We are nominated in two categories in the World Entertainment Awards! Marina Pacowski for BEST JAZZ ARTIST, and BEST JAZZ ALBUM for our new CD "New Jazz Standards Vol 7: The music of Carl Saunders"- Song "August in New York" Music by Carl Saunders and lyric by Patrick Tuzzolino! 

This honor is shared with all the fabulous musicians who played with me on the album: John Clayton, Roy McCurdy, Josh Nelson, Ken Wild, Larry Koonse, Ken Peplowski, Ron Stout, Rickey Woodard, Scott Whitfield, John Proulx and my amazing co-producers Ken Poston and Scott Whitfield, our wonderful sound engineer Eric Astor and my record label Summit Records! 

Final awards on January 31st in Los Angeles! Woo-hoo! Proud Frenchie in Hollywood! 

Since moving to Los Angeles from France in 2017, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to immerse myself in the vibrant jazz community here. As both a classical pianist and jazz vocalist, I’ve always been drawn to music that challenges me—and inspires me. That’s why I’m so excited (and deeply honored) to share my newest album with you: New Jazz Standards Vol. 7 – The Music of Carl Saunders.

This project means the world to me. It’s not just my second album—it’s a heartfelt tribute to my dear friend, the brilliant trumpeter and composer Carl Saunders. Carl wasn’t just a musical genius; he was someone who believed in me, who welcomed me into his world, and whose music continues to move and inspire me every day.

I first met Carl thanks to trombonist Scott Whitfield, who brought me to Carl’s home for a jam session. Carl had a reputation for having high standards, and I’ll never forget how thrilled I was to be welcomed into that intimate circle of artists and friends. That moment sparked a creative journey that would ultimately lead to this album.

Carl had been searching for the right vocalist to take on Volume 7 of his New Jazz Standards series—and I’m incredibly touched that he chose me. We began working on it together, but sadly, he passed away in 2023 before we could complete it. This album is my way of honoring his legacy and sharing his beautiful, clever, and harmonically rich compositions with the world.

Joining me on this record are some of the finest musicians in Southern California—friends and legends I deeply admire: Roy McCurdy, John Clayton, Josh Nelson, Rickey Woodard, Ron Stout, Larry Koonse, Ken Wild, Scott Whitfield, and special guests John Proulx and Ken Peplowski. Their artistry helped bring Carl’s music to life in the most joyful and soulful way.

Each track on the album tells a story. I chose “August in New York” to open the album because of its swinging energy and great lyrics by Pat Tuzzolino. “High on Blueberry Pie” holds a special place in my heart—Carl used to sing it to me while I accompanied him on piano. Just thinking about those moments brings a smile to my face.

“Theme for Jobim” pushed me to stretch rhythmically and harmonically, and I loved diving into the lyrical phrasing on “Feels Like Home”—a tender duet with John Clayton. “Looking at You” feels like surfing a beautiful harmonic wave, and I had a blast channeling a Basie-style vibe on “You’re So Cute.”

One of the most emotional moments for me was recording “Always in My Heart,” a ballad I dedicate to those who are grieving. And I close the album with “The Minute Waltz,” performed as a solo piano tribute to the hours Carl and I spent together, bonding over Chopin and storytelling.

This album is filled with love, laughter, and memories. It’s a celebration of Carl’s genius, his wit, his generosity—and our friendship. I’m so grateful to everyone who made this project possible, and to all of you who continue to support my musical journey.

Thank you for listening. I hope these songs move you the way they moved me.

With love and swing,
Marina

My CD “Inner Urge” on Summit Records has been entered in FOUR categories for the upcoming 66th Grammy Awards!  

1. The CD has been entered for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

2. The track “Donna Lee” has been entered for Best Jazz Performance.

3. My arrangement of the title track “Inner Urge” has been entered for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Voices.

AND (drum roll, please….)

4. I have been entered for Best New Artist!

For any voting members of NARAS who are reading this, I humbly submit the above for your consideration this voting season.  First round voting begins October 11.  Thank you all so much!

Listen On Spotify

Before we lost the great Carl Saunders, he was beginning work on an album of his original songs to be sung by me. We are moving forward with this project via a Kickstarter campaign which is live now! There are many different levels of support and some VERY cool rewards available!

See the Kickstarter Campaign

Come and celebrate the release of Marina Pacowski's new CD “Inner Urge” at Vibrato on April 19th at 7pm.  Marina will perform with Josh Nelson, Larry Koonse, Roy McCurdy, Luca Alemanno. Special guests: Scott Whitfield, Nolan Shaheed, John Mayer, Brent Fischer, Bevan Manson, along with some surprise guests.

CLICK FOR TICKETS

Some exciting news! Marina’s new CD “Inner Urge” is available now. 

With a stunning mixture of Great American Songbook standards, bebop classics, modern jazz, and even a French song or two, the listener will be transported and transfixed by Marina’s vocal mastery and creative arranging skills from the first note to the last. 

In addition, the recording features a “who’s who” of the Los Angeles jazz scene: John Clayton, Roy McCurdy, Josh Nelson, Brent Fischer, Jon Mayer, Larry Koonse, Peter Erskine, Bevan Manson, Mike Gurrola, Carl Saunders, Nolan Shaheed, Mark Massey, and Scott Whitfield. There is also a VERY special guest appearance by East Coast tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm on the title track! 

