Marlena Studer has performed as a vocalist in a variety of venues and musical styles, but her true love is jazz.  After ten years in New Orleans, she got hooked on singing jazz standards while a Sociology professor at Tulane University.  She is thankful to be able to perform and record with the terrific local artists who are sharing the stage with her today.  Marlena is also the founder of a wine import and marketing company, Studer Imports, and has launched two brands, Solterra and Bo Schembechler wine.   Marlena will perform some of her favorite tunes from two of her recent CD's, "Crazy He Calls Me"  and "Sip It Slowly" (CD's will be available at the concert or through her website: www.marlenastuder.com or www.cdbaby.com ).

 Marlena invites you to experience the jazz, backed up by the sounds of Cliff Monear (piano), George Benson (sax), Scott Kretzer (drums) and David Stern (bass).

 Cliff Monear is one of Detroit's most brilliant jazz pianists. He was educated at the Berkeley School of Music and is currently on the faculty at the Jazz Studies Program at Wayne State University.  Cliff has a rich performance history including major tours with artists such as the Temptations.  Cliff also offers his extensive piano expertise as a sales consultant for Hammell Music.  

 George Benson is a veteran saxophone player whose first professional job was at the Detroit's Grenada Theatre in Detroit in the 1940's.  Since then he has played and recorded with such celebrities as Marvin Gaye, The Supreme's, Gladys Knight & the Pip's, the Four Tops, Lena Horne, Aretha Franklin, Milton Berle, Diana Washington, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Nancy Wilson, Sammy Davis and Tony Bennett. His most recent recording, "George Benson, Sax Master" (Recorded in 1999) was put into the Detroit Time Capsule in 2001.