I've sung all my life but I knew I was a jazz singer about 25 years ago, around 1975, when I heard some great guy singing in a club in Chicago and I thought... yeah, that's what I do! Before, during, and after that, I played folk, sang with a wedding band, performed cabaret, and did some piano bar.

My first jazz gig was at the Surfmaid on Bleecker Street, in the late seventies. My songwriting was becoming more prolific around that time and I formed my own jazz band and kept it together for about two years. Then in 1984, I started to learn how to play piano and practiced furiously for several years.

As a singer/piano player, I made my first quarter -- literally -- playing on the street the summer of '85. I got my first indoor gig in '86 and have done nothing but music since.

Howlett Smith, Claude Garvey, and Nanette Natal helped me develop vocally and I studied piano with Barry Harris, Mario Serio, and Art Labriola. During the last few years, an occasional vocal workshop from either Jay Clayton or Mark Murphy has kept me inspired.

Some highlights of the 90's: I produced my first album, "Thirteen", and my second album, "You And I", which led to the Arkadia signing; I whistled on a TV commercial that ran for about a year and a half; I had a children's Christmas musical produced at a 499 seat equity dinner theatre in Westchester -- the thrill of my career; I sang with DIVA , my first big band experience and a close second in the thrill department, followed by several performances the following year with George Gee and his Make Believe Ballroom Orchestra.

The loves of my life have been: Sammy Davis, Jr., Barbara Streisand, and Johnny Mathis; Richie Havens, Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell, and James Taylor; Phoebe Snow and Kenny Rankin; Al Jarreau and Dianne Schuur; Irene Kral, Johnny Hartman, Ella, Sarah, Billie, Dinah, and Carmen; Rosemary Clooney, Etta Jones and Mark Murphy.

Co-op City Times/July 2000
By John Roche

In addition to her upcoming performance with the Billy Taylor trio on Friday, July 28th, some very exciting things are happening to Mary Pearson these days. The release of her debut CD has spurred increased interest in the accomplished vocalist, taking the form of international airplay, reviews, interviews, a cable special, and a presence on a new key recording.

A radio interview on WBGO/88.3 FM, the foremost metropolitan area jazz station, is scheduled for this Sunday, July 9th, at noon. Several selections from Pearson's new Arkadia Jazz CD "You and I" will be featured on Michael Bourne's weekly "Singers Unlimited" program. In this live interview, Pearson will discuss her new album, her upcoming performances, and two other recent events -- the release of a jazz compilation CD that showcases one of Pearson's tunes and a concert taping by the premiere jazz cable channel.

"I couldn't believe it. Things have been wild since the CD came out. Air play, phone interviews with DJ's all over the country, the interview this coming Sunday with Michael Bourne, some good reviews -- a couple of great ones... and this! What an opportunity!" says Pearson referring to the cable special.

A concert showcasing Pearson's album was recently recorded by BET On Jazz for the upcoming fall season. The soon to be televised concert features bassist Lonnie Plaxico and drummer Bruce Cox along with three of the musician's that performed with Pearson here in Co-op City in February's "Heart and Soul" show: guitarist John Hart, pianist James Weidman, and Pearson's Arkadia label mate T.K. Blue on sax and flute.

The people from BET On Jazz became interested in Pearson when one of the songs from her album was chosen to be included on the NARM 2000 Jazz Sampler, a yearly record merchants' product. "This is the sampler's third year. Each year, NARM, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers, distributes eighty to ninety thousand copies of a compilation disc that sells for two bucks!. The purpose is to promote jazz as a whole but it will also be amazingly great exposure for me and my tune," says Pearson. Several well known artists including Acoustic Alchemy and John Pizzarelli are featured on the jazz sampler. The compilation CD, "For the Love of Jazz", hit the stores on June 6th. Pearson's song, "I Can't Believe", is the closing track.

If all that weren't enough, Pearson was also selected to be one of this year's Bronx Council on the Arts BRIO Award recipients. Several Bronx artists are chosen each year to receive the BRIO, which stands for "Bronx Recognizes Its Own".

"I'm on a roll. No doubt about it!" says Pearson.

MARY PEARSON
Arkadia Jazz Recording Artist

It's time for Mary Pearson to celebrate You and I , her celebrated new CD. The reviews are in and the consensus is: the voice is beautiful, the style is unique, the album is stunning. The critically acclaimed work is the first album from the first vocalist signed to Arkadia Jazz, an independent label which in its brief three-year existence has been honored with an unprecedented four Grammy nominations.

Pearson's music can be found on yet another CD released this year. One of her compositions from You and I entitled "I Can't Believe" was chosen to be included on the NARM/2000 compilation CD, For the Love of Jazz.. The purpose of this annual industry sampler is to preserve jazz as a genre while promoting the individual artists selected. As an added result of this recognition, Pearson was recently featured in an hour-long BET On Jazz concert taped for a fall telecast.

As a working New York City musician, Mary Pearson is at home in any setting, from fronting a big band to performing as a self-contained vocalist/pianist. Some of the stellar musicians Pearson has performed and/or recorded with are: Dr. Billy Taylor, Fred Hersch, Harvie Swartz, John Hart, David Lahm, Lynne Arriale, Steve Davis, Lew Anderson, Sherrie Maricle, Bruce Ditmas, Art Labriola, Claire Daly, James Weidman, Lonnie Plaxico, Ron Jackson, Nicki Parrott, Steve Logan, Essiet Essiet, Eric Lewis, T.K. Blue, and Roy Meriwether.

In addition to her widely varied performances, Pearson whistles on commercials, including a national television jingle for "Cinch" and writes children's musicals, one of which has been produced at the Westchester Broadway Theatre, a large equity house. Solo to big band, song stylist, writer, piano player, whistler, entertainer and Arkadia Jazz Recording artist Mary Pearson's unique style reaches, touches and captivates all within the sound of her voice.