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ABOUT HER CD
Call Me When You Get There is...state-of-the-art piano trio finery."
JazzTimes
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"...an excellent pianist whose voicings sometimes recall Bill Evans...she has a talent for coming up with fresh melodies. This is an impressive disc..."
LA Jazz Scene
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"Mary Louise Knutson has to be one of the most exciting and innovative artists to happen to jazz piano in quite some time. She shows the smoothness and feeling of a Bill Evans (probably the best ever). Her compositions are excellent along with her playing. The performance of the group on the album is superb. Let's hope that this is just the first of many more efforts from this fine artist."
Fan review, Amazon.com
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"Knutson is the same kind of rookie that Ichiro Suzuki is - a proven winner..."
Minneapolis Star Tribune
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"There are always two CDs in my player, Bill
Charlap's Written In the Stars and Mary Louise Knutson's Call Me When You Get There. They
never miss."
Ron Fundingsland, KSUT Four Corners Public Radio - Ignacio, CO
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"Knutson's CD is phenomenal...I'm all over this thing! It's just tremendous...I'm going to be on
this very heavily!"
Ross Gentile, WSIE 88.7 FM - St. Louis, MO
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"Mary Louise Knutson is somewhat reminiscent of Marian McPartland with her combination of strength and lyricism, line and texture, fresh reconceptions and exciting, beautiful original melodies. Piano Jazz is alive and well in Minnesota!"
Andrea Canter, JazzPolice.com
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"I like Knutson's CD, very
nice mood, cool arrangements, and I particularly like her original
tunes."
Ben Sidran, GoJazz Recording Artist
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"...five originals by Ms. Knutson, stellar pieces which lead me to hope she decides to pursue this course in her career..."
Kevin O'Connor, KBEM 88.5 FM - Minneapolis
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"Another example that major labels don't have all the exceptional jazz talent."
Jim Clark, KUSD 89.7 FM - South Dakota Public Radio
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“...highlighting her
thoughtful and articulate piano work is the joyful lyricism of Call
Me When You Get There...”
Arts Midwest Jazz Letter
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"I got Call Me When You Get There from a friend at a time I really needed some cheer. This album was awesome. The phrasing is perfect, and unlike other jazz trios, there is no pretention to Ms. Knutson's work. I'm especially charmed by "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" -- making something fresh out of what could be a hackneyed standard. But the whole album is fresh, relaxing, and inspirational. If you love jazz piano - this is an amazing find....a treasure for any jazz collection."
Fan review, Amazon.com
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"Listening to Knutson's signature
piece is like eating chocolate mousse; smooth, rich and filling. Yumm."
Bob Friedman, Fan
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“I always find it
very heartening to listen to a CD with writing that makes sense...to both the mind and the soul.”
Anton Schwartz, Tenor Saxophonist, San Francisco Bay Area
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Excerpt from a fan letter: “My iPod, with 3376 songs on it, it doesn't shuffle to your music as often I would like...but each time yours comes 'round it stops me in my tracks. I honestly don't know what it is, but there's something about your playing so deeply from your heart...your music moves the soul.”
Anne Carroll, St. Paul, MN
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“What a wonderful surprise! I was blown away! The depth of Ms. Knutson's voicings are only matched by the subtle, sultry melodies that sweep you away on a jazz journey. Where has this powerhouse been? Surely, she heralds in a new and better movement in modern jazz, with homages to the past (Tangerine) but also with energetic and exciting originals (Meridian) that focus on depth and form. She is a phenom that was totally unexpected when I opened the shrink-wrap. I am waiting for more recordings with baited breath. If Bill Evans and Marian McPartland had a kid (who took the best genes) it would be Mary Louise Knutson.”
Liz Woodworth, Fan at Amazon.com
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“Her style and technique
stands out like a pearl in a sea of common ivory pounders.”
Steve Artley, Fan
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“How can a petite lady
become such a colossus behind the keyboard?”
W Larry Keene, Fan
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ABOUT HER CONCERTS
Excerpt from a fan letter: “What a superb concert in every respect. You are so warm and welcoming you make your audience feel like you are in their living room - plus I love it when you tell folks the background of the composers. Your spirit of generosity, humility and kindness shines through in everything you do.”
Madeleine Hart, St. Paul, MN
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Excerpt from a fan letter: “For the two hours during your show, I experienced one of the most sense awakening and soothing occasions I believe I've had in my life. The music you and the two gentlemen provided truly allowed me to escape and find pleasure in a venue I didn't really think was possible. I had heard people speaking of music transporting them to another place before; now I can truly understand the possibility in that. You have created a fan now in the wonderful sound of jazz music.”
