The announcement of Marilyn Maye’s return to The Folly Theater on September 25 spurred me to revisit the music of the iconic vocalist. I was surprised to discover The Magic of Marilyn Maye: Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center was surreptitiously released on January 16.
The recordings are culled from performances at three venues at the Lincoln Center complex in 2017 and 2018. Four tracks recorded at Dizzy’s feature a backing quartet featuring the Kansas City based guitarist Rod Fleeman.
Fleeman also is part of a big band supporting Maye at the Appel Room on six selections. Maye is accompanied by Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at Rose Theater on the opening track.
Maye is effervescent throughout. Anyone who has had the good fortune of catching a Maye performance this millennium will be familiar with the material. The last old-school saloon singer standing, Maye, 98, is more magical than ever.