BUY THE CD

https://www.liben.com/Proto-Piano-Concerto.html

What an honor and pride to have been chosen by an amazing American composer to play and record his music in America and with a full and fantastic orchestra ( see link to the photos of the recording session)!! The Cd is now available for sale at the composer Frank PROTO’s website! SO EXCITING! You can also listen to an excerpt of the premiere. Virtuoso, brilliant, sensitive and deep, that’s Frank’s music!! I am really blessed and proud to play it! Take a look and a listen at his website and welcome to purchase the CD! ⭐️
https://www.liben.com/9241.html

Photos of the recording session with the orchestra 
https://www.liben.com/pno-conc-session-photos.html

I have started an exciting new collaboration with violonist Megan Shung! Stay tuned, and you can already hire us for concerts, Private events... etc! Music and Sunshine spirit are guaranteed with this new duet!!??✨????

A real blast with an electrifying evening of jazz! A burning band composed by Marina Pacowski on vocals and scat, Bevan Manson on piano, Will Lyle on bass, Kevin Van den Helzen on drums ( covering for Steve Hass, initially planned) Will Brahm, special guest on guitar ( Credits: Arturo Sandoval, Gretchen Parlato, Jane Monheit....) played the whole set with us! And last but not least, Kim Richmond on alto sax couldn’t resist to the energy of fire on stage and sat in with us for the whole 2nd set! What a band!! Smiles for the final bow in front of a Stand up ovation of the audience, packing up the room! #JazzUnderGround @Oeno Vino in Los Angeles! ??❤️?✌?? 
Being praised by my peers on stage at the end of the show and by our special guest Will Brahm who said: “Great stuff, great show Marina!”...”  Marina’s famous magic energy!” .... achieved to put a smile on my face for the rest of the night ... ☺️??

Wether singing some jazz or playing piano, I’ve got 4 exciting and different shows to come in the next 10 days! Then, I am off for France for a month! So, if you want to say hi/ goodbye, you can catch me there! So grateful and happy for this!

1) Tomorrow Monday 27th I’m honored to be invited to play piano solo for the wonderful poet Mandy Kahn, at the University of Philosophical Research at 7.30pm 

2) Wednesday 29th, singing at Jazz-Underground’s série @ Oeno Vino in Glendale 
with the amazing Bevan Manson, Will Lyle, Steve Hass, Will Brahm!  

3) Sunday February 2nd: 11.30-2pm: At the Federal Noho, in duet and invited by the incredible Will BRAHM! 

4) Thursday February 6th: on piano for a Chamber Music/sonata recital at UCI in Irvine with the brilliant Matt Hare on upright bass!  

Stay tuned, More to come when I am back in town, mid-March!!! ?????????❤️?

I will be singing and cheerfully scatting for this performance. Inspired by the amazing musicians I am lucky to share music with:

Marina Pacowski (Vocals) band: 

Bevan Manson: Piano

Steve Hass: Drums

Will Lyle: Bass

Special guest: guitarist Will Brahm.

This Monday! Piano solo and Poetry for a great project conceived by the oh so talented Mandy Kahn! “ I LIKE PEACE”.... Me too! ✌? ☮️ ☺️

?✨⭐️My new CD* is out!! This is the achievement of a 3 years project, since the prolific and amazing American composer Frank Proto, first started to write and dedicate a whole piano concerto to me!! The world premiere was last year at Meadowkark Festival ( Director: Hans STURM) with the Sybarite5 ensemble from NYC and Tyler White conductor. And last summer I had the great honor and joy to record it with a string orchestra in Cincinnati with the wonderful musicians from the Cincinnati Symphony, masterfully conducted by Michael Shertock. I am so grateful to Frank Proto for producing this CD and for being the artistic director of the project. And in the first place, I am truly humbled and honored by the inestimable present of his magnificent music to me! ?

* RED MARK Records label. www.liben.com 
 

... Then I made the highlights at Studio Expresso artists productions! Clare Dodge wrote a stunning resume portrait of my artistic life! Click here for the complete portrait. 
http://www.studioexpresso.com/profiles/MarinaPacowski.htm

So many wonderful performances have happened lately that I barely keep up with my website! We found our inner peace and opened our shakras up to the music and to our wonderful audience at Liberate Hollywood 2 weeks ago! With Derrick Dymalski, composer and multi instrumentalist, Dalton Yoder, on guitar and bass and composer, and myself on piano and vocals and with some original lyrics of mine. Yang and Yin harmonized well. :)

LoI had a blast performing my piano solo recital in Mexico at the Centro Del Arte! Merci Alliance Francaise! The hall was packed up and the audience so warm and appreciative! And such wonderful hospitalit!  Happy to have had the great bassist and composer Andres Martin as my guest for one duet together! Hasta luego!! Until next time!! 

This coming Friday, I will be giving a piano solo recital with French music by Ravel, Satie, Debussy... I am so honored to perform overthere for the 4th time! My dress is chosen and all upside down to travel to Mexico!! 
 

Tonight, I put my sass on and I am ready to perform for a Halloween party at a very chic and secret venue in Whittier/ California!! Can’t wait!! ?????????