Diane Marino

Jazz singer and pianist Diane Marino entered the world in Manhattan, the New York City borough where she also took her first piano lessons at age ten. Classical piano became her focus at the High School for the Performing Arts, after which she continued her studies with Murray Perahia at the Mannes College of Music. Before completing her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance at Mannes, she had already launched a professional career that found her singing and playing throughout the New York metropolitan region. Her solo work ended once she met bassist Frank Marino; the two later married and together established the Brazilian nonet Som Brasiliero. The couple’s own M&M Records imprint introduced the Diane Marino Quartet’s debut album, A Sleepin’ Bee, on August 26, 2003, with Rusty Jessup on flute and saxophone alongside drummer Chris Brown. On the Street Where You Live appeared the following year on May 4. After the Marinos moved to Nashville, Diane issued her third album, Just Groovin’, on September 16, 2008, offering her own readings of 1960s pop standards and featuring guest appearances by Kirk Whalum, Houston Person, and Felix Cavaliere.