Since being presented as "Best New Voice" at the Twin Cities Winter JazzFest in 2003, Maud has become a favorite with audiences and musicians in clubs, concerts, and festivals. A native of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, her work as a bandleader, and with groups such as the Wolverines, the Twin Cities Hot Club, and the JazzMN Big Band has established her as a versatile performer.
2008 brings several exciting new projects. In April, Maud presented a new show entitled "Beyond Category: The Ellington and Strayhorn Songbook", as part of the Twin Cities Jazz Society's "Jazz From J To Z" series. She was joined by Dennis Spears, Lucia Newell and the Rick Carlson Quartet for this sold-out concert.
This year, Maud has created special programs for the audiences at the Heights Theatre, the Twin Cities' longest continuously run show house, celebrating over 80 years. In May she unveiled "What Judy Means To Jazz", preceding a screening of the classic Judy Garland film, The Harvey Girls. In September, she performed selections from The DeSylva, Brown, and Henderson Songbook in conjunction with a showing of the 1947 MGM musical Good News. Both presentations were sponsored by Jazz88. Her upcoming shows, in December, entitled "The Merriest", will pair a collection of holiday jazz with the seasonal favorite, White Christmas.
Maud makes her New York City debut on December 2nd and 9th at the Duplex in "Mickey and Maud: Maud Hixson Sings the Music of Michael (Mickey) Leonard". This is a new presentation (and the first one-person show) of the music of Michael Leonard, directed by Erv Raible, musical direction and arrangements by Tex Arnold. Vocal advisors are Laurel Masse and Shirley Callaway. This project has been made possible by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.
Maud will perform her 4th annual New Year's Eve dinner show at the Times Bar & Cafe in Northeast Minneapolis. This year, she and pianist Rick Carlson are back with "Let's Start The New Year Right--with Irving Berlin", celebrating the songs of the author of "White Christmas" and so many other classic popular songs.
"I think she's the new Peggy Lee; a young singer out of the Midwest. If you like cool, artful storytelling in jazz, check her out!"
--Amanda McBroom, singer/songwriter ("The Rose")
"A rich and lovely voice, a tasteful and tuneful piano, and an ample supply of standards. What else could you want? Every time I hear Maud Hixson sing, I like her more."
--Pamela Espeland, MinnPost
"Thoughtful, subtle, sophisticated music."
--Pamela Espeland, MinnPost
"Maud swings effortlessly, embracing the lyric as well as the melody...she can literally whisper on pitch...she gives each song her undivided heart."
--Andrea Canter, JazzInk
"Hixson takes the stage with unadorned stillness. Her voice has the sophistication of silver satin, a cool sexiness that's absolutely in control of the situation. Doing the clever banter of Gershwin or Cole Porter, she sounds the way Grace Kelly looks."
--Lydia Howell, the Minneapolis Observer
“Maud has the most perfect voice I’ve ever seen for a small room—ever! She does things that I fantasize about doing.”
--Tovah Feldshuh, actress and cabaret performer
"There are several reasons why Maud Hixson's special...among them is her legitimate, lifelong devotion to the music she's chosen to perform. She's not just attaching herself to the latest musical fad; she's totally immersed herself in the culture and lore of the art. Her knowledge of songs is infinite, her intonation and musicality are irresistibly and immediately appealing to the ear, and her grasp of this music's special language is pure genius."
--Arne Fogel, vocalist
"Maud has a warm rich voice that reminds me of butter and caramel, but what she does with it is truly unusual in this day and age: she sings the song! She is not about flash and pyrotechnic displays. She chooses great material and is true to the lyric and melody. These things become superfluous in the hands of a singer concerned only with showing herself off, but Maud caresses a melody and delivers a lyric honestly and straight from the heart--pure and elegant!"
--Prudence Johnson, vocalist
Click on any of the links below to view:
JazzInk Blog Rossi's Review
Bepopified Cue Review
MinnPost Article On Jazz At Cue
Bebopified Blog Concert Review
Jazz Police CD Picks of 2007
Jazz Police CD Review
MinnPost Article On Love's Refrain
Mississippi Rag Article
Villager Article
JazzMN Article
Minneapolis Observer Article
Mpls.-St. Paul Article
