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 MAUD HIXSON
Jazz@StBarney's welcomes one of the Twin Cities' favorite jazz vocalists, Maud Hixson, at 7 pm, Saturday, November 21. Presented as "Best New Voice" at the Twin Cities Winter JazzFest in 2003, Hixson has since become a favorite with audiences and musicians in clubs, concerts, and festivals. A native of St. Louis Park, her work as a bandleader and with groups such as the Wolverines, French 75, the Twin Cities Seven, the JazzMN Big Band, the Mouldy Figs and the Twin Cities Hot Club has established her as a versatile performer. She performs regularly at the Dakota, Dakota County Steakhouse, the relocated Hell's Kitchen and more, and is one of the favorites of the area swing dance community. Growing up, Hixson "always enjoyed singing... listening to everything around me and making up words to songs I already knew." Seeing on television the musical films of the 30s and 40s introduced her to such stars as Judy Garland, Doris Day, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra. Eventually she fell in love with the music of the Gershwins, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, and Rodgers and Hart. Although she did take a few formal voice lessons, Maud notes that "my education has mostly come from studying recordings and live performances." Listening to A Prairie Home Companion was a source of inspiration, as was a performance by Jimmy Scott, as well as her encounters and ultimate collaborations with Arne Fogel and Wolverines' pianist Rick Carlson - who became her husband. MAUD HIXSON SINGS
Lucky to Be Me Hixson's recordings include the demo Small Batch and a duo recording with Arne Fogel, Let's Not Be Sensible. In late 2007, Maud and Rick Carlson released a CD of favorite and newly-discovered tunes in the intimate context of just voice and piano, Love's Refrain, which topped many area "best of the year" lists. In 2006, Maud was selected to participate in the famed Cabaret Conference at Yale University. This opened the door to a project funded through grants from the Minnesota Arts Board - a solo cabaret show, Mickey and Maud: The Songs of Michael (Mickey) Leonard, presented last December at New York City's oldest cabaret, the Duplex. Hixson has earned raves from all over the country:
"Minnesota native Maud Hixson has gained notice for her smooth, velvet-lined voice and natural way with a lyric."
"If Maud Hixson were a dish (which, by the way, she is) the recipe would go like this: Start with a generous portion of Doris Day, fold in some Peggy Lee, add a dollop of Blossom Dearie and top off with a pinch of Nancy LaMott. Listen attentively, serve immediately."
"Hixson takes the stage with unadorned stillness. Her voice has the sophistication of silver satin, a cool sexiness that's absolutely in control of the situation. Doing the clever banter of Gershwin or Cole Porter, she sounds the way Grace Kelly looks."
"Maud has a warm rich voice that reminds me of butter and caramel, but what she does with it is truly unusual in this day and age: she sings the song! She is not about flash and pyrotechnic displays. She chooses great material and is true to the lyric and melody. These things become superfluous in the hands of a singer concerned only with showing herself off, but Maud caresses a melody and delivers a lyric honestly and straight from the heart--pure and elegant!" The concert is at St. Barnbas Lutheran Church, 15600 Old Rockford Road in Plymouth. Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for Twin Cities Jazz Society members and $5 for students. There's no need to call ahead; tickets are always available at the door. This activity is made possible, in part, by funds provided by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council through a grant from the McKnight Foundation and an appropriation by the Minnesota Legislature. St. Barnabas Center for the Arts is a program of St. Barnabas Lutheran Church supporting the arts through education, nurturing and sharing of creative works. For more information call SBCA Director Jeff Whitmill at (763) 553-3083 or e-mail him.
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