Jazz singer Karen Marguth will perform with the band, Espacio, at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore. ( Wayfae Music )
By Jessica Yadegaran (jyadegaran@bayareanewsgroup.com)POSTED: 07/26/2013 12:00:00 PM PDT | UPDATED: ABOUT 22 HOURS AGO
Karen Marguth is an internationally acclaimed jazz singer who has performed with Gilbert Castellanos and Pearl Django. But the Fresno artist attributes most of her core vocal skills to her early music education in Livermore.
Named one of the finest American jazz vocalists by Jazz Times, Marguth's recordings have been listed twice in DownBeat's annual Best-of-the-Year issue. Recently, France's Jazz Magazine featured Marguth in its issue dedicated to the 101 greatest vocalists of all time.
At 53, she has toured the national jazz festival circuit and recorded several critically acclaimed albums, including this year's "A Way With Words," a two-disc tribute to the songs of British legend Carrol Coates. In advance
Jazz singer Karen Marguth will perform with the band, Espacio, at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore. ( Wayfae Music )
of her August performance at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore, we caught up with Marguth to talk about the state of women in jazz and those formative years at Granada High.
Q You are very proud of your Livermore roots. Any shout-outs to your favorite teachers?
A Mr. Stasko was the music teacher at Joe Michell Elementary School and the band teacher at Mendenhall Middle School. At Granada, Jim Brochman was my choir teacher. I credit him with teaching me all the basics of singing: musicality, listening and the etiquette of performance. He had very high expectations and was an outstanding music educator.
Q Any early gigs you care to recall (or not recall)?
A During college at CSU East Bay, I spent a few summers singing at Sea World. I'd do a medley of international songs about the sea. Five shows a day. I have to give credit to my private voice instructor, Muriel Brown-Older. She trained me to sing correctly so I wouldn't damage my voice.
Q Fresno is an epicenter for world-class jazz. How did your community develop?
A There are three colleges in the area with strong jazz programs. Jam sessions are always happening all over town, and there's an organization promoting local jazz called Jazz Fresno. People have an image of Fresno that's not artsy and cultural, but I have to say I've had more opportunities here than I did in the Bay Area.
Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/music/ci_23726502/jazz-singer-karen-marguth-returns-livermore
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