Tour Dates
07/05/2019 | Schloss Elmau / Elmau, Germany |
07/18/2019 | Nice Jazz Festival / Nice, France |
07/19/2019 | La Farlede Jazz Open'Hight Festival / La Farlede, France |
08/03/2019 | Festival / Gouvy, Belgium |
08/06/2019 | Jazz di Marca / Sant Elpidio, Italy |
08/09/2019 | Parc du Chateau / Roquefere, France |
08/13/2019 | Jazz in Marciac Festival / Marciac, France |
08/17/2019 | Autostadt / Wolfburg, Germany |
08/22/2019 | Theatre du Rocher / Pierrelatte, France |
08/24/2019 | Summer Jazz Outdoor Party / Taipei, Taiwan |
10/03/2019 | Scullers Jazz Club / Boston, MA |
10/04/2019 | Dizzy's Club Coca Cola / New York, NY |
10/19/2019 | Nalen Stora Salen / Stockholm, Sweden |
11/16/2019 | Zaragoza Jazz Festival / Zaragoza, Spain |
03/21/2020 | Theatre Elisabethain - Chateau D`Hardelot / Hardelot, France |
04/08/2020 | Palais Des Congres-le Mans / Le Mans, France |
05/05/2020 | Cite de la Musique / Soissons, France |
05/06/2020 | Theatre-Senart / Lieusaint, France |
05/28/2020 | Brucknerhaus / Linz, Austria |
Sarah McKenzie: Bio
Sarah McKenzie hails from Melbourne, Australia; she earned a bachelor's degree in jazz at Perth's West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. With two critically acclaimed discs underneath her belt – Don't Tempt Me and Close Your Eyes (2012 Best Jazz Album ARIA Winner)– she began attracting the attention of many international jazz stars visiting Melbourne. With her eyes set on attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, she participated in one of the college's off-site jazz camps at the Umbria Jazz Festival in 2012, where she won both a full scholarship at the prestigious music school and an opportunity to perform at the festival. She graduated from Berklee in May 2015 with a degree in jazz performance. Sarah McKenzie has performed at jazz´s iconic places, the festivals in Monterey, Juan-les-Pins, Marciac and Perugia, Dizzy´s and Minton´s in New York, as well as the top clubs in Paris, London, Vienna, Munich and Sydney. Together with the Boston Pops Orchestra she premiered one of her compositions at Boston´s Symphony Hall. Last but not least, the Australian version of "We Could Be Lovers" won the Bell Award for Best Australian Vocal Album. Impulse! Label has released "We Could Be Lovers" worldwide in Spring 2015.
1 | You Only Live Twice | |
2 | You and the Music | |
3 | De Nada | |
4 | Secrets of my Heart | |
5 | It's All About Love | |
6 | Till the End of Time | |
7 | You Must Believe in Spring | |
8 | A Beautiful Friendship | |
9 | I Fell in Love with You | |
10 | Come on Home | |
11 | My True Love is You | |
12 | The Gershwin Medley |
After the great success of Sarah McKenzie's 2017 disc, Paris in the Rain(Impulse! Records), the 31-year-old pianist, singer, and composer returns with the poignant, Secrets of My Heart, reuniting with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director, Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs – Don't Tempt Me and Close Your Eyes. Recorded in New York City, Secrets of My Heart exudes cosmopolitan flair with its lineup that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States).

Stories
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Neon Jazz interviews Sarah Mckenzie
Posted At : January 14, 2021 12:00 AM
Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Jazz Composer & Pianist Sarah Mckenzie. When the corona virus hit in early March., she was just on tour in France and all her shows got cancelled. At the same time the US government implemented a travel ban for everyone who was traveling from the Schengen territory so Sarah was unable to return to her home in Los Angeles immediately. ‘In order not to get stuck during lockdown in a big city – she rented an old school house in the very South of England, in Hastings at the English Channel coast. It was a very romantic place from the 17th century. They had planned to stay for two weeks, in the end it was 3 1/2 months. She explains was ensured .. Enjoy .. Neon Jazz is a radio program airing since 2011. Hosted by Joe Dimino and Engineered by John Christopher in Kansas City, Missouri giving listeners a journey into one of America's finest inventions. Take a listen on KCXL (102.9 FM / 1140 AM) out of Liberty, MO. Listen to KCXL on Tunein Radio at http://tunein.com/radio/Neon-Jazz-Wit.... You can now catch Neon Jazz on KOJH 104.7 FM out of the Mutual Musicians Foundation from Noon - 1 p.m. CST Monday-Friday at https://www.kojhfm.org/. Check us out at All About Jazz @ https://kansascity.jazznearyou.com/ne.... For all things Neon Jazz, visit http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/ LISTEN -
Sarah McKenzie discusses new series of singles with Miami's 90.7WVUM
Posted At : January 7, 2021 12:00 AM
Sarah McKenzie released 3 new tracks last Fall. When the corona virus hit in early March, Sarah was on tour in France and all her shows got cancelled. At the same time the US government implemented a travel ban for everyone who was travelling from the Schengen territory so Sarah was unable to return to her home in Los Angeles immediately. 'In order not to get stuck during lockdown in a big city I rented an old school house in the very South of England, in Hastings at the English Channel coast. It was a very romantic place from the 17th century with vines on the outside and a large garden with roses and lots of other flowers and old, very stylish furniture on the inside and an old piano that I would play every day. We had planned to stay for two weeks, in the end it was 3 1/2 months. I found a small but well equipped recording studio in Hastings, that had an engineer who had recorded a lot of jazz, and a Yamaha baby grand piano. Perfect conditions to start working 24/7. The song SCHNELLER! was inspired by drives on the German highway. It is called Autobahn and it is one of the very few places in the world where there is no speed limit. For someone not used to this it is quite a frightening experience to travel at 130 mph. For the 2nd track, Sarah was very lucky that during lockdown the Diablo Regional Arts Association in Walnut Creek, CA commissioned her to create a 60-minute video extravaganza with the theme MUSIC CONNECTS OUR WORLD. Her idea was to create ten cross-genre video clips that would include musicians from all corners of the world and put the videos together with announcements so they become like a concert. The stylistic reach was from Bossa Nova to Tango, from Bebop to Choral Music. And there was this one song in Sarah's drawer that sounded a bit like pop music called; WAITING HERE FOR YOU. She decided to record it For the 3rd track, Sarah celebrated the magic of Christmas! Joy is in the air, everybody's in good cheer and you can hear carols everywhere. The outside is covered in snow, but it is warm by the fireside. Romance is at your heart, while you sit with your loved-ones under the Christmas tree. These are images that Sarah created in this original composition called ‘You, Me & the Christmas Tree'. It captures the spirit of Christmas. It's a song about love and being together. Sarah admits that only when she moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music did she grasp the full meaning of those legendary jazzy Christmas songs. 90.5WVUM - Miami, Philip Capuzzi interviewed Sarah about all 3 recordings. Listen to the attached file. -
