What Kind of Music Does Mary Flower Play and What Albums Does She Have?

Mary Flower is a fingerstyle acoustic blues guitarist based in Portland, Oregon, whose repertoire reaches well beyond blues into jazz and old-time New Orleans music. Her latest album, Livin' with the Blues Again, has drawn praise from Acoustic Guitar Magazine and others, and she was recently honored with the Best of the West award by Folk Alliance Region West (FAR-West).

Musical Style

Flower's playing sits at the intersection of several American vernacular traditions. According to the description on her site, you'll hear:

• Blues — the foundation of her fingerstyle approach
• Jazz — woven into her arrangements and phrasing
• Old-time New Orleans music — part of her stylistic palette

Acoustic Guitar Magazine noted that while she "may not sing with the soulful grit and urgency of Rory Block, Maria Muldaur, or Bonnie Raitt," her stylistic range is broader, "approaching that of David Bromberg or Ry Cooder." The magazine described Livin' with the Blues Again as showcasing her as "a complete artist, deeply versed in an array of vernacular styles."

Albums

Livin' with the Blues Again

This is the album highlighted on her site's "Latest Album" section. It carries a dedicated praise section, with Acoustic Guitar Magazine calling it a showcase of her range as a complete artist. A full review is linked from her site.

Chants of Rain

Chants of Rain is described as "their first CD," released by Little Village Music — a nonprofit record company devoted to bringing diverse music to the public. The description promises an "extraordinary musical bond" audible "from the first note," spanning blues, jazz, and old-time New Orleans music, with what Dennis McNally calls "a pinch of elegant magic, too."

Recognition

Flower was recently honored with the Best of the West award by Folk Alliance Region West (FAR-West).

Beyond Performing

Flower is also a renowned guitar instructor. She teaches at music camps and festivals, offers lessons online and in person, and contributes articles and tips regularly to Acoustic Guitar. She serves as artistic director for an annual guitar intensive called Menucha's Blues in the Gorge; in '26 the dates will be October 7–11. Her instructional DVDs are now available as digital downloads on the DVD page of her site.

Where to Find More

Her website includes sections for her latest album, upcoming gigs, a mailing list signup, and the upcoming camp. If you're new to her music, the site's own framing suggests Livin' with the Blues Again as the entry point — Acoustic Guitar Magazine called it "what fun for those who don't know her music to discover her here."