Sara Dowling Quintet - The George Shearing Project at Bulls Head Jazz Club

This immensely gifted vocalist with her intense, emotional vocals, draws on influences that are wide and far-reaching. Born from an Irish father and Arabic mother, her environments played a significant part in her musical journey from her father’s jazz collection of Erroll Garner, Art Tatum, Fats Waller, Bud Powell, Lester Young and Ben Webster to the haunting, chant-like melodies on her mother’s radio from the great Arabid chanteuses, Fairuz and Umm Kalthoum. Now one of the UK’s leading jazz vocalists, Sara is a regular performer at London’s leading jazz venues and her album, “From Shadows Into Light” received a five star review from Jazz Journal who said “A vocal with timeless quality”...

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This immensely gifted vocalist with her intense, emotional vocals, draws on influences that are wide and far-reaching. Born from an Irish father and Arabic mother, her environments played a significant part in her musical journey from her father’s jazz collection of Erroll Garner, Art Tatum, Fats Waller, Bud Powell, Lester Young and Ben Webster to the haunting, chant-like melodies on her mother’s radio from the great Arabid chanteuses, Fairuz and Umm Kalthoum. Now one of the UK’s leading jazz vocalists, Sara is a regular performer at London’s leading jazz venues and her album, “From Shadows Into Light” received a five star review from Jazz Journal who said “A vocal with timeless quality”. "Her voice has all the qualities that you find in the great singers…." wrote composer & arranger Guy Barker. Known as much for her enthralling interpretations of classic ballads, as for as the energy and vigour with which she tackles the up tempo standards from the American Song Book, for this very special show Sara will be celebrating Britain’s most popular and impressive jazz pianist George Shearing, the blind musical protege who joined Claude Bampton’s band through 'The Blitz' and later became a household name in the U.S. The arrangements you’ll hear are from the 1961 album ‘The Swingin’s Mutual’ which features the George Shearing quintet and the great vocalists Nancy Wilson and Dakota Staton. Songs such as “Gentleman Friend”, “Green Dolphin Street” and “The Things We Did Last Summer” will feature on the programme. Sara will be supported by a cast of top flight musicians: Nat Steele, on vibraphone, pianist Gabriel Latchin, bassist Dario De Lecce & drummer Steve Brown.

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