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Jazz
vocalist Sarah DeLeo takes the best from the masters and
combines it with her own signature style to produce a
'fresh classic.'
"Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Judy Garland,
and Barbra Streisand — they had the greatest impact
on me as a young singer," says Sarah. "I spent
hours with their recordings listening and experimenting
with my own voice. After a while, I went beyond mimicking
them to actually presenting my own style." And many
would agree that this fresh spin on classics is what makes
Sarah so enjoyable to listen to and watch.
Sarah began singing at the age of nine, and soon after
discovered her lifelong passion for singing standards.
While a high school student at Choate Rosemary Hall, Sarah
developed an interest in improvisation and embarked on
her own study of the jazz repertoire by listening to the
recordings of John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, and Sarah
Vaughan, among others. Growing up Sarah also grabbed any
opportunity available to sing, from classical choir, to
gospel choir, to pop a cappella. During the summer breaks
from high school and later Barnard College, she would
return home to Waterbury, Connecticut to perform in community
theater.
After college Sarah began her career singing at jam sessions
and in piano bars throughout Manhattan. "I became
a regular. I took advantage of any opportunity to listen,
learn, and of course, sing. Every time in front of the
mic was practice," remembers Sarah. "I found
guidance from working musicians and performers I met in
the clubs."
One such person who provided invaluable guidance was singer/songwriter
Lina Koutrakos. "Studying with Lina was amazing.
She created an environment in which I felt comfortable
to improvise musically and to develop my skills as a lyric
interpreter. I really began to come into my own as a performer
during this period. When I started performing solo gigs,
I incorporated all of my experiences." She has also
studied with jazz musicians Jay Clayton and Dena DeRose.
DeLeo's repertoire consists primarily of jazz and pop
standards from the 1920s through 1950s along with the
blues and neo-roots songs in the style of the old standards.
As an adult, Sarah has been most influenced by the music
of Dinah Washington and Erykah Badu. Venues such as Kavehaz,
Chez Suzette, and Caffe Taci are some of the places that
have seen Sarah light up the crowd. On stage Sarah conveys
a natural charm and grace. Audiences appreciate her unique
voice (once referred to as her "calling card"),
her exquisite phrasing, and her heartfelt interpretations
of ballads (which have been described as "beyond
her years"). It is no surprise then that she has
been compared to a variety of singers from Big Band era
vocalist Helen Forrest to 1950's girl singer Julie London
to jazz vocalist Sarah Vaughan. |
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