René Marie
Two-time GRAMMY-nominated vocalist René Marie is a singer, composer, arranger and storyteller rooted in the jazz tradition of Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington. She brings folk, R&B, country and classical influences into a style all her own, and fearless honesty to every song.
A modern vocal icon
"I try to strike a balance with the right amount of light and dark into every musical offering." — René Marie
Born in Warrenton, Virginia, René Marie grew up on blues, folk, bluegrass and classical music and wrote her first song at 15. After years away from music, she began singing again in her 40s with her son's encouragement, and within a few years had released her first album, Renaissance (1999), and signed with the MaxJazz label.
Her Motéma releases include Voice of My Beautiful Country, Black Lace Freudian Slip, I Wanna Be Evil: With Love to Eartha Kitt and Sound of Red, her first album of all-original songs. Both I Wanna Be Evil and Sound of Red were nominated for the GRAMMY for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
A composer, arranger, playwright, actress and educator, René wrote and starred in the one-woman musical drama Slut Energy Theory: U'Dean and created SLAM, her vocal workshops for singers. She is a frequent guest star with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Chicago Jazz Orchestra and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. Her newest work, the Pain + Wisdom = Beauty series, features new original songs.
Why we love this artist
- René is a storyteller on stage, and it is easy to be transported into each song with her during a performance.
- René is fearless in expressing herself through her art, whether through her long-running band Experiment in Truth or her projects celebrating great artists including Eartha Kitt and Harry Belafonte.
René Marie
Highlights
Best Jazz Vocal Album for I Wanna Be Evil and Sound of Red.
Featured in NPR's celebrated concert series.
Jazz at Lincoln Center, Count Basie, Chicago Jazz and New Orleans Jazz orchestras.
Her one-woman musical drama, which premiered at New York's Cherry Lane Theatre.
A concert for every audience
René Marie performs at performing arts centers, major jazz festivals, universities and jazz clubs, and as a featured guest with jazz orchestras.
Selected presenters
- Jazz at Lincoln CenterNew York, NY
- The Kennedy CenterWashington, DC
- SFJAZZSan Francisco, CA
- BirdlandNew York, NY
- Jazz StandardNew York, NY
- Blues AlleyWashington, DC
- Monterey Jazz FestivalMonterey, CA
- Detroit Jazz FestivalDetroit, MI
- Chicago Jazz FestivalChicago, IL
- Chicago Symphony OrchestraChicago, IL
- Savannah Music FestivalSavannah, GA
- Spoleto Festival USACharleston, SC
- Jazz Aspen SnowmassAspen, CO
- Vail JazzVail, CO
- New Mexico Jazz FestivalAlbuquerque, NM
- Atlanta Jazz FestivalAtlanta, GA
- Winter JazzFestNew York, NY
- Jazz St. LouisSt. Louis, MO
- Adrienne Arsht CenterMiami, FL
- Straz CenterTampa, FL
- Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts CenterCutler Bay, FL
- Blumenthal Performing ArtsCharlotte, NC
- Ensemble Arts Philly (Kimmel Center)Philadelphia, PA
- Annenberg Center, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA
- Carolina Performing Arts, UNCChapel Hill, NC
- Wharton Center for Performing ArtsEast Lansing, MI
- Omaha Performing ArtsOmaha, NE
- Walton Arts CenterFayetteville, AR
- Scottsdale Center for the Performing ArtsScottsdale, AZ
- CaramoorKatonah, NY
- Longwood GardensKennett Square, PA
- Musical Instrument MuseumPhoenix, AZ
- Yoshi'sOakland, CA
- Kuumbwa Jazz CenterSanta Cruz, CA
- DazzleDenver, CO
- The Jazz CornerHilton Head Island, SC
- Winnipeg International Jazz FestivalWinnipeg, MB
Bring René Marie to your stage
New Sound Arts can help you plan a concert, tribute program or residency with René Marie for your season, festival or campus.
mike@newsoundarts.com
marie@newsoundarts.com