Sarah McKenzie chats with 90.5 KWMR
Posted At : January 5, 2021 12:00 AM
Sarah McKenzie released 3 new tracks last Fall. The song SCHNELLER! was inspired by drives on the German highway. It is called Autobahn and it is one of the very few places in the world where there is no speed limit. For someone not used to this it is quite a frightening experience to travel at 130 mph. WAITING HERE FOR YOU takes the stylistic reach was from Bossa Nova to Tango, from Bebop to Choral Music, and ‘You, Me & the Christmas Tree' captures the spirit of Christmas. It's a song about love and being together. Sarah admits that only when she moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music did she grasp the full meaning of those legendary jazzy Christmas songs. Emmanuel host of The French Touch on 90.5 KWMR: Point Reyes Station, CA recently interviewed Sarah. Listen to the attached file. -
Sarah McKenzie discusses her new series of singles on final 2020 'Blues In the Night Podcast'
Posted At : December 18, 2020 12:00 AM
When the corona virus hit in early March Sarah McKenzie was just on tour in France and all her shows got cancelled. At the same time the US government implemented a travel ban for everyone who was travelling from the Schengen territory so Sarah was unable to return to her home in Los Angeles immediately. 'In order not to get stuck during lockdown in a big city I rented an old school house in the very South of England, in Hastings at the English Channel coast. It was a very romantic place from the 17th century with vines on the outside and a large garden with roses and lots of other flowers and old, very stylish furniture on the inside and an old piano that I would play every day. We had planned to stay for two weeks, in the end it was 3 1/2 months. I found a small but well equipped recording studio in Hastings, that had an engineer who had recorded a lot of jazz, and a Yamaha baby grand piano. Perfect conditions to start working 24/7. The song SCHNELLER! was inspired by drives on the German highway. It is called Autobahn and it is one of the very few places in the world where there is no speed limit. For someone not used to this it is quite a frightening experience to travel at 130 mph. So once I had picked my finger nails out of the dashboard I thought this experience needs a song. I then had to find the right musicians for it. With Geoff Gascoyne (bass) and Donald Edwards (drums) I have a long lasting working relationship already, but who could play those trumpets' I was very lucky to then come across Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra's Kenny Rampton, who is a fantastic trumpet player and who put in the extra miles that it needed to make this song special. I hope you'll like it.' Sarah McKenzie is the final 'Blues In the Night Podcast' guest of 2020. The Jazz composer, pianist, and vocalist talks about her new series of singles, including; Schneller! She also discusses what it was like recording in isolation from different countries during an international pandemic. Listen -
Sarah McKenzie captures the spirit of Christmas on 'You, Me & The Christmas Tree' / france musique
Posted At : December 16, 2020 12:00 AM
The magic of Christmas ! Despite the context. Outside it's covered in snow, but it's nice by the fireside. Romance awaits you as you sit with your loved ones under the Christmas tree. These are the images Sarah McKenzie slips into this original song called You, Me & The Christmas Tree. She captures the spirit of Christmas. It's a song about love and the happiness of being together. Sarah admits that it wasn't until she moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music that she grasped the full significance of these legendary jazzy Christmas carols. In her home country, Australia, she never had a "white Christmas", so "many of these iconic songs only really started to make sense to me after experiencing winter on the east coast of the United States with tons of snow and cold temperatures, but also after seeing the fir trees of Christmas and the illuminated Christmas markets, the smell of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts on a sidewalk . I immediately fell in love with this season of the year and have always wanted to put those impressions into a song . READ THE FULL france musique REVIEW -
Sarah McKenzie on the pandemic in Australia giving us insight into holiday gatherings + lots of Christmas music / 88.5KKRN
Posted At : December 12, 2020 12:00 AM
Don, host oif 'The Smooth Side' from 88.5KKRN - Round Mountain CA writes.......Jazz singer, pianist, composer, and international star Sarah McKenzie is from Australia. Many of you know that she stopped by our Redding studio just over one and one-half years ago for a wonderful interview on this program. Recently she called me from Los Angeles to do a follow up interview on the phone which will be broadcast the second week of January. After we finished talking music my last question simply inquired whether she had been able to return home to visit family during the pandemic. As Sarah is so capable of doing, she simply painted a picture for us of exactly how Australia is dealing with the crisis. As you will see as I play this segment of the interview near the beginning of this week's program, that while Australia is a democratic society, restrictions on its citizens during this pandemic were much more severe. It is not my position to know whether personal freedoms or safety of citizens is more important. I simply wanted to pass along information gleaned from this interview about a country of 25 and one-half million people that has only suffered 908 deaths from COVID. Thanks for bearing with me. Stay safe! I wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and much happiness in the holiday season. This week after Sarah's interview segment, I will continue to play for you a mix of a wide variety of our favorite Christmas music. Thank you for your support of this program and KKRN. SEE 88.5KKRN PAGE -
Sarah Mckenzie discusses the fantastic 'Schneller!' with Harmonious World Podcast
Posted At : November 30, 2020 12:00 AM
