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| Sara Gazarek, is poised to release her debut record Sara Gazarek’s voice has been described as unique, soulful and natural among other accolades. With a vocal style reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington and shades of influences as varied as Ben Folds and Sarah Vaughan apparent in her warm, enveloping tones, theb23 year old Gazarek has a voice which appears larger than she is and a personal style accented by a small diamond in her nose. Sara’s debut vocal collection, YOURS (Native Language Music) is available on August 23rd and will be complimented by a cross country promotional tour. Traveling by bus with her band (Erik Kertes on bass, Josh Nelson on piano and Matt Slocum on drums), she will perform in clubs in major cities while beginning her duties as spokesperson for Music For All, the music education foundation. Plans are also in the works for Sara to make stops at as many music programs as possible, speaking to students as an example of how dreams really can come true. Two years ago, Sara Gazarek was a jazz performance major at the esteemed Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, studying with the world-renowned bassist/educator John Clayton (Diana Krall, Renee Olstead, Natalie Cole) who became the producer of YOURS. The 15-time Grammy® Award winner Al Schmitt recorded and mixed the disc at Capitol Studios. It was at Clayton’s urging that Sara and the band together rehearsed, arranged and composed the entire CD. During that time, Sara was named a recipient of the prestigious Downbeat Student Music Award for Outstanding Collegiate Jazz Vocalist and subsequently was asked to join the Concord Jazz Festival Tour (with Diane Schuur, Karrin Allyson, and Oleta Adams). Keeping with her edict to stay true to her music, when choosing a record label, Sara decided to forgo the major label route and signed with the Native Language label which she knew would respect and support her artistic convictions. Those decisions include a track listing as varied as interpretations of “All or Nothing At All”(with its unique poetic rendering), “My Shining Hour” and the combination of the Beatles mixed seamlessly with the timeless standard in the “Blackbird/Bye Bye Blackbird” medley. Highlights also include Joni Mitchell’s “The Circle Game” and original compositions like “Amazing” and the title track, “Yours, ” along with one written by Sara with bassist Eric Kertes, “You Got By.” write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |