Mary Stahl Bio

Mary Stahl is known for delighting audiences all over the eastern seaboard with her distinctive jazz/cabaret vocal stylings. She has found an unexplored musical style. Blending the standard with a jazzy laid back feel, Stahl has been said to be simultaneously sultry and girlish, swinging and sentimental-a wonderful performer. In a forceful yet understated way, emotional communication is at the core of her performances. Every lyric is delivered with meaning and feeling, both for Mary and her audience.

Miss Stahl has been featured in performance numerous times with various pops orchestras, including conductors Marvin Hamlisch, John McDaniel, Joanne Faletta and Ron Spiegleman.

She has released six CD’s including “Dream a Dream” a national Parents Choice Foundation Gold Award winner. This CD has been enthusiastically embraced by the national Montessori community and has garnered excellent reviews throughout the country “Dream a Dream” is making its way onto play lists for children’s radio programs across the country. With the release of “I’d Like You For Christmas” Mary greceived great reviews for her 2nd Christmas release.

Here's Mary Stahl Live at the Dakota

A departure from her usual style, this new collection of lullabies showcases Mary’s versatility, from delivering a soft bluesy lullaby, to expressing a tender emotion through a simple love song. With this newest release, “On a Starry Starry Night” Mary explores a collection of great songs from around the world, along with three new original sleepers!

Finally, there is the new Cd, entitled, "Love Noire".

Love Noire describes a murky sensibilty, music of dramatic illumination, the sudden contrasts of chiaroscuro, the temptation of an alluring femme fatale. “Haunt me, Taunt me, Hurt me desert me” from the Porter tune points towards a darker, melancholy yet intense spirit that is driven by afro-cuban rhythms and framed by haunting string arrangements.

Featuring guest horn soloists including jazz legend Bobby Militello the recording is Mary’s 1st straight ahead jazz CD in over seven years.

Her CDs receive national airplay on the “Music of Your Life” syndicated stations, Sirius XM 40's on 4, as well as Toronto’s Jazz FM 91,along with WNY’s WBFO, Kiss98.5, 97Rock, WECK and WKBW.

REVIEWS:

This elegant CD, set off by black and white photography, is the best showcase yet for Jazz singer Mary Stahl. Stahl's unhurried lyricism works especially beautifully in ballads such as "Yesterdays", "We'll Be together Again" and a sultry "I Can't Get Started". The album sounds relaxed yet avoids that overworked, overbuffed feel.

Mary Kunz Buffalo News 2006 (Love Noire)

Mary Stahl is a talented chanteuse from Buffalo who has the gift of making songs sound as if they were written for her alone. This CD, done with classy orchestration and a bit of bossa nova, is very warm. She more than holds her own with these evergreens- she makes them her own. If you like Diana Krall, you'll love Mary Stahl- I know I did!

Nice to see a new jazz album by Stahl. Very solid stuff I think. Nice mix of torchy (but still varied in approach) standards & a couple originals. At times she even brings Rosemary Clooney to mind, and also the more ballad side of Stacey Kent. Very nice ensemble too & creative arrangements that swing and are nicely melodic. Deserves more recognition-- glad to see this new one available here.

Reviewer: Ed Goodstein -CD Baby

The gorgeous lullabies on this album include many traditional songs from points around the globe as well as 5 originals (by lead singer Mary Stahl in collaboration with other musicians). Among the traditional songs are the lovely "All the Pretty Little Horses," (African-American); the swaying "All Me Rock," (Jamaican); the wistful "Come to Your Mommy," (Canadian); and even a slightly jazzy version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." In all, at least 10 different cultures are represented in 21 songs. Stahl's voice is liquid as a sunset over water and the lovely spare arrangements weave through each song like threads in a nighttime blanket. Instruments include everything from flugelhorn to piccolo and autoharp to accordion, each arrangement reflecting and enriching the mood and words of the songs. This album is a small jewel, an invitation to parents and children alike to unwind at the end of a hectic day. -

I have never met Mary Stahl, but I could tell right away that this remarkable woman is having WAY too much fun! She has that sort of smile, and she possesses those wonderful, twinkling eyes that shout her love of life whenever she smiles. Even more than that, her exceptional voice explodes with warmth, jubilation, humor, and raw emotion. Mary Stahl just wins you over when she performs, and she performs very well indeed on I'd Like You For Christmas.

Stahl's expressive voice provides a jazzy pop gloss to every number. She does not just sing these tunes, she believes in each and every lyric, and she makes the listener a believer, too. Every song is a story, and Stahl is a storyteller extraordinaire. She has a superb ensemble backing her up; the sax players (Bobby Militello, Joe Campagna) are especially fine.

I'd Like You For Christmas is an easy-listening gem, and its facets are 15 sparkling holiday numbers. The song selection ranges from the sassy ("Zat You Santa Claus") to the rockin' ("Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree") to the reverential ("Silent Night"). Everything hangs together very nicely, and Stahl will have you fully engaged every step of the way.

For a fun time, call Mary Stahl. Her holiday album will not disappoint!

-Carol Swanson

Aline D. Wolf, publisher of Parent Child Press, national author and lecturer “With beautifully sung lullabies from several different countries, this CD brings serenity to adults as well as children.”

Jerry Meyers, record promoter & Rhapsody Records owner, “ Mary’s bright and happy… she’s a lot of fun, very entertaining, but it all comes down to that great voice.”

Joanne Faletta Conductor and Music Director Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra

“I am purchasing a large supply of Mary Stahl’s “Dream a Dream” for every friend with children. Her sweet and dusty voice is a perfect partner for the tender words of lullabies we all know and love. She imbues these songs with a special poignancy and depth that comes right from the heart. Very highly recommended!”

John McDaniel music director Rosie O’Donnell Show, “This is a delightful selection of tunes sung by one of my favorite new artists…”

Jeff Miers, Buffalo News- “ Stahl’s "I'd Like You For Christmas," captures the warm, fuzzy, forgiving feeling of the season and wraps it tightly in ornamental wrapping, courtesy of arranger Calabrese. The record bears the markings of a classic in the idiom.”

Dr. Dick Judelson Bebop and Beyond WBFO Radio 88.7

“I like listening to and watching Mary Stahl…she combines the best of the past with the art of our age.

John Wood, Kidzmusic.com "21-original and traditional lullabies from around the world, beautifully performed and produced, and handled with loving care."

90.3 WRST FM Mary Stahl is one of those talents that simply ought to be discovered. Her I’d Like You For Christmas features interesting arrangements in a slightly jazzy pop vein that harkens back to the Fifties-

Mary Kunz -Mary Stahl has a one-size-fits-all voice, she has won over audiences of all types. What's Stahl's secret? It could be the songs she sings, jazz and cabaret standards that go back to Duke Ellington and Eubie Blake. And it could be her manner. With her smoky voice, warm stage presence and trademark black gowns, Stahl epitomizes cabaret glamour. She has a lively style, dancing and skipping around the stage, jazzing up "Jeepers Creepers" "It Had To Be You" or "Them There Eyes'" with whimsical flapper gestures. But she can also sing ballads with a straightforward ardor, songs like"Come Rain Or Come Shine" or "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To"

Dan Hull-"Enter Mary Stahl. Mary is a talent. There's no question there. But she is endeared as much for who she is as for what she does. When you hear Mary sing, you hear Mary. You don't hear Dinah or Ella or Sarah or Blossom or Nancy. You don't hear Diana Krall. Mary imitates no one. And isn't that the idea? Our chosen art form exults the originals, and in Mary we present the sweet, the genuine- Buffalo's First Lady of Song"