There's a brilliant story behind pianist and composer Sarah McKenzie's latest compositions, produced in lockdown in the UK, while Sarah was stranded at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The song SCHNELLER! was inspired by drives on the German highway, the Autobahn. It is one of the very few places in the world where there is no speed limit. For someone not used to this it is quite a frightening experience to travel at 130 mph. The fantastic 'Schneller!' has four trumpets interweaving, performed by the magical Kenny Rampton and then the sublime 'Waiting Here For You' features more outstanding musicians from around the world. Hear Sarah tell the story of those recordings and more. Harmonious World Podcast host Hilary Robertson interviews Sarah McKenzie. LISTEN To find out more about Sarah and her latest releases -
Sarah McKenzie - Secrets of My Heart makes Treble '10 Best Jazz Albums of 2019'
Posted At : December 22, 2019 12:00 AM
We've cycled through a lot of of our favorite music of the year: Our Top 50 Albums of 2019 and our Top 100 Songs of 2019. And beyond that, our favorite metal, hip-hop, electronic, jazz and missed albums of the year. And now we're sharing our individual top 10 lists of the year to close it out. Here's what we, individually, liked a lot this year. Konstantin Rega selected 'Sarah McKenzie – Secrets of My Heart' After the great success of Sarah McKenzie's 2017 disc, Paris in the Rain(Impulse! Records), the 31-year-old pianist, singer, and composer returns with the poignant, Secrets of My Heart, reuniting with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director, Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs – Don't Tempt Me and Close Your Eyes. Recorded in New York City, Secrets of My Heart exudes cosmopolitan flair with its lineup that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). SEE ALL THE Treble: Best Albums of 2019 -
Sarah McKenzie chats with Judy Carmichael's Jazz Inspired
Posted At : December 4, 2019 12:00 AM
Pianist/singer/songwriter, Sarah McKenzie, like so many of her fellow Australians, felt she'd have to leave her beloved country to pursue her dreams, which is exactly what she's done, living in Paris and London, then moving on to Boston to study at the Berklee College of music, and now settling in Los Angeles. Sarah speaks of her experiences with the passion and appreciation of a poet and channels it all into her songwriting, which is featured on her newest CD, Secrets of My Heart. LISTEN TO THE SEGMENT p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} -
Sarah McKenzie shares 'Secrets of My Heart' on WBGO 'Singers Unlimited' with Michael Bourne
Posted At : October 25, 2019 12:00 AM
Sarah McKenzie is a bright young pianist and singer from Down Under. Melbourne, that is. She's been playing around the world for a while, and recently she played Dizzy's Club. She also came by WBGO: Newark NJ with bassist Giuseppe Cucchiara for a talk with Michael Bourne on Singers Unlimited. Sarah and Giuseppe played some of her songs, along with a song of Dinah Washington and a song of James Bond pedigree, live in the WBGO studio.
LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW & WATCH THE VIDEO Videography: Chris Tobin and Khadiyah Thomas p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} -
Warm, clear, cozy, bopping and bluesy, Sarah McKenzie 'Secrets Of My Heart' is bubbling with ideas / Jazz Weekly
Posted At : July 11, 2019 12:00 AM
Vocalist and songwriter Sarah McKenzie plays piano with Pierre Boussaguet/b, Dan Wilson/g, Donald Edwards/dr and a collection of guests on percussion, strings and woodwinds on summery mix of originals and covers. Her phrasing is warm and clear, cozy with her samba'd "De Nada" teamed with Danilo Caymmi's flute, and breezy "Till The Endo of Time" with strings and sax in support. A pair of bopping and bluesy work with Boussaguet maxes for some swinging "I Fell In Love With You" and "It's All About Love" with her voice intimate with Wilson on her intro to "My True Love Is You." She shows her piano chops on a Gershwin Medley, while her alacrity is never in doubt on a clever take of the James Bond turned indie piece "You Only Live Twice." Bubbling with ideas. SEE THE Jazz Weekly PAGE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} -
Sarah McKenzie set for San Francisco Jazz Festival / PRI: Jazz After Hours
Posted At : June 20, 2019 12:00 AM
Australian-born, Paris-based jazz pianist and singer Sarah McKenzie is poised to join the rarefied air occupied by superstars Diana Krall and Norah Jones. She performs music from her newest Impulse! release, Paris in the Rain. Balancing a master's touch on piano with a warm, bright, and inviting vocal approach, McKenzie possesses a singular gift, transporting listeners to a world of sophistication and romance. Sarah McKenzie set for San Francisco Jazz Festival on June 23. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} SEE THE PRI: Jazz After Hours PAGE -
Sarah McKenzie returns to KWMR: Point Reyes Station CA for an interview w/The French Touch
Posted At : June 17, 2019 12:00 AM
Berklee College of Music scholarship student Sarah McKenzie simply loves making music. She enjoys the composition process and her extensive international travel is a significant inspiration for her lyric writing. McKenzie writes original songs that pay tribute to lots of people. On her list are Wayne Shorter, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter, Michel Legrand and George Gershwin. This makes her hard to categorize. She also admires a number of women musicians, and includes the legendary Marian McPartland as an early inspiration. After the great success of her 2017 disc, Paris in the Rain(Impulse! Records), the 31-year-old pianist, singer, composer returns with the poignant, Secrets of My Heart, reuniting with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director, Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs – Don't Tempt Me and Close Your Eyes. Recorded in New York City, Secrets of My Heart exudes cosmopolitan flair with its lineup that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). McKenzie who interviewed with KWMR: Point Reyes Station CA during her Spring west coast road trip returns for a segment with KWMR's The French Touch, a show that presents French pop music from France, Quebec, Belgium and other French speaking countries, with your host Emmanuel. Listen to the attached interview. -
Sarah McKenzie hits Tokyo with the Japanese 'Secrets of My Heart' album release, tour dates, and media buzz
Posted At : June 5, 2019 12:00 AM
