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Marti Mendenhall

Jazz Singer, Songwriter and Radio Show Host, with meaningful lyrics compared to Stacey Kent and scat solos to Karrin Allyson and John Pizzarelli

About Me

Marti Mendenhall is quickly gaining momentum as a Performer, Songwriter, Producer and Podcast Host. She is a magnetic, engaging performer, whose live shows are entertaining and original. Marti sings a catalog of Jazz standards and Jazz-Pop originals. Recently featured in Oregon Music News, her meaningful lyrics are often compared to Stacey Kent, and her scat solos to Karrin Allyson and John Pizzarelli. She artfully combines her training in vocal performance, classical piano, and vocal improvisation with a new and fresh take in the world of jazz-pop.

Marti Mendenhall keeps expanding her talents into new projects and compositions. Her passion for music and great food has given rise to a new podcast called Sound Tasting PDX on Portland Radio Project – where food meets music. Her love of all Holidays have contributed to the release of the new Christmas Holiday Jazz Original, “Here I Am Home,” available to digital distributors on November 17th, 2017.

Marti is an Oregon native and holds a bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance from University of Northern Colorado. She has headlined and served as a clinician at both the 'Boise State' and 'Jazz in Jacoby' Jazz Festivals. Highlighted performances include Portland 5, the Jack London Revue, Bite of Oregon, Tony Starlight's Supper Club and the famed Jimmy Mak’s in Portland.

Over the past several years, Marti has also built a solid reputation on social media, including tweeting about the music business, behind- the-scenes information and social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Visit MartiMendenhall.com for more information.

“I think that’s plenty to talk about. She’s a bright light with great pipes.” Tom D’Antoni, KMHD Radio Host, Oregon Music News

“Marti is a musician par excellence, with a superbly trained voice that can do almost anything she asks of it.” - Mike Horsfall, Tall Jazz

“Marti is not only a talented singer and writer, but she understands the audience is there to be entertained.” – Tony Starlight

My Jazz Story

Jazz is my passion! I've been singing jazz as long as I can remember. My mother was a music teacher and folk-singer, and my father a huge music fan. My mom grew up singing jazz standards with all of her 7 siblings. I can remember times at my grandmother's house, singing in amazing harmony before dinner. The last big family reunion, my uncle-the-arranger wrote out parts, and the family formed a band, and we all sang standards in the middle of a state park! My first jazz album was a gift from my brother when I was 8 years old. It was Chick Corea, Return to Forever. This album taught me that I could learn from the jazz greats by listening to recordings and going to hear live music. It was an amazing epiphany for me, and I started listening to jazz at every opportunity. I will forever remain a huge Chick Corea fan! He was my first big crush in the world of jazz. My mother was the one who helped me with my first big college jazz audition. She carefully hand-wrote a lead sheet for Skylark, and we practiced together for hours. My parents have both been my biggest supporters, and I have to say they are the reason I'm singing jazz today. As I've grown older, jazz has become part of who I am. When I'm on stage, jazz gives me the ultimate freedom as a singer to be creative and live in the moment. When I’m writing, Jazz allows me to express myself, speak from my heart and encourage others to do the same.