René Marie

Invited to sing the national anthem at a Denver civic assembly, René Marie solemnly intoned the lyrics to "Lift Every Voice and Sing" (known as the Black National Anthem) to the familiar strains of "The Star-Spangled Banner." The Colorado-based Virginian clearly remembers a time when jazz represented democracy in action, and she's doing her best to rekindle that spirit—which doesn't keep this technically gifted, deeply funky singer from having a good time on stage.