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} Australian singer-songwriter Sarah McKenzie released her new album 'Secrets of My Heart' to most of the world earlier this spring. After the great success of her 2017 disc, Paris in the Rain(Impulse! Records), the 31-year-old pianist, singer, and composer returns by reuniting with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director, Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs – Don't Tempt Me and Close Your Eyes. "He's the guy who introduced me to Wayne Shorter's Native Dancer and Antonio Carlos Jobim's Stone Flower. We always had a great connection; he knows me inside and out," she says. Recorded in New York City, Secrets of My Heart exudes cosmopolitan flair with its lineup that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). Secrets of My Heart documents McKenzie's burgeoning brilliance interpreting 20th-century jazz standards with her penchant for crafting sterling compositions that will surely become jazz standards in the 21stcentury. Mckenzie's Japanese album release of "Secrets of My Heart" is tomorrow – June 6, and she is scheduled to perform in Tokyo on June 18 at Lady Blue and June 19 & 20 at the Blue Note Tokyo. She makes the cover of the Blue Note Tokyo June/July edition. See the cover image -
Sarah McKenzie joins Jazz 91-San Mateo for some music and conversation
Posted At : June 4, 2019 12:00 AM
Sarah McKenzie writes original songs that pay tribute to lots of people. On her list are Wayne Shorter, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter, Michel Legrand and George Gershwin. This makes her hard to categorize. She also admires a number of women musicians, and includes the legendary Marian McPartland as an early inspiration. McKenzie was a scholarship student at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and by her own admission, McKenzie says she simply loves making music. She enjoys the composition process and, she says, her extensive international travel is a significant inspiration for her lyric writing. At the same time, she loves being with her family. Living in England makes it hard to get home a lot, but she tries. She joins Jazz 91: KCSM - San Mateo CA Music Director, Chuy Varela to talk about her new album; 'Secrets of the Heart.' Listen to the attached interview. -
Sarah McKenzie speaks with CapRadio's Gary Vercelli
Posted At : May 17, 2019 12:00 AM
Australian-born, London-based Sarah McKenzie writes original songs that pay tribute to lots of people. On her list are Wayne Shorter, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter, Michel Legrand and George Gershwin. This makes her hard to categorize. She also admires a number of women musicians, and includes the legendary Marian McPartland as an early inspiration. McKenzie was a scholarship student at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and says she was really intimidated by the skill and talent she encountered when she first arrived. She worried the school had made a mistake giving her a scholarship. But she quickly hit her stride and hasn't looked back. By her own admission, McKenzie says she simply loves making music. She enjoys the composition process and, she says, her extensive international travel is a significant inspiration for her lyric writing. At the same time, she loves being with her family. Living in England makes it hard to get home a lot, but she tries. She joins Insight and CapRadio's Gary Vercelli to talk about her new album; 'Secrets of the Heart' and her upcoming performance at the San Francisco Jazz Festival. LISTEN p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} -
Sarah McKenzie speaks with Italy's RAI News 24
Posted At : May 5, 2019 12:00 AM
As Sarah McKenzie's return with Secrets of My Heart moves to Italy, Sarah was interviewed by Italian music journalist legend Fausto Pellegrini for RAI News 24 - the Italian state-run news channel which reaches millions of people. For Secrets of My Heart, Sarah has reunited with Chong Lim with a band lineup that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). McKenzie penned the lion's share of Secrets of My Heart's 12 songs. WATCH RAI PAGE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} -
Sarah McKenzie lives jazz as a beautiful bridge between tradition and our time / la Republica: Webnight Day
Posted At : May 5, 2019 12:00 AM
for 2 - MAY - 2019 - She is Australian, composes, sings, plays, is an artist with a beautiful album and a new project, "The secret of my heart", just released. Sarah McKenzie is a very good singer, pianist and composer who lives jazz as a beautiful bridge between tradition and our time. Secrets of My Heart, Sarah has reunited Sarah with Chong Lim and a band that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). McKenzie penned the lion's share of Secrets of My Heart's 12 songs. WATCH THE SEGMENT p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} -
Ciao Italia! Sarah McKenzie stops by La7 Propaganda
Posted At : May 5, 2019 12:00 AM
As the 'Secrets of My Heart' tour moves through Italy, the collaboration reuniting Sarah with Chong Lim also includes a lineup of superb musicians, French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). McKenzie penned the lion's share of Secrets of My Heart's 12 songs. Sarah says; Ciao Italia! I was just rehearsing with the studio band for my performance on La7 Propaganda Live tonight. Tune in - if you can! - with Roberto Angelini. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} -
Sarah McKenzie visits with CentralCoastPublicRadio FM90
Posted At : May 3, 2019 12:00 AM
In support of Sarah McKenzie's new album release; "Secrets of My Heart," the Australian singer-songwriter has been travelling up the West Coast visiting radio stations along the way. On Wednesday April 3rd Sarah visited with CentralCoastPublicRadio FM90's John Walsh and the show; Pacific Standard Time. They chattd about the album, as well as Sarah's life and studies in France and the U.S., and influences such as Michel Legrand, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin. She gives us a peek into her songwriting process, and we hear some tracks from her record. Note: The excerpt of Cole Porter's "Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love" is from Julie Wilson's album "Julie Wilson Sings the Cole Porter Songbook." p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} -
Sarah McKenzie visits with ZDF: mo:ma magazin
Posted At : April 24, 2019 12:00 AM
Sarah McKenzie has recently released; Secrets of My Heart, where she reunites with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director, Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs. The musician lineup for the album includes; French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). McKenzie stopped by ZDF: mo:ma magazin for a live segment. WATCH THE SEGMENT -
Sarah McKenzie visits 88.9KUCI - Irvine CA
Posted At : April 17, 2019 12:00 AM
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} Sarah McKenzie has recently released; Secrets of My Heart, where she reunites with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director, Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs. Recorded in New York City, Secrets of My Heart exudes cosmopolitan flair with its lineup that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). In support of this album release McKenzie has been travelling up the West Coast visiting radio stations along the way. On Tuesday April 2nd, Sarah visited with 88.9KUCI - Irvine CA morning host Claudia Shambaugh. Listen to the attached interview. -
