Dave Cosby, Dan Leonard, Steve Zerlin, Dallas Smith, Wade Beach, Al Young, Glenn Harris, Dan Hall, John Starr, Victor Dvoskin, Steve Novosel, Dave Mosick, Leland Nakamura,Nick Costa, Paul Wingo, Harry Appelman, David Jernigan, Alejandro Lucini, Tony Martucci, Lyle Link, Miles Stiebel, Pete Chuavette, Keith Wesby, and other great musicians.
Influences
Sara Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Dinah Washington, Bill Evans, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Dianna Reeves, Natalie Cole, Flora Purim, Rene Marie, Ranyd Crawford, Enerstine Anderson, Trudy Pitts, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, Leni Andrade, Anita O'Day, Astrud Gilberto, Vanessa Rubin, Shirley Horn, Sting, Diane Krall, Annie Lennox, Chick Corea, Pat Methany and the list goes on for other great musicians.
"This debut album from L’Tanya Mari' has a few surprises that are worth listening to, especially “I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues,” and “Star Eyes,” a song that reminds me of a young Sarah Vaughan (check out Mercury release of Golden Hits), or as my daughter rightfully said, “more like a young Natalie Cole.” And she is right, especially upon closer attention to “This Is New” and “The More I See You." -Jean-Keith Fagon, Hill Rag/Dc North Jazz Project Critic
“A Teardrop of Sun”, L’Tanya Mari’ first CD with musicians Paul Wingo, Harry Appelman, David Jernigan, Alejandro Lucini, Tony Martucci and Lyle Link. “A Teardrop of Sun” is an eclectic mixture of songs that include fresh versions of standards including “Very Early”, ‘You Go To My Head” and Nothing Will Be As It Was” along with numbers that are lesser-known but quite worthy, ranging from straightahead jazz to bossa novas, sambas, blues and modern fusion. “A Teardrop of Sun” now on sale at
L'Tanya Mari',vocals with Lou Rainone, piano; Paul Beaudry, bass; and "Sir" G. Earl Grice, drums performing at the International Women In Jazz Festival 2009 honoring legendary vocalist Annie Ross and Etta Jones.
Press Reviews:
* In listening to L’Tanya Mari’s debut CD A Teardrop Of Sun, one is first struck by the beauty of her voice. The next reaction is admiration for her ability to make the difficult interval jumps on Bill Evans’ “Very Early” sound effortless. By the time Ms. Mari’ has displayed her versatility on Milton Nascimento’s “Nothing Will Be As It Was” (great long tones) and the swing standard “I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues,” she has won over both this listener and most likely every audience.
There are many fine female jazz singers on the scene today but, with the release of A Teardrop Of Sun, L’Tanya Mari’ immediately emerges as one of the top contenders. It is not just that she has an inspired repertoire (from Chick Corea’s “Crystal Silence” and “This Is New” to “That Old Black Magic”), impeccable intonation and a pretty voice. Most impressive are her choice of notes, her use of space and silence, and her intelligent way of improvising melodically. She pays tribute to each composer’s intent while uplifting each tune through her phrasing, subtle emotions, and solid sense of swing.
A variety of instrumentations are utilized on this CD, from a rhythm section and guest appearances by one horn soloist to tasteful duets with pianist Harry Appelman and guitarist Paul Wingo. A very well-conceived set, L’Tanya Mari’s A Teardrop Of Sun is one of the finest vocal releases of 2009. -" by -Scott Yanow, Jazz Critic
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"Bill Evans: Six Vocal Versions"
by -Marc Myers, JazzWax
I don't generally go for vocal versions of Bill Evans' compositions. Too many attempts feel trite or lack the sensitivity and depth of Evans' piano originals. In other cases, the vocalist doesn't have enough technique, a problem instantly exposed when attempting an Evans piece. But there are exceptions. Here are my favorite vocal interpretations of Evans' songs, in no particular order. My criteria? An evident understanding of Evans' melodic primacy, tender timbre and gentle swing:
L'Tanya Mari, Very Early. This Evans' waltz appears on Mari's new album, A Teardrop of Sun. Evans wrote the song while he was still in college at Southeastern Louisiana University in the late 1940s. Says Mari in the CD's liner notes: "There's something about Bill Evans that always stood out for me. When you look at his picture he seems like this very quiet shy type of person. And his music just moves me."
