Marlene Arden | Performer
Marlene Arden is a vibrant, sophisticated, and accomplished Jazz & Contemporary Jazz Vocalist. Marlene moves effortlessly through Classic Jazz Standards, Smoky Blues, Great American Songbook, Smooth/Contemporary Jazz, Brazilian/Latin, and Contemporary genres giving each her own spin. Her distinctive style and dimension evoke a stellar performance filled with a unique blend of warmth, originality, and sparkle. Marlene’s smooth and soulful voice transports the listener into the song’s essence.
Marlene’s International appeal is heightened through her repertoire of songs sung in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian.
Marlene has entertained audiences Worldwide as a Headline Performer and as a bandleader, in long-term engagements at Five-Star Hotels including, The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago; Palmer House Hilton & Towers, Chicago; Four Seasons Hotel, Newport Beach, California; The Westin Banyan Tree, Bangkok, Thailand; Sheraton Imperial Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (ITT Sheraton Luxury Collection); Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia. Performing successful engagements on global cruise lines including Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Inc., Japan Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line.
A lifelong musician, Marlene’s dedication comes not only from education and training but also from her family. She is the daughter of legendary trumpet player and Bandleader Ben Arden and virtuoso violinist Sylvia Arden. Marlene grew up in Chicago listening to family friends perform such as Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, and Sarah Vaughan, to name a few, their influences helped inspire and ignite Marlene’s own musical career.
Marlene has been singing, playing piano and writing music since an early age. She made her professional debut at the age of eighteen singing with her father’s 15-piece house band at the renowned Empire Room in the Palmer House Hilton Hotel, Chicago.
Marlene became the first contemporary singer to earn a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice, from the prestigious American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. She shared her skills on the Voice Faculty at Sherwood Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Marlene continued as a Voice Teacher/Vocal Coach in Chicago and Los Angeles for over thirty years, most recently in her Arizona voice studio. Marlene inspires her students to develop their natural voice and style, by sharing her passion for music and using her expertise as an educator. Many of her students have successful careers in the music industry as a solo artist, obtaining lead and supporting roles in Musical Theatre, to getting signed to a record label.
“Marlene Arden & Phil Conti” were the featured Guest Entertainers aboard Japan Cruise Line’s The Pacific Venus, sailing from Australia, The South Pacific and Japan. The “Marlene Arden Jazz Quartet” received excellent reviews from their recent performances as Guest Entertainers aboard Royal Caribbean International, the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas, appearing in the best jazz club at sea, “Jazz on 4.” The “Marlene Arden Quartet” also received rave reviews on the Celebrity Solstice, the Grand Princess and more.
Marlene Arden & Phil Conti’s latest CD, entitled ”‘S Wonderful” is an eclectic mix of Jazz and Contemporary Jazz. Selections include Cole Porter’s “Night & Day”; Gershwin's “‘S Wonderful”; Van Morrison’s “Moondance”; Michael Franks’s “Down in Brazil”; Sassy Bluesy songs, “Fever” and “Why Don’t You Do Right”... to Contemporary Jazz selections, “Rio de Janeiro Blue”, Ronnie’s Samba, and more...
Along with performing with her band, Marlene has recorded with acclaimed artists including Grammy Award winning Saxophonist Joe Henderson. Marlene has written and recorded an album, “Where Do We Go From Here?"
Her voice was heard on numerous national radio and television commercials including United Airlines, Kellogg's, General Mills, and Oldsmobile. The Sony Corporation contracted her to write, arrange, produce and perform music for use by Sony/Saab in the United States, and Japan has further cemented her reputation in these facets of the industry.
Marlene’s broad-based musical career spans over thirty years, offering inspiration, eloquence and a splash of spice to any venue she touches.