Meredith d'Ambrosio

A soft-toned singer whose intelligent interpretation of lyrics is always thoughtful, Meredith D'Ambrosio is also an effective accompanist as a pianist. Her father sang with big bands, while her mother played piano in nightclubs. At age six, D'Ambrosio began to study piano and sing. After graduating from high school and attending the Boston Museum School (1958-1959), she was a professional musician in addition to being a painter. In 1966, she was invited by John Coltrane to be part of his Japanese tour but, feeling she was not ready, D'Ambrosio turned him down. More than a decade later, her confidence was higher and she began to record, often with her husband, pianist Eddie Higgins. An introverted but accessible performer for those who listen closely, Meredith D'Ambrosio has recorded rewarding sets for Spring Inc. (1978), Shiah (1981), Palo Alto (an 1982 album later reissued on CD by Sunnyside), and quite a few dates for Sunnyside (starting in 1985). ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide