Maggie's CD, "In The Wings", is a collection of 9 original songs and compositions with one cover tune. Her skill and passion as a player, vocalist and writer place her in the foreground of contemporary jazz musicians.
The ensemble is comprised of saxophonist and flutist: Paul Lindbergh, bassist: Dean Taba, drummer: Noel Okimoto, and guest appearances from Eldred Ahlo on trumpet and flugelhorn, and guitar sweetening from Kevin Hirasa.
The song "Powerful Dreams" and the CD is dedicated to Maggie's mother, Martha Herron.
"Thirty years of experience are personified in a voice that is remarkable for its depth and range. Herron's diction is precise and she's quite adept at evoking emotions in her listeners." Technorati Music
"From her French language track to a surprising cover of "Woodstock" there is a harmonious ebb and flow to this recording that becomes more engaging the longer you listen. "In The Wings" is an honest and refreshing portrait of an artist who would appear to be not only comfortable with who she is but with the direction she is heading." Digital Jazz News
"A surprising, standout, self-produced jazz album found its way to the Weekly recently. It sat there, in its glossy black sleeve, waiting for a pair of ears to take it seriously, and, finally, on a Thursday morning its musical sedatives spilled out of this writer's ear buds. Think Joni Mitchell, think Diana Krall, think Anita Baker." Shantel Grace, Honolulu Weekly
"Singing... is far from Maggie's only card in the deck. A keyboardist since before fourth grade, she knows her way around the ebonies and ivories." Fame
"Herron�s classical and jazz roots shine through. Amidst the brand names, hot flashes, and newcomers in the competitive often repetitious and cloistered old boys' jazz network, Maggie Herron's "In The Wings" deserves much greater notice than it's been receiving on the Mainland. National Arts and Entertainment Music
"An intimate, personal set that was made for the grown up in you, this is after hours music scaling the heights." Midwest Record Entertainment
Maggie came from a large and musical family, the 9th of 12 children. Home was filled with older siblings practicing on musical instruments, listening to Sinatra, pop and rock of the 50's and 60's while Maggie immersed herself in classical music. Her mother and oldest sister Mary mentored her in practice and study that started with private lessons when she was 6 years old.
By the age of 10 she was the church organist and vocalist. As a teenager she won first place honors to perform Beethoven's 2nd piano concerto with the Muskegon symphony orchestra and soon after won a scholarship to the summer music program at Interlochen. Maggie was in the top five finalists there for the piano concerto competition. Before the age of 16 she had lead roles in several school dramas and performed regular recitals from a classical piano and voice repertoire. Then, passion running deep, Maggie left home with her high school sweetheart. They lived on the road and in communes for a few years playing several instruments and music of the times.
Her first "gig" was in a piano bar in Seattle, with long engagements at the Camlin and Sorrento Hotels. And throughout the years she supported herself and her 2 children as a performing musician. The music ranged from pop, rock, R&B, top 40 and blues with vocal jazz standards becoming her focus.
Hawaii has been Maggie's primary home over the past 35 years. Being a lover of nature and quiet surroundings she chose to live on Lanai where she was the principle musician for 12 years at Manele Bay Hotel. For 3 years she hosted a jazz show as "Radio Maggie" on a local Hawaii station. The show featured jazz of all eras and commentary from Maggie on the writers and performers.
She has opened concerts for Dave Brubeck, Taj Mahal, Richie Havens, Phoebe Snow and the Jazz Crusaders. She is a unique vocalist, pianist and composer and self taught in jazz. Only recently has Maggie left her quiet and somewhat secluded lifestyle to live and perform in the city of Honolulu.