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Martha Crawford

Martha brings a sophisticated, cool-but-spicy, swingin' style to the clever lyrics and timeless melodies of the Great American Songbook. She loves seeking out lesser-known tunes which show off both her wit and her warm, rich tone. A professional actor, she honed her interpretive skills working in both film and theater in Los Angeles. Currently she does voice acting for apps and radio and TV commercials, as well as corporate video narration, and audiobooks. 

She began her jazz studies under well known SF Bay Area vocalist Wanda Stafford, and has attended multiple seasons of Jazz Camp West, where she was selected for the Advanced Vocal Intensive with Kate McGarry. At the Stanford Jazz Vocal Intensive she was coached by Madeline Eastman and Dena deRose. She has also worked with a variety of renowned jazz artists through the California Jazz Conservatory.

Her cabaret training includes two years at the St. Louis Cabaret Conference, first in the Next Step program and subsequently in the selective Pro Track, where she had the delightful honor of opening for Marilyn Maye and Ann Hampton Callaway at their duo show at The Sheldon Concert Hall. She recently participated in the inaugural session of the Chicago-Paris Cabaret Connexion and performed at DePaul University Concert Hall under the direction of Faith Prince, accompanied by award winning NYC Musical Director Alex Rybeck. 

She made her solo cabaret debut in San Francisco at Society Cabaret in the Hotel Rex in "Hooray for Love", and was booked for a return engagement there with her second show, “I Feel a Song Comin’ On”. The following year she was invited back for an encore show, “You’ve Gotta Have Hart”. Other SF Bay Area appearances as a vocalist include: Angelica’s Bistro in Redwood City, where she was guest artist with the Denny Berthiaume Trio, multiple appearances at the Supper and Song Concert series in Berkeley, and quarterly bookings at the Panama Hotel Restaurant in San Rafael.

In addition to her solo work, Martha is a founding member of the close harmony vocal jazz trio, Lovin’ Harmony, www.lovinharmonytrio.com, with whom she performs regularly throughout the SF Bay Area at festivals, special events, private parties, and senior living communities. The trio appeared as featured artists on Comcast Cable TV's Marin Artists Showcase, and subsequently sold out their debut performance at the Fenix Supper Club in San Rafael, Ca. 

One of the highlights of her career has been leading workshops at the famous Esalen Institute in the technique of zhikr, which is a classical method of experiencing ecstatic states via the integration of voice, breath, and movement.


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