Karen Marguth

Song stylist, radio host, educator, and choreographer Karen Marguth is receiving rave reviews since the release of her eponymous CD.
★ ★ ★ ★ ½ – Downbeat Magazine
“Karen is one of the essential 101 chanteuses of all time” – Jazz Magazine, France
“Karen is, indeed, a jazz singer, with pinpoint intonation and a supple voice allowing her to phrase and scat with audacity.” – Cadence Magazine.
Karen’s performances incorporate classic and modern jazz, as well as Latin, Brazilian, Americana, and funk. In October of 2009 she released a 15-track CD which garnered high praise and received international radio play. Her new album, released in January 2013, is a collection of 20 songs by esteemed songwriter Carroll Coates, and features guest artists Richie Cole and Gilbert Castellanos.
Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and currently living in Central California, Karen Marguth has been an active performer throughout her life. Her professional background includes teaching, instructional coaching, providing clinics for jazz vocalists and choirs, choreographing, directing and performing in regional theatres and international touring shows, singing in rock, funk, blues, Americana, and jazz bands, doing voice-overs and studio work. She has performed as a featured vocalist at jazz festivals throughout the United States and France. Karen also hosts a weekly radio show at KFSR in Fresno, called “The Vocal Hour,” which airs Fridays at 2pm Pacific Time at kfsr.org.
“Karen Marguth is a spiritual grandchild of hipness highness Annie Ross. Karen Marguth (self-release 49:56 ★★★★½) is the work of a singer with a swift, light voice and the mobility and diction to roll over the tongue-twisting speed bumps of a vocalese piece like “Sister Sadie.” When Marguth turns her skills to a properly engineered mating of words and music, she takes off like a Zephyr. Her “Blackbird” medley and “Happy As The Day Is Long” swing fiercely with only bass accompaniment, and she scats with a proper abandon. This is a singer who prefers to trot and sprint, and does it with commanding zest.” -Downbeat Magazine
“We regularly receive CDs from musicians who are totally unknown to us. Sometimes, we understand quickly why we’ve never heard of them, but sometimes we are pleasantly surprised. Such is the case with Karen Marguth. She has all the talent of a great jazz singer. Gifted with technique without flaw (great precision in all registers and impeccable articulation) her excellent phrasing permits her to easily scat and swing. Karen also shows that she knows how to do without harmonic support for much of her album, offering beautiful duos with bassist Kevin Hill. Karen Marguth’s clear and smooth voice will charm you. A Californian to discover.“ - Jazz Magazine, France
“Jazz from Central California? Believe it. Fresno-based vocalist Karen Marguth has teamed up with the cleverly unorthodox band Espacio (which boasts a mandolin, guitar, bass and drums lineup) to put out her most swinging session yet. She’s got a fresh as a daisy tone, elastic as all get out, and has the rare quality of being adventurous without being cacophonous. Marguth’s beautiful quality is on full display for ‘Nearness of You,’ while she has no problem giving a loose and infectious reading of ‘Blackbird’ as a vocal/bass duet. The band serenely swings on ‘Limehouse Blues/Sister Sadie’ while Marguth’s enthusiastic voice swings and snaps like a paddle ball game. She and the band pour over with the joy of music here; guaranteed to wipe that frown off your face. Get this lady up and down the coast!”
-George Harris, All About Jazz, May 2010
“No schmaltz and no BS. Karen Marguth and Espacio swing hard, and bring a fresh sound to the often tired world of jazz vocals.” - Joe Moore, Station Manager KFSR Radio, Fresno, CA
“Karen really hit this one out of the park… Her singing style is truly original… highly appealing… and backed by some great musicianship. Kudos to all concerned.” - Bob Collins, Jazz Producer, WRHU, New York
“What a treat to hear Karen and Espacio at their show in Sun Valley, Idaho. Their sound is fabulous, and Karen’s scatting and singing is superb.” - Ryan Hoffman, Pearl Django, Seattle, WA
“As a jazz singer, Karen Marguth fills the bill. She’s spot on key, and phrases with ease and feeling.” - George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
“What wonderful music! Karen is a great artist. I’ve been transmitting her music on my program on Radio Fidelite. If she comes to perform here in France, I’m sure she’ll have a large audience.” – Andre de Chabannes, Jazz Radio Producer, France
“We LOVE Karen’s CD, and have already played two tracks from it, with plans to play many more! She’s great, and so is her band.” - Katie Malloch, Canadian National Broadcast
“Being a busy bandleader, I didn’t get to hear much of Karen and Espacio at the Sun Valley Festival, but what I heard was excellent!” - Bill Allred, Bill Allred’s Classic Jazz Band
“Karen’s album is a very pleasant surprise. Of the first jazz recordings I’ve received this year, over half of them are by female vocalists, and this one stands out. I’ll enjoy playing it.” - Jack Hopke, Producer at WWNO radio, New Orleans, Louisiana
“Karen’s CD is a jazzy delight. I’ll be giving it lots of air play on CHRW. This is a very tasty debut jazz offering. I’m hooked.” - Alicks Girowski, Music Director, CHRW 94.9 FM – London Ontario, Canada
“I like Karen’s CD a LOT! Last week on my Just Jazz show I wanted to feature the best/newest disc received in so far in 2010 and Karen’s CD was it.” - Norm Movitz, KMST “Just Jazz” radio host, Rolla, Missouri
“Karen is really top-notch. We featured her new CD recently during “Morning Edition” and enjoyed a phone interview with her.” - Lee Stott, WKYU radio host Lee Stott, Bowling Green, Kentucky
“Karen’s new album is excellent, and her singing–terrific!” - Rebecca Kilgore, jazz vocalist, Portland, Oregon
“Karen’s new CD with Espacio was listed as Fresno Bee’s Best Local CD of 2009. Marguth has this smooth and sultry voice… her vocals are lush, and downright delightful.” - Mike Osegueda, Fresno Bee
“Karen has put out a killer CD, so tasteful, and there are so many subtleties… the only thing better is to hear her in person.” - Jason Wanner, pianist, Blue Street Jazz Band
“This musically versatile songbird has a bell of a voice; clear, lyrical…her latest CD is a first-rate work.” -The Independent News, Pleasanton, CA