4.2.21
Jazz pianist Mary Louise Knutson appears in PBS documentary Never Too Late: The Doc Severinsen Story!
An engaging new documentary on PBS, Never Too Late: The Doc Severinsen Story, traces the life and groundbreaking career of the unstoppable musical icon, revealing his personal trials and underscoring a remarkable journey of inspiration and obsession. Longtime band member, Mary Louise Knutson, can be seen at the piano in both the documentary and trailer. See :12-:14 in the official trailer.
3.28.20
Jazz pianist Mary Louise Knutson is the cover story in Minnesota Good Age magazine!
By Julie Kendrick - “The world is full of people whose parents insisted that they take piano lessons. But the world’s supply of people who have mastered the piano is much, much smaller. Mary Louise Knutson is one of those few. She took her first piano lesson at age 4 and has since built a career as a nimble, lively virtuoso in the world of jazz.” Read more
3.8.18
Knutson named in The Current's "Ten women to know...!"
3.3.18
Mary Louise Knutson's popular radio interview on Jazz Inspired re-airs!
Jazz pianist Mary Louise Knutson's popular interview on Judy Carmichael's Jazz Inspired National Public Radio (NPR) show re-aired from Sat, 3/3/18 and Fri, 3/9/18. The entire one hour program featured Mary Louise in conversation with Judy. Listen now to the archived interview on the Jazz Inspired website.
The show's host, Judy Carmichael, is a Grammy-nominated pianist/vocalist and is one of the world's leading interpreters of stride piano and swing. She has interviewed Tony Bennett, Bela Fleck, Renee Fleming, Robert Redford, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Chevy Chase, Billy Joel, Seth MacFarlane, and many more great creative artists.
3.25.17
Mary Louise Knutson interviewed on National Public Radio!
Jazz pianist Mary Louise Knutson was the featured guest on Judy Carmichael's Jazz Inspired National Public Radio (NPR) show between Sat, 3/25/17 and Fri, 3/31/17. The entire one hour program featured Mary Louise in conversation with Judy. Listen now to the archived interview on the Jazz Inspired website.
The show's host, Judy Carmichael, is a Grammy-nominated pianist/vocalist and is one of the world's leading interpreters of stride piano and swing. She has interviewed Tony Bennett, Bela Fleck, Renee Fleming, Robert Redford, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Chevy Chase, Billy Joel, Seth MacFarlane, and many more great creative artists.
1.30.17
JazzDiscography.com features jazz pianist Mary Louise Knutson's discography
BRIAN, the discography software developed by Steve Albin has been used by many discographers to compile hundreds of jazz discographies. It is named after Brian Rust, who perfected the chronological recording session format for print discographies. BRIAN tracks every aspect of a record date, from sidemen to songs to composers to issues. Featured on Albin's and Michael Fitzgerald's jazz discography website JazzDiscography.com are such artists as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peggy Lee, Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett, Duke Ellington, Slide Hampton, Joe Henderson, Eddie Higgins, Gigi Gryce, Kenny Barron, Ira Sullivan, and many more. Minneapolis-based jazz pianist Mary Louise Knutson also made the list. View her discography here.
6.17.16
Jazz pianist Mary Louise Knutson performs on TPT's Almanac
Jazz pianist Mary Louise Knutson stopped by Twin Cities Public Television's studio to give a musical preview of the 18th Annual Twin Cities Jazz Festival in St. Paul. Check out her performance of Oscar Peterson's "Kelly's Blues."
8.25.15
4.21.13
Knutson celebrates birthday with trumpet icon Doc Severinsen
Twin Cities pianist Mary Louise Knutson just returned from another U.S. tour with trumpeter and former Tonight Show bandleader Doc Severinsen. World class saxophonist and Tonight Show alum, Ernie Watts, was was also on board this 7-day tour. The band played an impromptu "Happy Birthday" for Knutson during Saturday's show as a lead in to her feature on St. Louis Blues. Birthday cake was delivered to the green room afterwards for all to enjoy. More tour dates are scheduled for Fall 2013.
