Song:It Might As Well Be Spring
Album:Live At Jazz Standard
Rene Marie Stevens was a 42 year old mother of two when she became a professional singer. Today she is a popular jazz singer and a regular on the festival circuit. She was born Nov. 7, 1955 in Warrenton, VA and she grew up in Roanoke. Her main influence is Betty Carter. She was married with two sons. She sang at family functions but she thought she was too busy to sing professionally. By 1995 her sons were in college and they convinced her to try singing professionally. When her husband wasn't happy about this, she kicked him to the curb. She got a regular gig at Washington's Blues Alley club. Pianist Bruce Barth saw her and he signed her to MAXJAZZ. Rene's version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic It Might As Well Be Spring from the 1945 film State Fair is from the 2003 album Live At Jazz Standard recorded at the New York club. Musicians are John Toomey on piano, Elias Bailey on bass and T. Howard Curtis III on drums. In 2009, she performed her one woman show Slut Energy Theory and she released a soundtrack. Rene signed with Motema in 2011. They have allowed her to produce her own albums. Her latest CD Sound Of Red was released in 2016. She has been touring the festival circuit. Here's Rene Marie with Sergey Pron on trumpet, Alex Titov on piano, Alex Bulatov on bass and Artem Ivanov on drums at the 2013 PROJAZZ Festival in Russia.
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