Blaine Maher, Shenandoah, IA
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Excerpt from a fan letter: “I really do chuckle to myself when I listen to your colossal gift of music spilling out in gorgeous color upon the canvas of our minds and hearts!”
Torrey Hall, Concert Pianist, Minneapolis, MN
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“As far as Ms. Knutson is concerned...she was fabulous and meeting her and hearing her melodic and right on target playing was one of the highlights of my time in Minneapolis.”
Nick Lagos, California
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Excerpt from letter: “I tell everyone the story about having dinner with Simone and the rest of the band at the Dakota Jazz Club...I had to stop in mid-sentence and say Damn! Who is playing that piano?”
Cliff Starkey, Keyboardist for Simone (Nina Simone's daughter) and formerly the Emeril Live show
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Excerpt from a fan letter: “Bravo! And congrats for your evening at the Dakota. My friends and I
enjoyed the generosity and beauty that flows from your heart and your
hands. Play on!”
James Schattauer, Minneapolis, MN
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Excerpt from a fan letter: “I can't tell you how superb your performance was on Saturday night! I am now one of your biggest fans! Thank you so much for helping to make the evening so memorable!”
Linnea Larson, Center City, MN
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Excerpt from a fan letter: “Your personal concert on Thursday was just the relief and release I needed after a trying week of caring for elderly parents. In the middle of the evening, I realized that I'd completely forgotten my woes - it was wonderful!”
Margaret Tabar, Minneapolis, MN
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Praise from the presenter: “We have had the best reviews ever from the public! Thank you for the show it was great!”
Tom Nigbor, The Park Theater, Hayward, WI
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Praise from the presenter: “The audience was ecstatic about your solo performances as well as your collaborations...they were 'wowed' by your technical prowess as well as your engaging presentation style.”
Jan Viktora, “More Conversations about Jazz” series, University of St. Thomas
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Praise from the presenter: “Music like yours is what makes the Center for the Arts a great place to be.”
Jim Urie, Bloomington Center for the Arts Manager, Bloomington, MN
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Praise from the presenter: “Wausau is still a buzz with your performance and communicative ease on stage...”
Barbara Klofstad, Wausau Grand Theater, Wausau, WI
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ABOUT HER MASTERCLASSES
Regarding Making Sense of Jazz lecture-concert: “Thank you for a remarkable program Saturday night! There's been an amazing amount of buzz (and for some reason, head-patting) going on here all week. We were beyond fortunate to have you with us, and I can't begin to tell you how much all present appreciated it!”
Jeff Whitmill, Director, St. Barnabas Center for the Arts, Jazz@StBarney's Series
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Regarding Making Sense of Jazz: “We got an 'A' on 'Making Sense of Jazz'. Thanks so much! Marketing does polls after events now and the feedback was very positive.”
Edward Vogel, Board Member, Minnesota Orchestra's Crescendo Project
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Regarding Making Sense of Jazz: “Great seminar last night Mary Louise...very informative and entertaining...you rocked!”
Mark Arneson, Producer, arranger, recording engineer, guitarist
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Regarding Freedom from the Written Page: “Thank you for the wonderful presentation! You gave us practical and unintimidating ideas for making first attempts to improvise with jazz harmonies.”
Rebecca Daws, St. Paul Piano Teachers Association
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Regarding Freedom from the Written Page: “...your presentation was one of the best they (St. Paul Piano Teachers Association) ever saw!”
Anne Helfman, St. Paul Piano Teachers Association
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Regarding Freedom from the Written Page: “Thanks for the inspiration and motivation. I've always loved jazz, but have usually felt like it was so out of reach and overwhelming to really approach. I appreciated the accessibility that you provided today for people who are interested but really didn't know a good way to get started!”
Becky Hanson, Association of Professional Piano Instructors
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ABOUT HER TEACHING
“For the first time ever, I played through a chart
and it sounded like JAZZ--thanks to what I'm learning from you. I am so
excited!!!”
Paula Lammers, Jazz Vocalist, Twin Cities
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From the parent of a jazz piano student: “It is wonderful how engaged he is with his lessons. You are so encouraging and supportive of bringing him out. I know he wants to improve for you, so that's great!”
Susan Pollack
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“You are an inspirational and gifted teacher. Thanks again for your patience, attunement, and sensitivity!”
Peter Grant
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