capture the optimistic swing of an up-tempo tune or turn a breathy ballad into a not-so-mild aphrodisiac.”

There is a very interesting “human interest” story about René Marie's undeniable talent and determination. She started singing professionally at age 15 in Virginia . At the age of 18, however, she got married and by 23, she was the mother of two sons. While her husband worked in the insurance business to provide for the family, René took a hiatus from singing in public to raise her family. René states, “I got pregnant early, so any thought of continuing to perform fell by the wayside…my performing consisted of singing and dancing for my two boys…I got a lot of enjoyment in singing to my two sons…I'd prop them up on the sofa so they couldn't fall over, and I'd turn on some music.”

For the next two decades, René worked at a variety of jobs, including a seven-year stint in a bank's customer service division as a part-time employee. Then, in her forties, her grown sons encouraged her to become the jazz singer she always wanted to be. “I was 40 years old then and I thought I was too old to get started singing in a genre that I had never even done before. It was not in my plans to have a CD, to do any traveling, to sign with a record label, because I was married. After being married for 23 years, that's not something that you consider.”

By 1997, René had her own band and began appearing at clubs and festivals in Southern Virginia and Pennsylvania . She made a demo recording and her bassist, who had a program on the local NPR station, played it on the air and was flooded with calls from listeners inquiring where they could buy it. That response led to plans for a self-produced debut CD.

Meanwhile, all was not fine at home. Forced by her husband in 1997 to choose the marriage or singing, René chose music. Soon after, her debut CD, aptly titled Renaissance, was released under her married name, René Croan, on the Flat 5 label. In a review of that CD, Joel Siegel, of the Washington City Paper and former manager of jazz legend Shirley Horn, wrote that René is “so assured and relaxed, listeners would never suspect that she has been singing professionally for less than three years.”

Marie's band eventually landed a gig at Blues Alley in Washington , D.C. The show got rave reviews. She recalls, “The night I made my debut at Blues Alley, Richard McDonnell of MaxJazz records was in the audience, and offered me a contract at the end of my first set.” Rene's third CD on the MaxJazz label, Live at Jazz Standard (a New York club date), was released last year to critical acclaim. To learn more, visit her website: www.renemarie.com.

If you're not familiar with MaxJazz, it is a great independent label based in St. Louis . They have a real passion about what they do. Also, I don't think there has been such distinctive photography consistently used at a label since the heyday of Blue Note in the 50s and 60s. Check it out for yourself (www.maxjazz.com).

For our last Folly Jazz Series concert of the season, we will have the pleasure of presenting the legendary Ramsey Lewis Trio on Saturday, May 8 . Born in 1935, Ramsey Lewis is a native Chicagoan who represents the great diversity of music for which that city is noted. For most of his career, Lewis has blurred the boundary between bop-oriented jazz and popular music. Most of his recordings (particularly by the mid-‘60s) were very accessible and attracted a large crossover audience. By 1965, he was one of the nation's most successful jazz pianists, topping the charts with The In Crowd, Hang On Sloopy and Wade In The Water . He has three Grammy Awards and seven gold records to his credit. In recent years, Ramsey has returned to his jazz-centered roots while still knowing how to put on a great show! (www.ramseylewis.com)

For tickets or information please call the Folly Theater: (816) 474-4444.
-- Doug Tatum Executive Director, Folly Theater

RETURN TO APRIL/MAY 2004 MAIN INDEX

© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2004. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		by Doug Tatum Rene Marie, Ramsey Lewis Round Out Series Back by popular demand following her electrifying performance at the Folly in November 2002, singer René Marie will once again appear on the Folly stage with her Quartet on Saturday, April 17 . As she so artfully demonstrated, René is a true, improvising jazz singer, destined to take her place among the greatest jazz singers of all time. (Yes, I really think she is that good.) I am confident that it is only a matter of time and exposure before this feeling is shared by anyone who hears her. Writing about her in The Chicago Reader, Neil Tesser had this to say: “[René] Marie has unerringly accurate pitch. She nails every note, which gives her music an effortless authority and validates her sometimes audacious note choices. Her voice has a lovely translucency, slightly sunny with a hint of sweetness and can capture the optimistic swing of an up-tempo tune or turn a breathy ballad into a not-so-mild aphrodisiac.” There is a very interesting “human interest” story about René Marie's undeniable talent and determination. She started singing professionally at age 15 in Virginia . At the age of 18, however, she got married and by 23, she was the mother of two sons. While her husband worked in the insurance business to provide for the family, René took a hiatus from singing in public to raise her family. René states, “I got pregnant early, so any thought of continuing to perform fell by the wayside…my performing consisted of singing and dancing for my two boys…I got a lot of enjoyment in singing to my two sons…I'd prop them up on the sofa so they couldn't fall over, and I'd turn on some music.” For the next two decades, René worked at a variety of jobs, including a seven-year stint in a bank's customer service division as a part-time employee. Then, in her forties, her grown sons encouraged her to become the jazz singer she always wanted to be. “I was 40 years old then and I thought I was too old to get started singing in a genre that I had never even done before. It was not in my plans to have a CD, to do any traveling, to sign with a record label, because I was married. After being married for 23 years, that's not something that you consider.” By 1997, René had her own band and began appearing at clubs and festivals in Southern Virginia and Pennsylvania . She made a demo recording and her bassist, who had a program on the local NPR station, played it on the air and was flooded with calls from listeners inquiring where they could buy it. That response led to plans for a self-produced debut CD. Meanwhile, all was not fine at home. Forced by her husband in 1997 to choose the marriage or singing, René chose music. Soon after, her debut CD, aptly titled Renaissance, was released under her married name, René Croan, on the Flat 5 label. In a review of that CD, Joel Siegel, of the Washington City Paper and former manager of jazz legend Shirley Horn, wrote that René is “so assured and relaxed, listeners would never suspect that she has been singing professionally for less than three years.” Marie's band eventually landed a gig at Blues Alley in Washington , D.C. The show got rave reviews. She recalls, “The night I made my debut at Blues Alley, Richard McDonnell of MaxJazz records was in the audience, and offered me a contract at the end of my first set.” Rene's third CD on the MaxJazz label, Live at Jazz Standard (a New York club date), was released last year to critical acclaim. To learn more, visit her website: www.renemarie.com. If you're not familiar with MaxJazz, it is a great independent label based in St. Louis . They have a real passion about what they do. Also, I don't think there has been such distinctive photography consistently used at a label since the heyday of Blue Note in the 50s and 60s. Check it out for yourself (www.maxjazz.com). For our last Folly Jazz Series concert of the season, we will have the pleasure of presenting the legendary Ramsey Lewis Trio on Saturday, May 8 . Born in 1935, Ramsey Lewis is a native Chicagoan who represents the great diversity of music for which that city is noted. For most of his career, Lewis has blurred the boundary between bop-oriented jazz and popular music. Most of his recordings (particularly by the mid-‘60s) were very accessible and attracted a large crossover audience. By 1965, he was one of the nation's most successful jazz pianists, topping the charts with The In Crowd, Hang On Sloopy and Wade In The Water . He has three Grammy Awards and seven gold records to his credit. In recent years, Ramsey has returned to his jazz-centered roots while still knowing how to put on a great show! (www.ramseylewis.com) For tickets or information please call the Folly Theater: (816) 474-4444. -- Doug Tatum Executive Director, Folly Theater RETURN TO APRIL/MAY 2004 MAIN INDEX © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2004. All rights reserved.