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Mary Ann Redmond

I’m from Richmond VA where at 15 I got to sing with my two brother’s top 40 band for a few years before heading off to college. I studied as a voice major at VCU for a year operatically and got to be in the 4th jazz band. Not a ringing endorsement, but nonetheless, it was a great school. I’ve been in bands ever since covering all kinds of music and writing my songs as well. As for five years from now, I hope to be playing, singing teaching and doing what I love.

A couple years back, I was lucky enough to meet Paul Langosch and Jay Cooley and they took me under their musical wing that steered us in more of a jazz/blues direction.

The Redmond, Langosch and Cooley Trio came together out of a love for the “Great American Songbook”; a living trust of the creative genius of composers both with us and departed. Redmond, Langosch and Cooley are three musicians from divergent backgrounds sharing a love these great songs. The band has focused on music from many different sources, drawing from the 1930’s to today’s contemporary composers. This ensemble seamlessly bridges an assortment of much-loved musical styles. Each member of the band brings a unique perspective to this material, resulting in a vibrant take on each song presented. Mary Ann Redmond’s brilliant vocals are the glue that holds the project together while Langosch and Cooley provide support derived from a deep understanding of live as well as studio performance. Together they produce a jazz inspired interpretation of songs in a wide range of styles. In addition, the ensemble also draws from the pen of Ms. Redmond, whose compositions are gaining both critical and popular attention.

Singing and performing, the truth is I have no choice. It’s not really a career choice but it is the beautiful gift in my life that keeps me happy and inspired. I’m so grateful.

Awards

22 Washington Area Music Awards (WAMMIEs)


Tags

4
Album Review

Redmond-Langosch-Cooley: Compared to What

Read "Compared to What" reviewed by Dr. Judith Schlesinger


In 2003, after I heard Mary Ann Redmond's astonishing voice for the first time, we did an interview here called “On the Verge." Well, she's still on that verge--at least everywhere outside of the Washington, D.C. area, where she lives. With just a handful of albums to her name, Redmond has won an astounding total of 22 Wammies (Washington Area Music Awards) in the jazz, pop, rock, blues, traditional R&B, and urban contemporary categories. The common denominator is ...

659
Interview

Mary Ann Redmond: On the Verge

Read "Mary Ann Redmond: On the Verge" reviewed by Dr. Judith Schlesinger


Mary Ann Redmond's powerful, passionate voice inspires critics to poetic heights. Dan McClenaghan, reviewing her Prisoner of the Heart CD for this site, wrote: “she can belt it out to shake the walls down or caress a lyric like she's petting a cat." Goldmine admired her ability to go from a “fragile whisper" to a “riveting roar." Others use words like “soulfulness," “sass" and “spine-tingling," and compare her to everyone from Judy Garland and Etta James to Janis Joplin, Dusty ...

115
Album Review

Mary Ann Redmond: Prisoner of the Heart

Read "Prisoner of the Heart" reviewed by Dave Nathan


Washington, D. C.'s Mary Ann Redmond must have been weaned on the albums of Aretha Franklin, Lee Dorsey, Gladys Knight (with and without the Pips) and other soul artists who claimed their place in the annals of American Popular Music during the 1960's and beyond. This urbanization of rhythm and blues eventually migrated into a pop oriented sound as all "new" musical styles seem to end up. The music became harder and tougher, relying on syncopated rhythms, raw vocals, and ...

180
Album Review

Mary Ann Redmond: Prisoner of the Heart

Read "Prisoner of the Heart" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


It would be hard to find more soul on a current CD than you'll get on Mary Ann Redmond's Prisoner of the Heart. Maybe on Solomon Burke's latest, but that's about it. Redmond's voice is an awesome instrument; she can belt it out to shake the walls down ("Since I Fell for You") or caress a lyric like she's petting a cat (her original, “That is All"), on a set that sounds like something out of a late '60's Atlantic ...

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Performance / Tour

14-time WAMMIE winner Mary Ann Redmond in concert Feb. 8

14-time WAMMIE winner Mary Ann Redmond in concert Feb. 8

Source: All About Jazz


"Gifted with a deep throaty alto register that's as smooth as bourbon sliding down the esophagus and as emotive as a soul singer ruminating over human vulnerabilities, Mary Ann Redmond is a one of a kind vocalist. Accompanied by Paul Langosch on bass and Jay Cooley on keyboards, Redmond's trio delves into the facets of modern blues spurred by bursts of jumping jive and clad in shades of jazz on their new recording Compared to What." -YAHOO.com album review by Susan Frances

Mary Ann Redmond, Paul Langosch And Jay Cooley – COMPARED TO WHAT: When I cracked this CD open and listened to (just) the first few notes, I dashed off a request for an interview with Mary Ann - she is nothing short of VOLCANIC!I give Mary Ann & crew a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating right at the top – 5.00! -IMPROVIJAZZATION NATION, CD REVIEW by Rotcod Zzaj

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Primary Instrument

Vocals

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