With her gift for composing, sparking piano, and elegant vocals, Sarah McKenzie takes a fearless approach on 'Secrets of My Heart' / MAKING A SCENE
Posted At : April 16, 2019 12:00 AM
Australian pianist, singer, composer Sarah McKenzie became well established globally with her Impulse! 2017 Paris in the Rain and now returns on an independent label with the half originals/half covers Secrets of My Heart. She reunites with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director Chong Lim who produced her first two projects. This was recorded in New York City with a core quartet of French bassist Pierre Boussaguet, guitarist Dan Wilson and drummer Donald Edwards. Tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, vibraphonist Warren Wolf, cellist Judy Redhage, flutist Danilo Caymmi and percussionists James Mack and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocatto also support McKenzie on select tunes. Both Wilson and Roberts are from Joey DeFrancesco's band. There are plenty of gems in her originals, but we'll take the covers first. She opens with John Barry and Leslie Bricusse's "You Only Live Twice" ( a theme from the James Bond film of the same name) that showcases both her vocal talents and sprightly piano touch. She delivers her interpretation of the Stanley Styne/Donald Kahn classic "A Beautiful Friendship" and shows her bluesy side, with scintillating guitar from Wilson, on Dinah Washington's "Come on Home." The closing track is a dazzling piano medley of her Gershwin favorites, snippets of "Rhapsody in Blue," "Summertime," "The Man I Love," and "I Got Rhythm." McKenzie is exploring with a fearless eclectic approach. With her gift for composing, her sparking piano work and elegant vocal delivery, she seems right at home with these accompanists. READ THE FULL MAKING A SCENE REVIEW p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} -
'Secrets of My Heart' is Sarah McKenzie's most personal music to date / JAZZIZ
Posted At : April 16, 2019 12:00 AM
Australia-born singer Sarah McKenzie is an emerging star with a timeless voice and a spellbinding way with original lyrics, two skills that helped her secure a coveted finalist spot in the 2014 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Since then, the Berklee-educated singer has gone on to have a fruitful career in Europe. She's even recorded a handful of albums on the illustrious French jazz label Impulse!, including 2017's Paris in the Rain, which opened opportunities for her to perform around the world in such places as Brazil, Korea, Japan and the United States. "Traveling was something that I really had to adjust to," says McKenzie. "In the beginning, it is very exciting. I often describe it as going into a magical world; it's stepping off reality and going into this world that's so unreal. Then you come home, and all of that activity stops. It's been a world of extremes." McKenzie's meditations on those extremes - the thrill of travel versus the comfort of home, the freedom of road life versus the security of family - have now resulted in a new album, Secrets of My Heart, which was released on Impulse! on March 29. With its mix of 20th-century jazz standards and sterling original compositions, the album is McKenzie's most personal musical statement to date, projecting an alluring sense of confidence, a worldly outlook and a clear-eyed dedication to her artistic vision. READ THE FULL JAZZIZ REVIEW -
Sarah McKenzie enchants from the first song on 'Secrets Of My Heart' / Le Monde
Posted At : April 12, 2019 12:00 AM
Phrasé impeccable, precise and delicate voice, Sarah McKenzie , also pianist, enchants from the first song of his new album, Secrets of my Heart. From You Only Live Twice, created for the movie of the same name of the adventures of James Bond by Nancy Sinatra, she makes a moment of soft and light reverie. A full success that confirms the rest of the album, whether on the own compositions of the singer and pianist ( You and the Music, Till the End of Time ...) or on a few occasions, including a superb Come on Home , from Dinah Washington, in a blues casting. By classical jazz, with elements of Brazilian music, on slow tempo or medium mainly, she affirms her vocal expressiveness. With top-notch musicians, including bassist Pierre Boussaguet, guitarist Dan Wilson and drummer Donald Edwards, who perform wonderfully, especially in the instrumental medley of compositions by the Gershwin brothers, which brings this subtle finale to a close. album. - Sylvain Siclier SEE ALL Le Monde REVIEWS p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} -
Sarah McKenzie stops in Portland at 90.7KBOO
Posted At : April 12, 2019 12:00 AM
31-year-old pianist, singer, and composer Sarah McKenzie has recently released; Secrets of My Heart, where she reunites with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director, Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs. Recorded in New York City, Secrets of My Heart exudes cosmopolitan flair with its lineup that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). McKenzie penned the lion's share of Secrets of My Heart's 12 songs, sterling compositions that will surely become jazz standards in the 21st century. "I love writing lyrics. I think I'm very specific with my lyrics. I like Johnny Mercer, Sammy Kahn, Irving Berlin, and Cole Porter," says McKenzie before explaining that she now begins with the melody when composing. "Initially, I wrote songs together – the lyrics and melody. But when I pulled them apart, I realisedthat my melodies weren't as strong as I thought they were in my head. I think for me, I always want to have a flow with the words or something witty; and I know how it should sound." In support of this album release McKenzie has been travelling up the West Coast visiting radio stations along the way. On Wednesday April 10th Sarah visited with 90.7KBOO - Portland and with afternoon host Rita Rega. Listen to the attached interview. -
Sarah McKenzie wraps promo tour at Olympia's 89.3KAOS
Posted At : April 11, 2019 12:00 AM
Sarah McKenzie returns with her poignant, Secrets of My Heart, reunites with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director, Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs. The Secrets of My Heart lineup includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). In support of this album release, McKenzie travelled north from San Diego, up the West Coast and concluded in Olympia WA on April 11 with KAOS and the one and only John Ford. Listen to the attached segment. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} -
