Biography

In 1994, Sara Lazarus, a young American singer, is awarded the first prize of the international Thelonious Monk contest thus following in the steps of Joshua Redman and Jacky Terrasson. The jury is no less famous with the likes of John Hendricks, Shirley Horn, Cleo Laine, Abbey Lincoln, Dianne Reeves and Jimmy Scott. During the award ceremony, Sara takes part in a jam session with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Grady Tate, Kenny Burrell, Jimmy Heath and Clark Terry.

Born on 1April in Delaware, one of the smallest US states, Sara displays a strong interest in musical comedies from an early age and thankfully discovers the jazz standards. She takes piano lessons at 8 and starts playing the saxophone so as to join her high school band. At 16, she joins the American Youth Jazz Band as a tenor saxophonist and singer and starts on European tour with the band culminating at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Back in the US, Sara studies literature at Harvard University. She joins the Harvard University Jazz Band and meets the tenor saxophonist Illinois Jacquet who asks her to be a guest singer in his band and strongly advises her to keep going in the same direction. She is awarded the best vocal jazz soloist prize (university standard) by the Downbeat magazine, a main American jazz magazine.

After graduating, Sara decides to settle in France. She takes part in numerous European festivals like Marciac, Crest Jazz Vocal, Montlouis, Braga and the JVC Paris Jazz Festival. She has been given the opportunity to sing with such musicians as Alain Jean-Marie, Jacky Terrasson, Manuel Rocheman, Frank Amsallem, Riccardo del Fra, Gilles Naturel and Andrea Michelluti.

In November 2000, she sings in Patrice Caratini Jazz Ensemble for his project centring on Cole Porter music and takes part in his record “Anything Goes” / Harmonia Mundi distribution.

" It's All Right With Me "
Dreyfus Jazz
- released 14 november 2006 -

with
Biréli Lagrène (guitar)
Hono Winterstein (guitar)
Diego Imbert (double bass)
André Ceccarelli (drums)

Following the great tradition of female jazz singers, Sara draws from the lore of standards to give free way to her true and tender nature and to her swing rhythm.
In mars 2005, her first album is published (Give Me A Simple Life) under the Dreyfus jazz label. The record is praised both by the press and the public. There follows a tour in France and Europe along with worthwhile performances in the great jazz festivals.

After this successful first opus, Sara Lazarus records a new studio album with a new group. Surrounded by Biréli Lagrène Gipsy Project, Sara Lazarus sets her delicate and temperate voice on the 12 standards of It’s All Right With Me (nov. 2006).
Exuding a compelling swing rhythm and entrancing ballads, this second album highlights the obvious gift of this young Franco American artist and is set to place her for ever as one of the outstanding jazz voices.

Press excerpts :

“Ella Fitzgerald like she is carried away by the swing staring at the sky and lands kicking off clouds of bluesy dust with the power of her mezzo voice with lovely hoarse streaks.” L’Express

“Within the French jazz circles, this outstanding vocalist is dreamed of by the topmost instrumentalists” Journal du Dimanche

“Sara Lazarus is one of the most dazzling singers. The proof is, she was the laureate of the Thelonious Monk award.” Figaroscope

“Sara Lazarus’s qualities have blossomed into the essentials: a wording breathing with natural ease, a gift to set the notes right, to find the apt inflexions and to stretch the vocal line with balanced confidence.” Jazzman

“Sara Lazarus’s song is made pure by her technical fluidity and this kind of enticing smile that seems to go along with it” Classica-Repertoire