Sarah McKenzie - Jazz pianist, vocalist, composer & arranger
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2016 2:49 pm
I am very impressed with Aussie, Sarah McKenzie; a new musician to me but making a big impression on the jazz scene. She is a very talented pianist and vocalist, and I particularly like her compositions.
This is the title track from he latest album 'Paris In The Rain':
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJcGWdcEaPA
One has to say that musicians such as Diana Krall have done a good job is setting up the jazz scene so that it readily accepts this type of jazz performance. One also has to comment that Sarah put herself through a very comprehensive jazz education, starting with attending high school at West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and then on to college where she completed a Bachelor of Jazz degree in composition, won the Jack Bendat Scholarship, the Hawaiian Award for "Most Outstanding Jazz Graduate." Later she performed as a backing vocalist on Michael Bublé's 'Call Me Irresponsible' tour.
She then moved from WA to Melbourne and studied with James Morrison for six years and won a scholarship through her involvement with his 'Generations in Jazz' development program. Here is an recording on which James played trumpet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOdUn-VdCWs
Next, she won a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she studied with Joanne Brackeen for an Artists Diploma in Jazz Performance.
Sarah remained in the United States for a while but these days is resident in Europe, still a great scene for real jazz performers. Here is a video from a live performance at Jazz Open Stuttgart 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q_67-gNOiI&t=1276s
A real Aussie talent and only 28 years old.
This is the title track from he latest album 'Paris In The Rain':
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJcGWdcEaPA
One has to say that musicians such as Diana Krall have done a good job is setting up the jazz scene so that it readily accepts this type of jazz performance. One also has to comment that Sarah put herself through a very comprehensive jazz education, starting with attending high school at West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and then on to college where she completed a Bachelor of Jazz degree in composition, won the Jack Bendat Scholarship, the Hawaiian Award for "Most Outstanding Jazz Graduate." Later she performed as a backing vocalist on Michael Bublé's 'Call Me Irresponsible' tour.
She then moved from WA to Melbourne and studied with James Morrison for six years and won a scholarship through her involvement with his 'Generations in Jazz' development program. Here is an recording on which James played trumpet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOdUn-VdCWs
Next, she won a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she studied with Joanne Brackeen for an Artists Diploma in Jazz Performance.
Sarah remained in the United States for a while but these days is resident in Europe, still a great scene for real jazz performers. Here is a video from a live performance at Jazz Open Stuttgart 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q_67-gNOiI&t=1276s
A real Aussie talent and only 28 years old.