Listen to 'The Smooth Side of Sarah McKenzie' on 88.5KKRN: Redding, CA
Posted At : April 9, 2019 12:00 AM
31-year-old pianist, singer, and composer Sarah McKenzie has recently released; Secrets of My Heart, where she reunites with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director, Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs. Recorded in New York City, Secrets of My Heart exudes cosmopolitan flair with its lineup that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). McKenzie penned the lion's share of Secrets of My Heart's 12 songs, sterling compositions that will surely become jazz standards in the 21st century. In support of this album release McKenzie travelled up the West Coast visiting radio stations along the way, and stopped at 88.5KKRN: Redding, CA on April 9 for an interview by Don Cooper on his 'The Smooth Side of Jazz' show. Listen to the attached interview. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} -
Sarah McKenzie's radio roadtrip stops at Chico CA's KZFR for an 'Ocean of Rock and Roll'
Posted At : April 9, 2019 12:00 AM
31-year-old pianist, singer, and composer Sarah McKenzie has recently released; Secrets of My Heart, where she reunites with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director, Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs. Recorded in New York City, Secrets of My Heart exudes cosmopolitan flair with its lineup that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). McKenzie penned the lion's share of Secrets of My Heart's 12 songs, sterling compositions that will surely become jazz standards in the 21st century. In support of this album release McKenzie travelled up the West Coast visiting radio stations along the way, and stopped at KZFR: Chico, CA on April 9 to be Interviewed by Jan Bielfelt for his 'Ocean of Rock and Roll' show. Listen to the attached recap of the proceedings. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} -
Sarah McKenzie plays some tunes for KKUP: Cupertino
Posted At : April 7, 2019 12:00 AM
For Secrets of My Heart, Sarah McKenzie reunites with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director, Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs – Don't Tempt Me and Close Your Eyes. Sarah says; "He's the guy who introduced me to Wayne Shorter's Native Dancer and Antonio Carlos Jobim's Stone Flower. We always had a great connection; he knows me inside and out," Recorded in New York City, Secrets of My Heart exudes cosmopolitan flair with its lineup that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). Secrets of My Heart documents McKenzie's burgeoning brilliance interpreting 20th-century jazz standards with her penchant for crafting sterling compositions that will surely become jazz standards in the 21stcentury. In support of this album release McKenzie travelled up the West Coast from San Diego to Seattle, visiting radio stations along the way. On Sunday April 7th, Sarah visited with 88.9KKUP - Cupertino and afternoon host Eric Hayslett. Watch the attached interview. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} -
Sarah McKenzie is in NoCal and stops by 90.5KWMR - Jazz Groove
Posted At : April 6, 2019 12:00 AM
After the great success of Sarah McKenzie's 2017 disc, Paris in the Rain on Impulse! Records, the 31-year-old pianist, singer, and composer returns with the poignant, Secrets of My Heart, where she reunites with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director, Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs. Recorded in New York City, Secrets of My Heart exudes cosmopolitan flair with its lineup that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). In support of this album release McKenzie has been travelling up the West Coast, from San Diego to Seattle, visiting radio stations along the way. The pianist / singer stopped by 90.5 KWMR: Point Reyes Station, CA - Jazz Groove show on Saturday April 6 for an in-studio visit with host with Joe Blumenthal. Listen to the attached segment. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} -
Sarah McKenzie's radio roadtrip stops in at KSCO: Santa Cruz
Posted At : April 6, 2019 12:00 AM
After the great success of Sarah McKenzie's 2017 disc, Paris in the Rain on Impulse! Records, the 31-year-old pianist, singer, and composer returns with the poignant, Secrets of My Heart, where she reunites with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director, Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs. Recorded in New York City, Secrets of My Heart exudes cosmopolitan flair with its lineup that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). In support of this album release McKenzie has been travelling up the West Coast, from San Diego to Seattle, visiting radio stations along the way. The pianist / singer stopped by KSCO: Santa Cruz, CA on Saturday April 6 for an in-studio visit and was interviewed by Michael Jacobi & Rachael Shelton. Listen to the attached segment. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} -
Sarah McKenzie stops west of twin peaks at KXSF: San Francisco
Posted At : April 5, 2019 12:00 AM
31-year-old pianist/singer/composer Sarah McKenzie's returns with the poignant, Secrets of My Heart. Recorded in New York City, Secrets of My Heart documents McKenzie's burgeoning brilliance interpreting 20th-century jazz standards with her penchant for crafting sterling compositions that will surely become jazz standards in the 21st century. The album exudes a cosmopolitan flair with its lineup of French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). In support of the album, McKenzie has been travelling up the West Coast, from San Diego to Seattle, visiting radio stations along the way. While in San Francisco, she stopped west of twin peaks at KXSF for a segment with MJ McCall today, Friday April 5. Listen to the attached segment. -
Sarah McKenzie's radio roadtrip stops in at KPFK: Los Angeles
Posted At : April 3, 2019 12:00 AM
After the great success of Sarah McKenzie's 2017 disc, Paris in the Rain on Impulse! Records, the 31-year-old pianist, singer, and composer returns with the poignant, Secrets of My Heart. The former disc opened more opportunities for McKenzie to perform around the world in such far away places as Brazil, Korea, Japan, and also established her in the United States. Its title song became one of her signature tunes and is one of the highlights of her live shows. "Traveling was something that I really had to adjust to," McKenzie says. "In the beginning, it is very exciting. I often describe it as going into a magical world; it's stepping off reality and going into this world that's so unreal. Then you come home, and all of that activity stops. It's been a world of extremes." In support of this album release McKenzie has been travelling up the West Coast, from San Diego to Seattle, visiting radio stations along the way. While in Los Angeles, the pianist / singer stopped by KPFK's Global Village Wednesdays wYatrika Shah-Rais today, April 3rd. Listen to the attached segment. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} -
