Maria Jacobs Music

In addition to being a National Recording Artist with her song Pour Me A Cup of Yesterday airing across the country and charting on the Groove Jazz Charts, Maria has recently been named the first Adjunct Professor of Applied Vocal Jazz at Kent State University. She is also Principal Conductor of The Open Tone Music Academy and lead vocalist for their parent organization, The Jazz Heritage Orchestra, where musicians from around the world come to perform.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, this former traffic reporter and disc jockey lived in Los Angeles for twelve years and sang prestigious venues such as The Langham Huntington (formerly the Ritz Carlton,) The Four Seasons in Westlake Village, Chaya of Beverly Hills, B.B. Kings Blues Club and The Torrance Civic Center to name a few.

She recorded with several well-known artists including Alphonso Johnson and Ndugu Chancler of Weather Report. Maria has co-written and recorded with platinum selling writer/producer Tommy Coster and one of her original gospel songs was performed by acclaimed keyboardist/songwriter Lafayette Carthon and FAITH. She has opened for acts like jazz trumpeter/songwriter Chuck Mangione (The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano,) jazz singer/songwriter Bob Dorough (Columbus, Ohio), Average White Band and Loose Ends.

Other acclaimed artists Maria has worked with include Music Director Damien Sneed (Wynton Marsalis), Rodrick Dixon, Alfreda Burke (Broadway), William Henry Caldwell and Robert Porco (Cleveland Orchestra,) and Pat Harris (Jazz Heritage Orchestra).

Maria has released seven solo albums: No Frills, Free As A Dove, Chasing Dreams, Art of the Duo and Here Comes Winter, Lucky Girl, and the new compilation album Hold On Your Heart, Personal Favorites from her first six plus the new title track. She performs in Los Angeles, New York, Columbus and some historic Cleveland venues including Severance Hall (where she sang solo with the Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Chorus,) Playhouse Square, Nighttown, Blu Jazz, The Bop Stop, The House of Blues and The TV8 Morning Show.

Maria’s jazz albums have received wonderful reviews from jazz critic Scott Yanow. Her original R&B album Free As A Dove, received a glowing review from Musicperk.com. Eight of the nine songs were composed by Maria.

Maria has written over 100 songs and is a royalty earning member of ASCAP. Maria has presented master classes in songwriting at The Music Settlement and pop vocal technique at Kent State University - Stark Campus. She is a 2016 inductee to the Brooklyn High School Hall of Fame, her Alma Mater. Her albums can be found on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Apple Music iHeart Radio, Pandora and Spotify..