Mary Ann McSweeney

Bass

Born in Aptos, California, Mary Ann McSweeney started playing piano at 5 and violin at 8. In high school, she fell in love with the acoustic bass while watching Ray Brown perform; was chosen at 16 to play Monterey Jazz Festival with All- Star band fronted by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis.

She has played with jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Joanne Brackeen, Lee Konitz, Gil Goldstein, and Bucky Pizzarelli; renowned conductors, Leonard Bernstein, Lalo Schifrin, and John Williams; performed with Renee Rosnes, Vic Juris, Ken Peplowski, Dennis Mackrel, Lewis Nash, and Larry Goldings. Big Bands: Maiden Voyage and Diva; her own quintet at Seixal Jazz Festival in Portugal; Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival at Kennedy Center; recently backed up Veronica Swift at Berkshire Jazz Festival; performed with Ken Peplowski, Randy Sandke, Holly Hoffman, Chuck Redd and Mike Wofford at Roswell Jazz Festival, New Mexico; Monterey Jazz Festival with Claire Daly’s Baritone Monk Band; has toured Europe with David Krakauer’s Klezmer Madness and Audra McDonald.

McSweeney taught at Lincoln Center’s Middle School Jazz Academy for 

12 years. Memorable performances: White House with the Eli Yamin Quintet; Kennedy Center Gala with the Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra; musical director/ arranger at NYC's Birdland featuring Jane Monheit. Has played more than 45 Broadway shows, including Tony award-winning “Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.” In 2017, performed in Greece and Berlin with her Urban Fado Project. McSweeney’s original music can be heard currently nationwide in documentary “From Allegiance to Broadway.” 




For more information go to www.maryannmcsweeney.com