Marc Myers blogs daily on jazz legends and legendary jazz recordings
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I keep listening to A Teardrop of Sun! From the very challenging opening track, the rarely sung Bill Evans classic “Very Early” to the closer, a poignant and beautifully sparse version of “You Go To My Head”, this CD’s a winner and a most impressive debut recording! I look forward to hearing more.-" by Grady Tate, Drummer and Jazz Vocalist
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When I listened to L'Tanya's debut CD, a myriad of feelings and reactions begin to surface -- questions, warmth, a chill, a smile.... I felt a sense of beauty encompassing many different COLORS! Her eclectic choice of tunes, her vocal quality and range, her choice of wonderful musicians, all add up to some soulful listening that's's rare these days! "You Go Girl"...I enjoyed it immensely!
" by Trudy Pitts, Pianist, organist, composer, teacher and vocalist
Biography:
Well respected on the East Coast as an inventive jazz singer, arranger, songwriter and educator, L'Tanya Mari's much-anticipated debut CD as a leader, A Teardrop of Sun is due to be release early 2009. The project is an eclectic mixture of songs that include fresh versions of standards along with numbers that are lesser-known but quite worthy, ranging from straightahead jazz to bossa novas, sambas, blues and modern fusion. "Of the standards, I particularly love 'You Go To My Head,' says L'Tanya. "It connects with and means a lot to many people even though it is decades old. It tells a story that is still relevant and has a life of its own, qualities that I hope are true of all of the songs that I perform."
L'Tanya Mari', who grew up in Philadelphia, has always been surrounded by jazz. "I remember hearing Charlie Parker's recording of 'April In Paris' early on. Noticing that I was resonating more with fusion in my teen years, my father tried to tip the scales a bit by buying me some of the earlier recordings of Sarah, Ella and Carmen. That did it! By the time I was 17, I was out at record stores looking for other jazz vocal albums."
Early signs seemed to indicate L'Tanya was going to be an instrumentalist, as she studied cello for seven year and then added piano into the mix, “but as I tended to hum along with my cello playing, my cello teacher suggested that I should add singing to my list of goals."
While earning a Bachelors Degree in Music Business at Howard University, L'Tanya Mari' was also on her way to becoming a notable jazz singer. She began studying with the celebrated drummer-singer Grady Tate who influenced her phrasing, urging her to always connect with an audience by really feeling the lyrics. While residing in Washington D.C. and the north east corridor, sitting in at jam sessions helped her secure gigs, build up her skills as a jazz singer, and increase her repertoire. Hungry for a deeper musical knowledge, L'Tanya pursued a Masters degree in Jazz Studies at the University Of The Arts while coming into her own as a jazz singer.
Since her graduation, L'Tanya has become an active music educator in addition to performing regularly throughout the Philadelphia and Washington, DC metro area. "I enjoy learning from my students. I have a roster of 40 students on average, and everyone is different. Some are preparing to go to school for jazz vocal and studies, others just want to learn specific things like basic theory, while there are some who just want to learn how to feel comfortable singing in front of people. It is rewarding finding what they need and passing on the knowledge that I have."
Although her singular voice is well known in the DC area, with the release of A Teardrop of Sun, her fan base will no doubt be increasing exponentially. Remember the name — you’ll be hearing a lot more from L’Tanya Mari' for years to come.
Teaching:
While residing in Sterling,Virginia, L'Tanya Mari' has kept her promise to keep the sound of jazz alive by teaching and performing throughout Washington, DC and Northern Virginia. As a performer, L'Tanya has stretched her musical knowledge and experience by instructing vocal students to understand the fundamentals of music. Her area of expertise includes teaching private vocal lessons for all ages in contemporary music as well as vocal pedagogy, beginning piano, music theory, ear training at Music and Art Centers locations at Oakton, Sterling, and Manassas and also at Contemporary Music Center in Haymarket. During the summer, L'Tanya also instructs vocal workshops to elementary thru high school students at Franklin Park Performing and Visual Arts Center.
.. Life:
To our beloved Scooby Rivas, who departed April 11, 2009 at 4PM. We loved you so much as if you were our child and we will always continue to love you. You were our guardian and protector, our joy and happiness. You comforted us when we were down. You praised us when we did something good. It hurts so bad to see you go. The life you gave us, the unconditional love and caring that no man can match on this earth that came from an animal that god created.
Hi, thank you! Well, i love jazz. Mostly i work in funk/soul but lately more Jazz...i..m longing for it! :-) Thank you for accepting my request. Hope to hear you live some day. Respectfully, Mag.
Hey L Tanya, register at www.createaconcert.com for FREE to get some college concerts. We're here to help bands like you get way more grassroots exposure.
Let me know if you have any questions, I will personally respond to all myspace messages/wallposts.
Sharon
