Betty MacDonald
Bio & Performance

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Featured Performances

 

"Hosting Late Night Jazz on WDST FM for more than a decade, earned Betty the title of Jazz Connection For The Hudson Valley."

 
 
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Bio

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Betty MacDonald is well known throughout the Hudson Valley as a jazz performer and for her many years as host of jazz radio programs on WDST and WAMC. In her 16 years as a  programmer she had opportunity to interview jazz legends Dave Brubeck, Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Carmen McRae, Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheny, Joe Williams, Marian McPartland, and Nancy Wilson.

Betty recently released her second CD "Dream Come True", co produced with guitarist-composer, Joe Beck featuring an all star lineup with Warren Bernhardt, Mike Mainieri, Jay Anderson, Dennis Mackrel, and Peter O'Brien. The album is comprised of some jazz standards near and dear to her heart, with original compositions of her own and those of Beck and Bernhardt.

Betty’s eclectic spirit has made her part of the Marc Black Band, Iabas, (Brazilian music), Winston Grennan’s Ska Rock Band, Critical Theory, (world music group), and Peggy Stern’s samba/salsa band, Estrella.

Betty’s music has taken her abroad to jazz festivals in Russia, India, and Turkey and she was a featured artist in festivals in New York City, Kansas City, Catskill, and Kingston. She has shared the stage with Dave Brubeck, David Darling, Ed Summerlin, Maxine Sullivan, Howard Johnson, Jimmy Cobb, Sheilah Jordan, Roswell Rudd, and Karl Berger to mention a few.

In addition to spreading the sound of jazz, Betty has a busy schedule performing in concert, teaching privately, and conducting workshops teaching improvisation. She was chosen to be a member of the Wall of Fame at her high school in Olean, NY, as Musician of the Year by the Ulster County Arts Council, and a documentary of her career is being made by Joy Hopkins Hausman and eminent film maker, Burrill Crohn.

Betty has released a CD of the Billie Holiday Tribute concert performed at Unison Arts Center with Peter Tomlinson and Jim Curtin.  She and Pete Levin are currently mixing an album of recordings made with guitarist, Joe Beck. She is also working with recording engineer Stuart Breed, mixing another recording made live in concert with the Hudson Valley Jazz Greats,  Mike Mainieri, Jay Anderson, and Dennis Mackrel.

 

On this page:  Bio   Discography   Featured Performances

Featured Performances

"Betty has thrilled audiences from Santa Fe to India
with her intimate and energetic stage presence."

Music Festivals

Salt Lake City Jazz Festival
Newburgh Jazz Festival on the Waterfront
Bitej International Song Festival
Jazz String Summit, NYC
Kansas City Women's Jazz Festival
Red Hot Mama Jazz Cruise
Jazz Yatra India
Tulip Festival, Albany, NY
Pepsi Jazz Fest in the Park, Western NY
Jazz Up the Hudson, Catskill, NY

Betty has performed with ...

John Abercrombie
Jay Anderson
Joe Beck
Karl Berger
Warren Bernhardt
Marc Black
Carla Bley
Dave Brubeck
Kenny Burrell
Jimmy Cobb
David Darling
Jack DeJohnette
Mark Egan
Eric Erickson
Curtis Fuller
Joe Giardullo
Winston Grennan
Dave Holland
Howard Johnson
Sheila Jordan
Pete Levin
Tony Levin
Mike Mainieri
Pat Metheny
David "Fathead" Newman
Benny Powell
Maxine Sullivan
Ed Summerlin
Happy Traum

On this page:  Bio   Discography   Featured Performances
Discography  

Featured Recordings, as a solo artist:

"Billie Holiday Tribute" CD release 2008
    recorded live in concert at The Unison Arts Center
    Featuring Peter Tomlinson (piano) & Jim Curtin (bass)
"Dream Come True" CD release  2005
    Co-produced with Joe Beck
    Featuring Warren Bernhardt, Mike Mainieri, Jay Anderson,
    Dennis Mackrel & Peter O'Brien
"Soulful" CD and Cassette release  1996
    Co-produced with Warren Bernhardt
"Standard Elegance"
"S'Jazz"
"Waltzing In The Sagebrush"

Discography

The Peace Church Concerts, Karl Berger
Woodstock Moods & Moments
3/4 For Piano & Orchestra, Carla Bley
Three Gypsies, Casse Culver
I Sing My Songs For You, Philip Jarrell
Debutante, Willie Tyson
American Stranger
, Happy Traum
Sweet Sorcery, Cathy Winter/Betsy Rose
Gravity, Joe Giardullo
The Marc Black Band, Marc Black
And I Love You, Abraham Wilson
Flying On The Wings Of Heaven, Judi Bachrach
Beautiful Animal Run, Marc Black
Come Home: Landscapes Of The Heart, Andy Bryner
Feel It, Ritual Motion
Alternative Woodstock & Pillowface, Abba Rage
Iabas Traditional Brasilian Band, Emilia Biancardi
The Shadow Of The Moon, Eric Erickson
Veil Of Fog, Marc Black
Stroke of Genius, Marc Black
 

On this page:  Bio   Discography   Featured Performances