2.22.12
Knutson Tours with former Tonight Show band leader Doc Severinsen
The ever vibrant Grammy-winning trumpeter and former Tonight Show bandleader Doc Severinsen is back on the road with his big band for the first time in almost five years. Longtime band member and two-time Grammy winner tenor saxophonist Ernie Watts will be on board as well as new member pianist Mary Louise Knutson, a musician Severinsen discovered through his stints in Minneapolis. Doc's "Once More with Feeling" Big Band tour hits the road Feb 22nd with concerts in Minneapolis MN, Omaha NE, Manhattan KS, Lincoln NE, Brookings SD, Storm Lake IA, Cheyenne WY, Greeley CO, Dallas TX, Tulsa OK, Edmond OK, Stillwater OK, Alma AR, and Springfield MO.
10.4.11
Meridian Jazz announces In the Bubble a new release from jazz pianist-composer Mary Louise Knutson
Meridian Jazz announces the arrival of an exciting new work by pianist-composer Mary Louise Knutson. In the Bubble, Knutson's second album for the label, showcases her tasteful playing and arranging as well as her gift for composition. Six standards plus five originals, which range from the McCoy-ish "Can You Hear Me Now?" to an ECM style "Sea of Qi" to a gospel style "Luminous", complete this highly accessible mainstream-to-modern collection.
Twin Cities rhythm icons, bassist Gordon Johnson and drummer Phil Hey, are Knutson's bandmates for the mainstream styles, which comprise half the album. Two other dynamic drummers, Greg Schutte and Craig Hara, are individually featured with Knutson and Johnson for the remaining tunes, which cover a variety of contemporary jazz styles.
In the Bubble is receiving significant airplay nationwide and overseas. It made the Top 10 on the national JazzWeek chart and remained on the chart for 19 weeks straight. CDs and MP3s are available directly from the artist, or at CDBaby, iTunes, Amazon.
Mary Louise Knutson is a fiscal year 2010 recipient of an Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
9.9.08
New Mary Louise Knutson Trio video
The Mary Louise Knutson Trio, featuring bassist Gordon Johnson and drummer Phil Hey, recently recorded a half hour video for Baby Blue Arts, a video production company that is documenting Minnesota's music.
Four tunes from the video, including two standards and two new originals, were made into four separate videos and are now ready for viewing on the Baby Blue Arts website. Check them out!
4.7.07
Mary Louise Knutson Trio returns from successful tour
Jazz pianist and composer, Mary Louise Knutson, recently returned from a month-long tour of the Midwest where she performed with her trio for concert series ticket holders in nineteen cities across ten states. Accompanied by bassist Graydon Peterson and drummer Jay Epstein, Knutson performed a program of jazz classics and award-winning original compositions to enthusiastic audiences.
"I experienced one of the most sense awakening and soothing occasions I believe I've had in my life." - Blaine Maher, Shenandoah, Iowa
10.1.06
Knutson receives two "Minnesota Music Awards" nominations
Jazz pianist and composer, Mary Louise Knutson, was nominated for both "Pianist of the Year" and "Jazz Artist of the Year" for the 2006 Minnesota Music Awards.
4.1.06
Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine features jazz pianist Mary Louise Knutson
Photo by Travis Anderson
4.5.05
Knutson is finalist in Kennedy Center International Piano Competition
Jazz pianist and composer, Mary Louise Knutson, is one of five finalists in the 2005 Mary Lou Williams "Women in Jazz" International Pianist Competition hosted by the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.
8.15.04
Buy your favorite songs by Mary Louise Knutson at iTunes.com
Mary Louise Knutson’s acclaimed jazz trio CD, Call Me When You Get There, is now available at iTunes.
6.19.04
And the award goes to...
Jazz pianist and composer Mary Louise Knutson received the 2004 Nathan M. Pusey Alumni Achievement Award today from Lawrence University. The award is presented to an alumnus or alumna for significant contributions and achievements in a career field and is named after the tenth and youngest president of Lawrence, an exemplary figure in higher education in the 20th century. Located in Appleton, Wisconsin, Lawrence University is ranked among the best of the nation’s private, liberal arts colleges.
