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Margaret Slovak
Margaret Slovak is a jazz guitarist, composer and painter.
About Me
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Margaret Slovak is a guitarist and composer.
Margaret moved to Austin, Texas in 2012 from the New York City area. Margaret
performs her original music, which is a unique blend of jazz, classical and world
music styles; she also plays jazz standards, bossa novas and contemporary jazz.
She received her BFA in music from the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle,
Washington in 1986, and studied with guitarists Ralph Towner, John
Abercrombie and Dale Bruning. Margaret has performed in New York City and
throughout the United States, Canada and Europe and has played and/or
recorded with such artists as Fred Hersch, Michael Formanek, Michael Sarin,
Harvie S, Art Lande and Bob Moses.
In addition, Margaret is a visual artist, creating paintings and drawings that reflect her music; Margaret’s
artwork also adorns the covers of her recordings. She has released four CDs featuring her
original compositions: Undying Hope, New Wings, For the Moment and Ballad for Brad. Her new
duo CD with bassist Chris Maresh, A Star's Light Does Fall, is her 5th release; it features their unique take
on classic and non-traditional Christmas music. Margaret’s music has also been included on several
compilation CDs, and she was featured on OPB’s Oregon Art Beat television program. Her music has
received extensive airplay; excerpts have also been utilized on NPR’s Morning Edition
radio program.
In addition to her public performances, Margaret plays for patients in hospitals,
cancer treatment centers and hospice and for residents in senior and memory care
communities. Margaret is also included in Scott Yanow’s 2013 book The Great
Jazz Guitarists: The Ultimate Guide.
My Jazz Story
My House Concert Story
I met my husband when I performed a solo guitar show at a house concert in Austin, Texas in 2009. I love playing and attending house concerts; the intimacy of this setting allows the musicians to perform in a place where the music can be listened to in the deepest way, and the musical connection between the musicians and the audience members is uninterrupted by other activities.
