From Southern California, a music graduate of UC Santa Cruz. Mariah's music
is described as blending "the driving rhythmic syncopations of Latin jazz
with the entrancing, asymmetrical meters of East India." With the release
of her first CD "Sangria", Mariah touches on the musical sounds of many
cultures, drawing special inspiration from Brazil, Cuba, Spain and India.
Her first instrument was the piano, but she "fell in love with the sound of
the Santur" when she "heard it drifting across the UCSC campus one day", and
since has pursued the mastery of it.
Mariah has studied and worked with numberous musicians and educators towards crafting
here unique musical presence. While at UC Santa Cruz she worked with with ethnomusicologist
Fred Lieberman and Mickey Hart on the "Planet Drum" project. She studied with jazz great Art Land and
Latin jazz pianist Rebeca Mauléon. In addition to her own group, Mariah can be seen performing with
with the world music group Ancient Future.
In 2009, Mariah released her debut live concert CD titled 'Sangria." In 2016, she and the
Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble recorded Live in Concert, which is scheduled for public release in January 2017.
REVIEWS:
Indo Latin Jazz Live in Concert
"Marin may be known as a rock ’n’ roll county, but it’s also home to some of the foremost
musicians in global fusion — a form of acoustic jazz that requires melodic invention,
masterful musicianship and fearless improvisation. Eight of the best players on the planet
are featured on pianist Mariah Parker’s new album, “Indo Latin Jazz Live in Concert,” recorded
at Yoshi’s in Oakland, Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage, the 142 Throckmorton Theater in Mill
Valley and Bob Weir’s TRI Studios in San Rafael." - ~ Paul Liberatore - Marinij.com
Sangria
"This is an
excellent album from pianist Mariah Parker, whose work is
best described as world jazz. Parker brings a wide variety of influences to
‘Sangria,' ranging from Indian and Middle Eastern music to Afro-Cuban salsa
and Brazilian samba. And while Spanish flamenco is an influence on Sangria,
it is only one of many influences. She obviously appreciates the
Eastern-influenced spirituality and mysticism of John Coltrane, Yusef
Lateef, Pharoah Sanders, and Lonnie Liston Smith, but her composing also
contains elements of everyone from Pat Metheny to Chick Corea. Sangria is an
ambitious and challenging album, although it is also relatively accessible.
Parker, of course, didn't invent the idea of world jazz.... but she keeps it
moving forward; Parker takes chances, demonstrating that the fusion of jazz
and world music still has plenty of possibilities after all these years --
and a global perspective serves Parker well throughout the rewarding
‘Sangria.'” — ALL MUSIC GUIDE "This collection of eight original instrumentals by Mariah Parker is just one of many examples of the infusion of East Indian music into Western music, but to my ears one of the most successful.”
— AUDIOPHILE AUDITION "Parker kicks off her solo career with a well textured world beat date that finds her multi-instrumentalist abilities and her wide open ears leading the way. There's nothing but pros on board here who know what to do and they do it in a lively, spontaneous fashion that really grabs you. First class world beat that really covers the bases.
” — MIDWEST RECORD "Recommended for fans of world music and jazz.”
— USA PROGRESSIVE MUSIC "To heat things up on Valentine's Day, consider adding a little sangria to the menu—and your iTunes playlist. Sweet and juicy, and leaving you with a warm glow, Sangria is a melodic mix blending Latin jazz and East Indian music. This brand-new recording features original compositions by Mariah (composer, pianist, and santur player) that draw inspiration from Brazil, Cuba, Spain, and India. The result is an album that is at once uplifting, peaceful, and passionate.”
— TODAY'S VANCOUVER WOMAN
ONESHEET:
From Mariah Parker's "Sangria" CD Onesheet:
The
world fusion music movement has spawned many intriguing new musical hybrids.
With Sangria, Mariah Parker explores the exciting sonic terrain that blends
the driving rhythmic syncopations of Latin jazz with the entrancing,
asymmetrical meters of East India. Add intriguing melodic ideas to the mix
and the result is compelling music, at once adventurous yet accessible. This
debut recording features her original compositions that draw musical
inspiration from Brazil, Cuba, Spain, and India. Her Indo Latin Jazz
Ensemble accompanies her and includes musicians from the bands Ancient
Future, Oregon, Sun Ra, and Herbie Hancock's Headhunters.
Mariah Parker (composer and multi-instrumentalist), while completing her
degree in music at UC Santa Cruz, worked with ethnomusicologist Fred
Lieberman and Mickey Hart on the "Planet Drum” project. She has performed in
festivals in the US and Europe, and worked with many musicians of note
including composer Pauline Oliveros, the late Dumisani Maraire (renowned
composer from Zimbabwe) and others. She has studied with jazz great Art
Lande and Latin jazz pianist extraordinaire Rebeca Mauleon, and performs
regularly with the trend-setting world music group Ancient Future.
Contributing to the unique sound of this recording, Mariah's ensemble
includes: Matthew Montfort, trailblazing pioneer of scalloped fretboard
guitar (an instrument combining qualities of the South Indian vina and the
steel string guitar); Paul McCandless, 2-time Grammy Award nominee and
woodwind virtuoso; Kash Killion, first-call bass player and
multi-instrumentalist with Sun Ra Arkestra, Cecil Taylor and others; Mindia
Devi Klein, award-winning bansuri and jazz flutist; Duru Demetrius, latin
percussionist with jazz icons such as Joe Henderson and Herbie Hancock;
Anuradha Pal, world's premiere female tabla player; Debopriyo Sarkar, tabla
virtuoso whose recent tours include Kronos Quartet; Brian Rice, versatile
percussionist with players such as Mike Marshall.
ARTICLE:
Mariah Parker - "Sangria”
This is the impressive solo CD debut of a pianist-composer known primarily
for her performances with the longtime Marin world music group Ancient
Future. Parker, who worked with Mickey Hart on his "Planet Drum" project
when she was completing her music degree at UC Santa Cruz, describes her
style on this eight-track instrumental album as Indo Latin jazz. And just as
the Spanish drink sangria is a blend of wine and brandy and other flavors,
"Sangria" is a fusion of Indian classical music with Latin sounds and Middle
Eastern rhythms.
~ Paul Liberatore - Marin Independent JournalVIDEOS:
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble performs Affinity Minus One at Yoshi'sMariah Parker - Sangria
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble at Yoshi's -
Milo's Moment - August 2009
