Fall 2023

56 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 3 S cientific studies have shown what many have suspected: In many cases, musical talent is an inherited trait. Miranda Perl is living proof. Her maternal grandfather is legendary Monterey Peninsula accor- dionist, the late Mike Marotta; her mother is accomplished vocalist Janice Perl.“I was resistant to singing as a child,” she says.“I didn’t realize I wanted to be a singer until I was around 12.” Her grandfather encouraged her, though. “He gave us kids a five-dollar bill if we got up and sang at family parties. He said, ‘a gig is a gig.’ ” While a student at Trinity Christian High, Perl's mother was a music teacher at the school. Perl studied with her mother and sang with the jazz ensemble her mother founded there. Through the ensemble, Perl was introduced to the jazz classics of SarahVaughan and Ella Fitzgerald and then became enamored of younger performers such as Esperanza Spaulding and Gretchen Parlato while at University of Northern Colorado. “Their contemporary sound spoke to me. Standards can be done in so many ways. I enjoy how you can make them sound traditional or more modern.” Back home in Monterey, she is performing with her partner, talented guitarist Adam Astrup as well as saxophonist/composer Gary Meek. For more information, visit www.mirandaperlmusic.com . — Michael Chatfield MUS I C I AN PROF I L E Miranda Perl Photo: Kelli Uldall “