10.21.03
Evingson & Knutson reshape Lennon & McCartney with Let it Be Jazz
Vocalist Connie Evingson and pianist Mary Louise Knutson have created 13 new jazz interpretations of Lennon/McCartney classics for the new release Let it Be Jazz: Connie Evingson Sings the Beatles. As a result of a year-long collaboration between the two musicians, the disc is now climbing the national jazz charts - this week ranking in at #34.
C. Michael Bailey, critic from AllAboutJazz.com writes, "I was dumbfounded by the style and grace exuded from this recording...I am ashamed to have stereotyped it as just another anemic attempt to cover Beatles tunes. Let It Be Jazz is a sure top ten pick for 2003."
"Pianist Mary Louise Knutson contributes mightily to the success of this CD with her consistently swinging and sensitive backing. Nice, very nice!"- JazzNow Magazine
10.2.02
Knutson performs with author Salman Rushdie
This week on Minnesota Public Radio’s Talking Volumes, jazz pianist Mary Louise Knutson accompanies author Salman Rushdie as he reads from his new book, "Step Across This Line".
7.12.02
Knutson performs solo concert - Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis
Meridian Jazz recording artist Mary Louise Knutson performs a debut solo piano concert this evening at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. Her program, entitled "American Piano: Jazz Pianists of the 1950s-70s", includes compositions by Dave Brubeck, Erroll Garner, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, and Chick Corea.
1.12.02
Knutson named Top New Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year
While attending the International Association for Jazz Education Conference in Long Beach, CA, Knutson was interviewed on KWJL in Palmdale where hosts Loren Dexheimer and Amir Raheem announced that Knutson had won the award for Top New Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year for 2001.
11.23.01
Call Me When You Get There - 8 weeks in JazzWeek's Top 50
Jazz pianist & composer Mary Louise Knutson’s debut CD, Call Me When You Get There, is currently in its 8th consecutive week in the Top 50, according to JazzWeek - a weekly report of the Top 50 jazz recordings played on radio stations across the US and Canada.
10.26.01
New CD ranks #34 in the United States and Canada
Jazz pianist Mary Louise Knutson’s new CD, Call Me When You Get There, ranks #34, according to JazzWeek - a weekly report of the Top 50 jazz recordings played on radio stations across the US and Canada.
9.21.01
Knutson’s new CD, Call Me When You Get There, airs nationwide
Jazz Pianist Mary Louise Knutson's new CD, Call Me When You Get There, is receiving significant airplay nationwide and overseas. The CD and MP3s are available from the artist or at CDBaby, iTunes, or Amazon.
6.01.01
Call Me When You Get There CD Release Party
Celebrating the release of her debut CD, Call Me When You Get There, jazz pianist Mary Louise Knutson and her trio, featuring bassist Gordon Johnson and drummer Phil Hey, will be hosting a CD Release Party at the Dakota Bar and Grill, 1021 E. Bandana Blvd., just off Energy Park Dr. in St. Paul, MN, on Thursday, June 21, 2001 from 8 pm - 12 am. Knutson’s trio also features the talents of jazz bassist, Gordon Johnson who has performed, recorded, and toured extensively as a bassist with such artists as Maynard Ferguson, Chuck Mangione, Paul Winter, Toots Thielemans, Kenny Werner, Ben Sidran, Stacey Kent, Marlena Shaw, Herb Ellis, Peter Erskine, Manfredo Fest and many others.
Drummer Phil Hey, who plays on six of the CD tracks, rounds out the trio. A New York native, Hey has worked with Kenny Barron, Charlie Rouse, Dewey Redman, and Benny Golson. Since moving to Minnesota, Hey has worked with many visiting jazz greats including Jay McShann, Jane Monheit, Rebecca Paris, and Nneena Freelon. Admission to the CD Release Party is free. Located in Bandana Square, St. Paul, the Dakota Bar and Grill is a well-known venue among Twin Cities jazz aficionados for its unique combination of nouveau Midwestern cuisine with music by local and national jazz greats.
11.01.00
"Call Me When You Get There" featured at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Mary Louise Knutson’s composition, "Call Me When You Get There," was chosen to be the music bed for a documentary that is being shown at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. The documentary, entitled Wellington Lee: 60 Years of Artistic Photography, is part of an exhibit called Body Work: Photographs of Nudes which is showing in the Harrison Photography Gallery through January 7, 2001.