Singing and performing brings me joy. There’s an element of escape and liberation, too, but also a connecting with the audience, of sharing the joy.

When I was a little girl, my father sang in little clubs, a lot of Italians, and I’d sit on a stool and watch him sing, mesmerized. Looking back I see that singing was in his heart, all the Jazz standards, he was a crooner–he told me once that when he was a very young man, he’d been the choice for the Tommy Dorsey Band in its early days, but my father was married young and had responsibilities, and he always suggested that Frank Sinatra, who signed shortly after, was the second choice for Dorsey.

I mean, come on, I have to sing.

There’s the typical story of open-mic nights that goes back more decades than I’d rather not admit to, but the first real gig was at The Lion’s Den, solo. Band work began with country music and various configurations, including duos and quartets and quintets, but I’ve always loved Jazz and I quickly moved in that direction, but blues, R&B, and even funk can be a lot of fun.

 

Mary Ann Palermo Today

Mary Ann Palermo’s performances can take many forms, with configurations ranging from duos and trios, all the way to five- or six-piece ensembles to serve a wide variety of venues and special events. The Berkshires of Massachusetts and the New York and Connecticut Tri-State area is home to a wealth of talented musicians, and many, like Mary Ann Palermo, are versed in many genres, but with an underlying love of Jazz. She’s performed at Jazz festivals, concert series, and private events, and has been a regular performer–often in duos and trios–at Canyon Ranch, in Lenox, Massachusetts since 2021.

Mary Ann Palermo has recorded many originals and covers, now available through all major music streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music

In the Night was released in December 2024, through Averosa Records. In the Night presents old Jazz standards and half-forgotten classics of Jazz reimagined by singer Mary Ann Palermo and five-time Emmy winner Dave Smith on Steinway grand piano. Not only are the performances wonderful, but Smith’s audio engineering and production magic of this live-in-studio recording achieves a subtle sonic space that provides heightened listening pleasure. For more information about In the Night, click here.

Palermo’s previous album is Jazz on the Rocks, released through Averosa Records in November of 2022, a collaboration with producer and musician Tom Teeley that transforms a captivating blend of iconic popular songs into Latin Jazz, Jazz Ballad, Jazz Rock, Jazz Pop, and Jazz Soul. A second recording project with Teeley, a Jazz reimagining of select Beatles songs, is in the mastering stage. She also works with Bob Salmieri, whose Italy-based label, Cultural Bridges, has produced several songs featuring Palermo on vocals and two of these songs include lyrics credits for her, and there’s yet more songs in development.