Sarah McKenzie stops at 88.1KjAZZ for an 'Arts Report'
Posted At : April 2, 2019 12:00 AM
Sarah McKenzie's 'Secrets of My Heart' reunites SM with Australian composer/arranger/MD Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs. Recorded in New York City, Secrets of My Heart exudes cosmopolitan flair with its lineup that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). McKenzie penned the lion's share of Secrets of My Heart's 12 songs, sterling compositions that will surely become jazz standards in the 21st century. In support of this album release McKenzie travelled up the West Coast from San Diego to Seattle, visiting radio stations along the way. On April 2, she stopped at KJazz in Long Beach CA to be Interviewed PJ Ochlan's Arts Report. Listen to the attached recap of the proceedings. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} -
Sarah McKenzie kicks of her radio roadtrip at Jazz88.3KSDS - San Diego
Posted At : April 1, 2019 12:00 AM
31-year-old pianist, singer, and composer Sarah McKenzie has recently released; Secrets of My Heart, where she reunites with noted Australian composer, arranger, and events music director, Chong Lim, who produced her first two discs. Recorded in New York City, Secrets of My Heart exudes cosmopolitan flair with its lineup that includes French bassist Pierre Boussaguet and Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Bocattoalongside guitarist Dan Wilson, drummer Donald Edwards, vibraphonist Warren Wolf,tenor saxophonist Troy Roberts, and cellist Jody Redhage Ferber(all of whom based in the United States). McKenzie penned the lion's share of Secrets of My Heart's 12 songs, sterling compositions that will surely become jazz standards in the 21st century. "I love writing lyrics. I think I'm very specific with my lyrics. I like Johnny Mercer, Sammy Kahn, Irving Berlin, and Cole Porter," says McKenzie before explaining that she now begins with the melody when composing. "Initially, I wrote songs together – the lyrics and melody. But when I pulled them apart, I realisedthat my melodies weren't as strong as I thought they were in my head. I think for me, I always want to have a flow with the words or something witty; and I know how it should sound." In support of this album release McKenzie has been travelling up the West Coast visiting radio stations along the way. Her first stop was at Jazz88.3KSDS - San Diego with afternoon host Claudia Russell. Listen to the attached interview. -
Sarah McKenzie set to stop by 88.5KKRN
Posted At : March 30, 2019 12:00 AM
I just can't believe our good fortune. I am blessed to have an unprecedented opportunity to interview a very special guest in our Redding studio. 32 year old Sarah McKenzie is a tremendously talented jazz singer, jazz pianist, music composer and music arranger that has a great future. She will be with us to discuss the release of her new album Secrets Of My Heart, to give us the story behind her remarkable career, and to give us inside information about some of the songs from her now five albums. READ THE FULL 88.5KKRN: Redding CA ARTICLE -
Germany's 3sat tv presents: Sarah McKenzie - Secrets of My Heart
Posted At : March 26, 2019 12:00 AM
After the greatsuccess of Sarah McKenzie's 2017 disc, Paris in the Rain(Impulse! Records), the 31-year-old pianist, singer, and composer returns with the poignant, Secrets of My Heart. The former disc opened more opportunities for her to perform around the world in such far away places as Brazil, Korea, Japan, and also established her in the United States. Its title song became one of her signature tunes and is one of the highlights of her live shows. "Traveling was something that I really had to adjust to," McKenzie says. "In the beginning, it is very exciting. I often describe it as going into a magical world; it's stepping off reality and going into this world that's so unreal. Then you come home, and all of that activity stops. It's been a world of extremes." German television 3SAT, which also broadcasts in Austria and Switzerland, presented Sarah and the upcoming album.
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Sarah McKenzie set to release; 'Secrets of My Heart' / audiophil-online
Posted At : March 19, 2019 12:00 AM
The latest album "Secrets of My Heart" (available from March 29, 2019) by the 31-year-old singer, pianist and composer is the follow-up to the successful album "Paris in the Rain". It was recorded in New York with the help of longtime producer Chon Lim. The album begins with "You Only Live Twice", a personal interpretation of James Bond Megahit by John Barry and Leslie Bricusses. In the title song "Secrets of My Heart", McKenzie describes her inner unrest by separating from her family and home. Exhilarating piano sounds are in "I Fell in Love with You", accompanied by Dan Wilson with the guitar. The songs "Till the End of Time" and "De Nada" were written in Rio de Janeiro and reflect McKenzie's passion for Brazilian music. The piece "You Must Believe in Spring" was written by the late composer Michel Legrand in 2019. The impressionistic harmonic language combined with the profound lyrics creates goose bumps. READ THE FULL audiophil-online REVIEW -
WBGO: The Checkout - Live at Berklee with Sarah McKenzie
Posted At : February 28, 2019 12:00 AM
As The Checkout reflects on our eighth season featuring distinguished alumni from Berklee College Music, one theme becomes immediately apparent: jazz is flourishing internationally, especially among younger artists. As we unveil in this episode, Sarah McKenzie may have been born in Australia, but she finds inspiration in classical songbook from America. Here the triple threat singer/pianist/songwriter, performong her Cole Porterish original "Paris In The Rain." Look for Sarah's upcoming recording this Spring called: Secrets of the Heart. READ/LISTEN TO THE FULL WBGO Newark NJ SEGMENT -
What started as a workshop for East Bay kids led to a major commission for Sarah McKenzie / SFCV
Posted At : September 4, 2018 12:00 AM
Never underestimate the power of a first impression. For Australian jazz pianist and vocalist Sarah McKenzie, what started as a workshop for underprivileged East Bay kids led to a major commission that heralds her return to the United States as a bright new star. On Friday, Sept. 14, Walnut Creek's Lesher Center for the Arts presents the premiere of McKenzie's 13-piece song cycle San Francisco - Paris of the West, a work commissioned by the Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA). Her all-star octet includes the three co-leaders of the acclaimed Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra - bassist John Clayton, saxophonist Jeff Clayton, and drummer Jeff Hamilton. "It's definitely my most ambitious work to date," says McKenzie, 31, whose 2017 album Paris in the Rain (Impulse!) celebrates the city where she was based for much of 2015–2016. "I always write my own tunes, but on my albums I only include three or four originals. This is the first time I've written all the songs for a project, all the lyrics and arrangements." READ THE FULL San Francisco Classical Voice ARTICLE -
