CELEBRITIES OF THE YEAR: FROM THE MOST BORING TO THE MOST TALENTED

MOST TALENTED CELEBRITIES

MARY FOSTER CONKLIN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONKLIN THE PHENOMENON:  "Mary Foster Conklin is a musical gem. A world-class singer. A musical hybrid flirting with 5 seasons, not four. Five seasons of musical passion, intelligence, multidimensional vocal virtuosity encompassing and embracing all  genres, styles and  intense evocation of the world of cabaret, Jazz, concerts and beyond. She is powerful, but her power is enrobed with musical warmth and affection. She is complex, for Conklin has no "dogmatized" or "limited" genre. The wealth, variety and abundance of her repertoire mocks limitation in music and daring creativity. She is graceful and blessed with a stage presence echoing the flair of Peggy Lee, BUT transcending it, for Conklin has redefined lyricism for Jazz-Cabaret aura, essence and tenderly rebellious cache. Do not attempt to categorize this super magnificent singer. She does not belong to one style. Contrary to all norms in music and musicology, all styles seem to melt in her voice. She simply sparkles, mesmerizes me, enchants me and confuses the hell out of me." Wrote Maximillien de Lafayette, our Editor-in-Chief.

 

BIOGRAPHY SYNOPSIS: Mary Foster Conklin has appeared in theatres, jazz clubs and cabarets in the metropolitan New York area and throughout the United States.  A New Jersey native who came to New York to pursue acting, she was a founding member and Managing Director of the American Line Theatre for six years.  Her transformation from actor to jazz singer began over ten years ago when she joined drummer/composer Art Lillard’s 15-piece Heavenly Band and her song selections naturally shifted from show tunes to blues, Latin and bebop.  As a leader, her choice of songs has always been an eclectic mix of contemporary material and standards, creating a hybrid sound that combines big band swing, straight ahead jazz, traditional pop and cabaret.  Conklin’s talents have earned her a place on the stages of The Blue Note, La Belle Epoque, Danny’s Grand Sea Palace, The Triad Theatre, as well as the yearly Cabaret Convention held by the Mabel Mercer Foundation at Town Hall and throughout the United States.  On the West Coast she has performed in San Francisco at The Plush Room, as well as the In House Jazz Series in Los Angeles and the Vic in Santa Monica. She has appeared in Chicago at the Cultural Center and at Park West. Praised by THE NEW YORK TIMES as "a highly creative singer whose style blends cabaret and jazz so thoroughly as to defy any easy categorization." (Terry Teachout). A New Jersey native, she received the 1999 MAC Award for Jazz Vocalist. Her debut recording 'Crazy Eyes' was listed as one of the ten best CDs of 1998 by IN THEATRE Magazine and won the 1999 Bistro Award presented by BACKSTAGE for Outstanding Recording. Her latest project 'You'd Be Paradise' is backed by the quartet of Frank Vignola on guitar, Jon Burr on bass, Bill Mays on piano and Joe Ascione on drums and includes material by such diverse composers as Cole Porter, Tom Waits, Matt Dennis, Stan Getz, Michel Legrand, Bob Dorough and David Cantor. "Mary Foster Conklin shows with her second album that she is one of the most underrated jazz singers working today. Her wonderful unique voice grabs you immediately and doesn't let go. She finds songs from songwriters like Bob Dorough and the amazing David Cantor and infuses them with an amazing amount of musical personality. Highly recommended to all lovers of vocal jazz." (Steve Rubin "Stolen Moments", KZYX & Z, Mendocino County Public Broadcasting). "With this album, Mary Foster Conklin continues her shift from cabaret to jazz singer without losing the better qualities of the former. She retains her excellent diction, showing proper respect for lyrics. But she also uses vocal maneuvers unique to jazz: clever phrasing, pausing for effect, and working to make her voice become one of the instruments... This session is a fortuitous coming together of the vocal art, outstanding instrumental playing, and a play list of notable songs to perform. Highly recommended." - (Dave Nathan - All Music Guide). Continues on P.109