Where did you grow up? Did you come from a musical family? Who were your early influences?
I grew up in Queens, NY. We had a piano in our house, there was music in my elementary school, and all my siblings learned to play an instrument. Music Education was a natural part of our basic education programs. I sang in the school chorus and the church choir and had clarinet and piano lessons. Music, especially singing lyrics, allowed me to connect to and give voice to my emotions from a very early age and even through to today. I had a class in my elementary school sing “Blue Skies”, and I was hooked on the swing! My toe was tapping, my body swaying, head bobbing in my seat in that auditorium!
What were your experiences like DJing and being the voice of your college campus as Fisk?
In college, I experienced the magic of radio at Fisk University. That gave me the opportunity to dive deeply into jazz as I worked the midnight to three AM shift which was classic, straight ahead jazz. We got tickets to the Exit Inn as a station DJ. I interviewed Bobby Humphrey and John Blake, Jr. for the station when they were in town.
When did you choose NYC? How would you describe the NY scene compared to other places? Do you think it has changed at all from when you started? After graduation, I remained in Nashville for a year and ultimately chose to return to New York for the music scene. This was 1983. I even considered Broadway but found jazz a more self-expressive genre. Since I was from New York and my parents still lived there in Queens, I had a place to stay. Eventually, I moved into my own place. The expansion of college degrees in Jazz has flooded the New York music scene since the early 80’s with young musicians, vocal and instrumental. The jazz competitions, along with these formal educational settings, have created a motorized rise for some. Performing at Hamilton’s Bar & Kitchen, sponsored by KEYED UP!, brings jazz back and makes it more accessible to the community. The genre has become very mainstream with large concerts and festivals, but KEYED UP! allows for and supports the small, intimate, personal, affordable venues in the community. Sometimes even today I get to introduce new listeners to jazz. Sponsorship for small venues is as important now as ever so I appreciate all that KEYED UP! does for the community.
You have performed all over the city and beyond but have appeared a few times at Hamilton's Bar and Kitchen, sponsored by KEYED UP! - can you tell us about your experiences there?
At Hamilton’s I also get to work with Berta Alloway, who has for years enjoyed producing jazz in Harlem, bringing music to the community and spreading love and joy through music. You can hear live music at Hamilton's every Friday night with a rotating group of amazing musicians sponsored by KEYED UP!
Any touring/album/anything else you would like to promote?
I released my first CD Dream which is available on Spotify. My next release will include my original songs, original poems that introduce standards, and lyrics that update some of the standards we know so well, such as "Summertime” and “I Thought About You.” You can catch a preview wherever I’m performing or check https://karenmaynardjazzvocalist.com/