Sarah McKenzie swings but the thing she's counting on is songwriting / DOWNBEAT
Posted At : August 29, 2018 12:00 AM
Headlining a Monday night show at New York's Blue Note, the blond-haired, blue-eyed singer-pianist took the stage with her all-male quartet. With no chit-chat, and just a nod and smile at the audience, she launched into "You And The Music," a newly minted original. Four more of her own tunes-she writes both music and lyrics-would follow, before she played her first standard of the show, Jerome Kern's "The Way You Look Tonight." The set conveyed Sarah McKenzie's priorities as an artist, reinforced during an interview a few days later at her Manhattan hotel: Although she sings and plays with swinging assurance, the thing that she's counting on to distinguish herself is her songwriting. Sarah McKenzie's new work, San Francisco–Paris Of The West, will have its world premiere at the Bay Area's Lesher Center for the Arts on Sept. 14. (Photo: Philippe Lévy-Stab) READ THE FULL DOWNBEAT ARTICLE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060; min-height: 14.0px} -
Lesher Center series will conclude with world premiere of Sarah McKenzie's San Francisco - Paris of the West / JAZZIZ
Posted At : July 3, 2018 12:00 AM
The Lesher Center for the Arts - located in the historic downtown section of Walnut Creek, California - has been presenting leading-edge programming within all arts disciplines, including the American jazz tradition, for almost three decades. This year's Jazz at the Lesher Center 2018 Concert Series, presented by the Diablo Regional Arts Association for the seventh year in a row, will run on Saturday evenings from July 28 through September 14. On September 14, the series will conclude with the world premiere of vocalist-pianist Sarah McKenzie's San Francisco - Paris of the West, a 13-song suite of newly composed material commissioned by Jazz at the Lesher Center. The concert commemorates the enduring legacy of San Francisco's oldest department store, City of Paris, through a collective of narratives set to 1930s-inspired music. The songs were written in the tradition of the Great American Songbook, and promise to bring to life the wondrous stories of the store's founders, Felix and Emile Verdier, who voyaged aboard the "Ville du Paris" ship from France to San Francisco on a quest to open a store celebrating French culture. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060; min-height: 14.0px} READ THE FULL JAZZIZ ARTICLE -
Lesher Center commissions Sarah McKenzie to compose concert work 'San Francisco - Paris of the West'
Posted At : October 2, 2017 12:00 AM
The Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek (CA) - located in the bay area just East of San Francisco - has awarded singer, pianist and composer SARAH McKENZIE with a highly paid composition commission to compose a full concert length work based on the theme "San Francisco - Paris of the West". The work will get premiered at the Lesher Center on September 14, 2018 with an all-star line-up put together especially for this event. During much of its past San Francisco has been referred to (among others) as "Paris of the West". This was based on cultural influence, but also architecture of key buildings around the city. Sarah´s knack for everything French is well documented in her last two albums ("Paris in the Rain" and "We could be Lovers"), and as a composer in the style of Cole Porter, Irving Berlin or Rogers & Hart she has had a number of hit tunes already ("Quoi, Quoi, Quoi", "Paris in the Rain", "We Could Be Lovers", "One Jealous Moon", "Don´t Tempt Me"). As a Berklee College of Music student Sarah has lead a workshop at the Lesher Center for the Arts in 2014 and impressed the directors to entrust her with this commission, which is the first of its kind for the Lesher Center for the Arts. Sarah records for the Impulse! (Universal) label and is signed to Universal Music Publishing in France. She just recently performed to 7.1 million people on the "Encontro com Fátima Bernardes" television show in Brazil and performed at the world-renown Montreux Jazz Festival this summer. -
Sarah McKenzie - Paris in the Rain / anima Jazz review
Posted At : May 30, 2017 12:00 AM
After enchanting jazz fans with her 2015 Impulse! Records debut, We Could Be Lovers, Sarah McKenzie returns with the sensational follow-up, Paris in the Rain. Like before, the 28-year-old, Melbourne, Australia-born singer, pianist, composer and arranger teams with the acclaimed Brian Bacchus – who has produced classics for such stars as Norah Jones, Lizz Wright, and Gregory Porter – to deliver a gripping program of jazz classics and originals – all of which present McKenzie's incredible musicality in glamorous glory. McKenzie moved to Paris last year after graduating from Boston's Berklee College of Music. The album's snazzy title track is her love letter to the City of Light. The fanciful lyrics find her alternating effortlessly between French and English as she rejoices in the city's opulent offerings. "I'm really in love with Paris. It's a really amazing city. It's so beautiful with so much to offer in terms of culture, food and style. I wanted to write a song that captures all of Paris' beauty, magic and spirit." Paris in the Rain was selected for this week's anima Jazz playlist. CLICK HERE TO VIEW -
Sarah McKenzie impresses on Paris in the Rain / In A Blue Mood review
Posted At : May 10, 2017 12:00 AM
Born in Australia, schooled at Berklee and recently moved to Paris, pianist-singer-songwriter and arranger Sarah McKenzie will delight listeners on this new release, her second for Impulse! Records. The backing musicians include vibraphonist Warren Wolf, guitarist Mark Whitfield, bassist Reuben Rogers, drummer Gregory Hutchinson, trumpeter Dominick Farinacci, flutist Jamie Baum, alto saxophonist Scott Robinson, tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore, and guitarist Romero Lubambo in various combinations. While the press materials suggest this album be viewed as sort of a travelogue with performances including her original title track, Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh's "When in Rome," and her closing "Road Chops," the pleasures of this recording do not depend on such thematic considerations. READ THE FULL In A Blue Mood REVIEW p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px}