Graced with an “impeccable” voice (Winnipeg Free Press) and hailed as an artist who “may well turn out to be the next important jazz singer” by the LA Times, two time GRAMMY Award® nominated vocalist Sara Gazarek has been one of the leading lights of an impressive generation of jazz vocalists since her brilliant emergence at age 20. While her subsequent career has been the picture of success – highlighted by five critically-acclaimed albums, numerous world tours, an ardent fanbase, enthusiastic reviews, a teaching position at the University of Southern California, and collaborations with such luminaries as Kurt Elling, Fred Hersch, Billy Childs, and Larry Goldings, it is with her latest double GRAMMY® nominated album, Thirsty Ghost and most recent 4-song EP Vanity, that Gazarek brings her musical expression stunningly into phase with her emotional maturity. Gazarek is an Associate Professor in the newly founded Jazz Voice department at Eastman School of Music in Rochester NY, is a founding member of the all-female GRAMMY® nominated vocal ensemble säje, and currently serves as Governor of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Recording Academy. More info on Sara can be found at www.saragazarek.com.
“With the release of ‘Vanity’, Gazarek has once again demonstrated the she is without doubt one of the most creative vocalists currently on the scene.” – JazzinEurope
Los Angeles-based vocalist Sara Gazarek is a lauded performer and educator known for sophisticated jazz and standards-based style. She initially rose to acclaim while still in high school as the first winner of the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation Outstanding Jazz Vocalist Award before issuing her 2005 debut, Yours. She has worked often with pianist Larry Goldings, including 2012's Blossom & Bee and 2019's Grammy-nominated Thirsty Ghost.
A native of Seattle, Gazarek discovered the joy of jazz vocals in high school and credits her band director with having a huge impact on her development and subsequent future course. As a high school senior, she was awarded the prestigious Ella Fitzgerald Foundation Outstanding Jazz Vocalist Award for which she performed at the Essentially Ellington Festival at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City with Wynton Marsalis. After high school, she attended college in Los Angeles' Thornton School of Music at USC, studying with artists like bassist John Clayton and singers Tierney Sutton and Carmen Bradford. Also during this period, Gazarek spent two years working with elementary school children in an inner-city school. In 2003, she received the Down Beat Student Music Award for Best Collegiate Vocalist. Shortly afterward she was invited to join a tour of jazz women vocalists including Oleta Adams, Karrin Allyson, and Diane Schuur as part of the "Concord Jazz Festival on Tour" series of concerts, which traversed the U.S. in 2004.
Since that time she has recorded several Grammy nominated albums and continues to tour internationally.
Band: Sara Gazarek, voice; Julian Shore, piano; Matt Aronoff, bass; Jared Schonig, drums; with special guests
Tickets at Sara Gazarek + Band