Album Notes

"I call her the female Chet Baker" -Judi Donaghy, vocalist with Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra Maud Hixson is an up-and-comer on the Twin Cities jazz scene, presented as "Best New Voice" in 2003 by Prairie Home Companion regular, Prudence Johnson at the KBEM Winter JazzFest. Her first recording features her and pianist Rick Carlson (veteran of the Wolverines Big Band) performing seven standards from the first half of the twentieth century. "Her voice has the sophistication of silver satin, a cool sexiness that's absolutely in control of the situation. Doing the clever banter of Gershwin or Cole Porter, she sounds the way Grace Kelly looks." -Lydia Howell, the Minneapolis Observer "There are several reasons why Maud Hixson's special...among them is her legitimate, lifelong devotion to the music she's chosen to perform. She's not just attaching herself to the latest musical fad; she's totally immersed herself in the culture and lore of the art. Her knowledge of songs is infinite, her intonation and musicality are irresistibly and immediately appealing to the ear, and her grasp of this music's special language is pure genius." --Arne Fogel, vocalist, historian, broadcast and recording artist "Maud has a warm, rich voice that is remindful of butter and caramel, but what she does with it is truly unusual in this day and age: she sings the song! She is not about flash and pyrotechnic displays. She chooses great material and is true to the lyric and melody. Maud caresses a melody and delivers a lyric honestly and straight from the heart--pure and elegant. -Prudence Johnson, vocalist, regular performer on Garrison Keillor's radio show, A Prairie Home Companion