“I marveled at the spell this singer could weave….Bett Butler brought me to that place where music can salve the deepest wound, mend the heart most broken.”—John Swenson, United Press International
Jazz pianist/ singer/ songwriter Bett Butler authored two albums of original songs: Short Stories and the Artist Foundation-funded Myths and Fables. Her holiday release Winter Lullaby: Songs for the Christmas Child mixes originals with lush arrangements of traditional carols in multiple languages, some with her own English translations. Her vocals and/or piano are featured on composer Joël Dilley’s River of Hope, A New World, Wall in the Desert, and the ambient release Gracia.
“A true artist….Her forte is creating rich story songs…we have to call jazz because the right word hasn’t been invented.”—Michael Corcoran, www.austin360
Her song “When Love Has Left the Room” won first place in the Jazz category of the International Songwriting Competition; and her album American Sampler—which includes “what might well be the most honest, haunting and intense version of ‘Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?‘ committed to CD” (Jim Beal, Jr., San Antonio Express-News)—won the Cabaret category of the Independent Music Awards, where she was also a finalist in the Spoken Word with Music category.
“She changes attitudes from song to song with the facility of a trained actor.”―John Swenson, United Press International
Her poetry, short fiction, and videos have appeared in small-press publications in the U.S, U.K., Europe, and Canada. She and her spouse, bassist/composer Joël Dilley, own and operate Mandala Music Production, where she creates original music, voiceover for guided meditation and digital literature, and video for the Mandala Meditation Channel.
“Spontaneous….Thrilling….Agile in her phrasing of a lyric. Miss this Texas vocal powerhouse at your peril.” —Jimmy Fowler, Fort Worth Weekly
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Listen/download/order CDs directly from the artist here.
Selected Discography (as a leader)
- Winter Lullaby: Songs for the Christmas Child (2016, Dragon Lady Records)
- American Sampler (2012, Dragon Lady Records)
- Myths & Fables (2007, Dragon Lady Records)
- Short Stories (2000, Dragon Lady Records