Beverly Ritz Music

Quite often in jazz, one can ascertain an artist's life and personality through his or her music. Listening to Beverly Ritz's impressionistic piano solos on Lacey Mae, it is not surprising to find out that she is soft-spoken, very fond of animals, and loves nature. "My music puts me in the same kind of mood that walking or running in nature does," says Beverly. "It brings me to a heightened awareness of beauty and tranquility."

Born in Washington, D.C., she remembers that her father listened to classical radio while her mother enjoyed the music of Henry Mancini and Andre Previn. Beverly started picking out ideas on the piano from the age of three and was writing songs before she learned to read music. She began classical piano lessons when she was eight, also teaching herself cello while in high school and then guitar when in college. At Michigan State, she studied veterinary medicine but was drawn back to music. Although she earned a degree in psychology, she went back to school, majoring in music at Santa Monica College.

Since then, Beverly has worked in a wide variety of settings, having great affection for the time that she spent performing at The Rowdy Creek Yacht Club (in Smith River, California) during 2005-2006. "I had the ultimate freedom to be myself in my music, and it built up my self-confidence tremendously." Of her earlier recordings, BY ROWDY CREEK gained the most attention. Pianists Jessica Williams and George Kahn were among the many who praised this award-winning album.

LACEY MAE, the 2009 release, consists of Beverly's personal interpretations of six jazz standards and three of her originals. Her picturesque music features original chord voicings which are sometimes quite dense but are always full of heartfelt emotions. Her solos are rhythmic, have forward momentum, are often cinematic, and could accurately be called poetry without words. They set scenes for one's imagination.

With LACEY MAE's world-wide acclaim, including airplay on NPR jazz stations, Beverly Ritz looks forward to traveling more extensively, performing at "major league" jazz festivals and clubs across the US and all over the world. Her accessible and haunting style will appeal to many listeners and she has the potential to become a household name.*******************************

Scott Yanow, Liner Notes for LACEY MAE