Jazzing it up for a new audience/ Maree Montgomery `rediscovered’

Affectionately known as Australia's `First Lady of Swing', Maree Montgomery and her inspirational jazz recordings are being reintroduced to a new audience after her album Sweet'n Hot, recorded in 1992 was recently featured in a one hour special on Radio Swinging Hamburg Jazz Radio.

In an interview with On With the Show's Shirley Broun, Maree said she was absolutely `delighted' to receive the airplay in Germany last month.

"They played 15 tracks, but the interesting thing is I recorded this album 29 year ago," she said.

"The album took flight in 1992 after doing a lease deal with Polygram, and Adele Baker took on promotions and did an amazing job."

Maree said well-known guitarist Paul Baker engineered, produced and penned the original song `Sweet'n Hot' and the song went on to be nominated for an APRA award in 1994.

"We featured the Ed Wilson Big Band on three tracks and other famous jazz musicians on many other tracks," said Maree.

"How Paul Baker was able to fit the famous Big Band of 18 musicians into his recording studio, I will never know as his studio was actually a six-car garage turned into a studio. They recorded with no headphones on, just listening through two JBL speakers, and the rhythm section was in another room. Oh what fun we had!"

Another original song from the album entitled `Sydney the Place to be', written by John Parks, took flight because of the Sydney 2000 Olympic period, said Maree.

"The song received international airplay and also became a signature tune on Sydney radio station 2GB for three years."

Maree, 71 said she couldn't be happier that the music is living on 29 years later.

"I did this project mainly to say `thank you' to all the wonderful musicians I have worked with throughout my singing career," she said adding: "Let's keep music alive!"

All the tracks on the Sweet'n Hot album can be heard on Spotify and downloaded with iTunes.

STAY TUNED to our `On With the Show website' to read more about the lovely Maree Montgomery, who we spoke to exclusively. Find out more about the fascinating life and times of this talented and endearing performer, including a few of her favourite photographs.

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