“The Rose of New Orleans”

Mary Jane Ewing

Mary Jane Ewing began her musical career with studies at Arkansas State University and continued at North Texas State University, honing her skills as a big band singer fronting the fabulous One O’clock Jazz Lab Bands in the late 70’s. Her sultry voice, intoxicating smile and ease on stage took her around the world with folks like guitarist and jazz icon, Charlie Byrd, Lou Rawls, gigs with George Gobel and even Riders in the Sky. In the eighties and nineties, Mary’s Big Band and Quintet toured the planet and were featured on jazz channels of 

in-flight airlines such as USAir and Piedmont Airlines. The list of international talent Mary has worked with is way too long to list!

Before coming to New Orleans, Mary was involved in the musical arts in performance and production for over 30 years. She taught in public schools, served as Vice President of Mid Atlantic Productions, a North Carolina arts festival and events firm, and served as President of the 3rd highest per-capita giving Arts Council in the United States. 

Mary also served under Commanding General Thomas W. Kelly at Fort Dix, New Jersey, as Chief of the Army Command Music and Theatre Branch, under Morale Support Services Division, for the Department of the Army. During this tenure, Mary produced Army Entertainment Soldier Shows, which toured worldwide military bases.  Mary was presented with the highest civilian award and medal a post commander can give an artist, the “Commander’s Award for Outstanding Civilian Service”.

Mary came to New Orleans in 2005 and volunteered for eight months, helping victims with Hurricane Katrina*. She decided to stay. Mary set up shop in the Big Easy by opening Club 300 Jazz Bistro. The result has been the development of a great new venue recognized as the #1 New Club in 2007 and The Top voted Jazz Venue in 2008/9 by media and fans!

Serious jazz enthusiasts, musicians and folks just looking for a great show sought out the experience at Club 300 Jazz Bistro in the French Quarter. Mary and this new Jazz Restaurant won the unbridled support of the most critical musicians and the fervor of the greatest jazz fans here and abroad. Mary’s quintet offers straight ahead jazz, long-standing standards, simmering ballads, blinding up-tempo riffs and sophisticated improvisation at will. The very best performers in New Orleans make up her groups and national performers play and drop in on a regular basis.

“I Love Bein’ Here With You” is her grammy noninated New Orleans CD. Featuring New Orleans musicians, the work is a fantastic romp through a great field of jazz. Performing on the album are easily recognized New Orleans greats such as Tony Dagradi, Chuck Chaplin, Peter Harris, Wayne Maureau, Doug Belote, Larry Seiberth, Steve Masakowski, Brad Goode and more. The record was recorded at Axistudio, now the world famous Esplanade Studios under the ownership and direction of the amazing Misha Kachkachishvili, on the same system as “We Are the World”, many “Police” hits and even Barbara Streisand staples. All of the assets of the studio and musicians have come together here in New Orleans to make a truly fabulous, Grammy-worthy experience. Other discography incudes Just a Drop in the Bucket, Rock the Walls, Flying and Singing and others.

Mary now is touring with Art Council Concert Series, Citywide Festivals, Private Corporate Events, European Jazz Clubs and Private House Concerts all over the world.

She offers a wide variety of entertainment options from her award winning quintet to the amazing horn band, A.R.E. (The American Rock Ensemble) featuring the Rose of New Orleans and the Basin Street Horns. A.R.E. is an electric big horn band that can burn any venue down with their originals and renditions of great horn jazz rock from BS&T, Chicago, Tower of Power and more with that New Orleans funky twist!

Please consider a prominent opportunity for performance for Mary and her amazing Allstars at your next event. 

*While in her Smoky Mountain home, Mary was called by friends to help with the Katrina disaster for a few days in October of 2005. She packed up a few days clothes and headed to NOLA. A few days evolved into a year of commuting from home to a camper on the parking lot of the West Bank Shopping Center across from the State FEMA offices. Mary personally visited more than 2500 homes, assisting with the dizzy paperwork needed for financial assistance. Day after day disaster victims would knock on her door asking for help with the FEMA paperwork, or simply how to find the FEMA offices. After a while even the folks at the FEMA sent victims in need to Mary. So she helped. Mary spent countless hours with families working on paperwork, making thousands of phone calls and spending time in their nature-pounded homes. Though there’s still a hideaway in the Smoky Mountains, Mary became a permanent resident of New Orleans and planted musical roots. She was also one of the new investors in New Orleans' reconstruction by opening a 40000 sq ft jazz restaurant, providing gigs to musicians when they needed them the most. Her venue was voted the top jazz venue in New Orleans by media and fans and many think she’s one of the Hurricane Angels. She sure sings like one.