Jazz singer Karen Marguth returns to Livermore

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

Jazz Magazine France album review

We regularly receive CDs from musicians who are totally unknown to us.  Sometimes, we understand quickly why we’ve never heard of them, but sometimes we are pleasantly surprised.  Such is the case with Karen Marguth, a Californian from Fresno, about whom we know little, except, after listening to this CD, that she has all the talent of a great jazz singer. In the line of white singers, which the world of jazz has often disdained in the past, she carries it today to the pinnacle.

Karen Marguth has no reason to envy Stacey Kent. Gifted with technique without flaw (great precision in all registers and impeccable articulation) her excellent phrasing permits her to easily scat and swing.  She is at ease in all musical genres, from the standards that she has on the tip of her vocal cords (Daydream, All of Me, Squeeze Me) to Latin pieces (Lagrimas Negras which reminds us of Vaya con Dios) to folk ballads (Admit It).

Accompanied by the group Espacio whose originality is mainly due to a wonderful mandolinist and whose only failing is a drummer who is a little too heavy-handed at times, Karen also shows that she knows how to do without harmonic support for much of her album, offering beautiful duos with bassist Kevin Hill.  If purchasing via internet doesn’t bother you, Karen Marguth’s clear and smooth voice will charm you.  A Californian to discover - Phillipe Vincent, Jazz Magazine, France

From > http://karenmarguth.com/news/jazz-magazine-france-album-review/