Mary Orji - Interview

Jun 11

In front of the red light with Mary Orji - Check out the full interview HERE

In a world that often forces artists to choose just one lane, Mary Orji chooses to carve her own. The saxophonist, composer, bandleader, rapper, poet, and creative director joined taboo to talk about the intersections of identity, discipline, and radical imagination.

“Growing up in a town that's kind of a little bit more restricted… there's not much to do. It allowed me to always focus inward… to cultivate my creativity in a space where I didn’t have much and just thrive off of that.”

Born and raised in Endicott, New York, Mary reflects on how isolation sparked her imagination. It was in that space, away from distraction, that her ability to listen to herself began to grow.

🎷 Early Roots, thanks to Al hamme

Mary’s journey with the saxophone began not with a purchase, but with a gesture.

“Al Hamme literally lent me his saxophone. That’s how it started.”

The late Al Hamme, a respected educator and musician in upstate New York, recognized Mary’s potential early on — and gave her access not just to an instrument, but to belief. His mentorship and generosity laid the foundation for everything to come.

“He was the first person to really invest in me — not just with his words, but with action. That saxophone changed the direction of my life.”

Mentor: Sherrie Maricle

One of the most powerful moments in the interview comes when Mary talks about Sherrie Maricle, a trailblazing jazz drummer, composer, and bandleader

For those unfamiliar, Dr. Sherrie Maricle is best known as the leader of the DIVA Jazz Orchestra — an all-women big band founded in the 1990s that has redefined what women-led jazz ensembles can look and sound like. A Juilliard graduate and tireless educator, Sherrie has dedicated decades to uplifting women in jazz while demanding the highest musical standards.

“She saw something in me early, but she didn’t let up. She expected excellence, all the time. That made me want to show up prepared — for her, and for myself.”

Conception: A Visual Album

Conception, is both a musical and visual album that explores themes of identity, generational legacy, and divine creation through genre-fluid soundscapes and surrealist visuals.

🎧 Listen:

Conception: The Visual Album

This project is a testament to Mary’s multidisciplinary approach — blending jazz, spoken word, rap, and experimental film into a cohesive vision that refuses to be boxed in.

Now living in Harlem, Mary draws from a wider spectrum of Black creative lineage, while remaining deeply committed to introspection, independence, and honesty.