Chicago Jazz Magazine, November/December 2006

BY JUDY ROBERTS

MARY ANNE RIEHL: Then & Now

The "Then" of vocalist Mary Anne Riehl's CD title refers to her successful five years as staff vocalist on Don McNeil's Breakfast Club, an ABC network radio show based in Chicago that began in the sixties and ran for thirty-five years. In 1961, Mary Anne was a blossoming radio star, a sweet-voiced ingénue whose official publicity photo now graces the front cover of Then & Now: a young innocent thing in a terrific sixty's dress, looking like one of those cute backup singers on Your Hit Parade.

Flash forward to the "Now" of the title, and Mary Anne is today's attractive adult vocalist/musician pictured in the liner notes, a woman with the irreplaceably fascinating face of a seasoned artist with soul and experience. Mary Anne's voice hasn't changed much over the years; she still has the joyful, lilting sound which first made her popular, and the sincere approach to the melody and lyrics that is so appealing to both musicians and audiences.

Her live performances these days consist of the usual jazz gigs around town, but she's added something special: her most recent venture is her unique "Nightclub in the Afternoon" series, which brings the night club jazz experience to an older audience who would rather attend shows in the daytime. "Nightclub in the Afternoon" has been a successful experiment for Mary Anne, and her older fans love having the opportunity to enjoy the glamour of an "evening out" in the comfort of daylight hours. With the popularity of these shows, it was a natural conclusion that Mary Anne should produce her own CD.

Since this was to be her first time in the studio in many years, she enlisted the help of talented (and compassionate) recording engineer Scott Steinman of Studiomedia in Evanston. With her "Nightclub in the Afternoon" band of bassist Jim Cox, drummer Rusty Jones, and pianist Ben Lewis, and with special appearances by guitarist Pat Ferreri and saxophonist Greg Fishman, Mary Anne recorded a wonderful selection of familiar standards, jazz tunes, and a few unexpected treasures. From daring arrangements to gentle piano/vocal duets, Mary Anne navigates the eclectic material with the kind of relaxed and easy spirited musical attitude that has made her so popular with listeners throughout her career. The fact that she has chosen such diverse material as Andre Previn's "Control Yourself," Shelby Flint's "I Will Love You," Arthur Hamilton's rarely done "Bouquet of Blues," and the jazzy "Robbin's Nest" is a testament to Mary Anne's vitality and spirit. In combination with standards like "What a Wonderful World" and "As Time Goes By," Then & Now has something for everyone. With her beautifully buoyant and cheerful sound, singer Mary Anne Riehl is still very much a star.